Nowhere in the world of military technology is the transition from science fiction to science fact more astounding than in the dark world of autonomous aerial combat vehicles. Before there were autonomous war machines, there were unmanned war machines. After a brief history of unmanned aerial vehicles, we reach the autumn of 2001. At that time, unmanned, remotely-piloted reconnaissance aircraft were first adapted for offensive combat operations.

Includes index.

Prologue -- Introduction : The world of the unmanned combat aerial vehicles -- Chapter 1. The early days of unmanned military aircraft -- Chapter 2. Battlefield UAVs of the late Cold War era -- Chapter 3. UAVs come of age -- Chapter 4. UAVs go on the attack -- Chapter 5. The unmanned combat aerial vehicle -- Epilogue.