Avaliação do emprego de sistemas não tripulados em missões de inteligência, vigilância e reconhecimento e na interação com tropas e unidades em operações militares

Abstract

This monograph investigates the use of unmanned aerial vehicles, surface vehicles, and underwater vehicles in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions, examining their evolution, operational capabilities, and impact on modern military strategies. The study shows how these platforms enhance situational awareness and enable effective operations without risking human lives, making them essential assets for both major powers and resource-limited nations. It compares the specific features and challenges of each domain: unmanned aerial vehicles deliver tactical and strategic Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance missions, but face constraints in contested environments; unmanned surface vehicles emerge as economical platforms for maritime patrolling and deterrence; unmanned underwater vehicles operate stealthily in deep-sea environments, ideal for monitoring submarine cables and sensitive zones. Furthermore, the work discusses ethical, legal, and technological implications, such as Artificial Intelligence reliance, signal interference risks, and the growing militarization of the maritime and aerial domains. The conclusion highlights the centrality of unmanned systems in network-centric warfare and information dominance. However, successful integration requires coherent doctrine, international norms, and robust control mechanisms. This study contributes to an integrated understanding of the digital transformation in military surveillance and anticipates emerging trends such as intelligent swarms, human-machine teaming, and supervised lethal autonomous systems.