‘The great victor is the heavier-than-air machine: the aeroplane. Today the balloon has all but disappeared, surviving only as a peaceful sport, a kind of poetry in slow motion. But the aeroplane itself will disappear, just as the piston engine and the propeller have already disappeared and as in its turn the gas turbine will disappear and give way to the nozzle and the rocket. Indeed, the pilot could disappear too.’

Such was General Chambe’s thought-provoking prophesy in the introduction to his book Histoire de l'aviation (History of Aviation, 1963 edition). Some would say it was a premonition, others a utopian view. Whichever it was, drones–unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)–today offer a seemingly endless range of technical and operational solutions to the challenges of current military commitments, from the micro-drones which the soldier can launch by hand to the impressive high altitude, long endurance (HALE) vehicles. Will they ever replace the aviator in all combat missions?

Drones have arrived on the scene at a time when the development of military affairs is facing a fundamental paradox: whilst the number of operations is rising, the human and material investment made by governments is falling. The drone therefore seems highly relevant–with its performance and low cost it takes the place of man in an increasing number of missions. And yet its limitations and the need to retain the widest range of capabilities whilst keeping control of costs militate for a gradual and pragmatic approach to robotisation. It would seem that piloted aircraft still have a future and that drones will remain limited in the long term to dull, dangerous and dirty missions.