So much of what current threats do is aimed at producing vivid imagery for mass psychological and political effect. For instance, IED attacks on small military elements or against civilian targets does not do much to reduce operational capabilities, but it allows the attacker to:
- Show off to sympathizers
- Attack the political will of intervening countries and hasten their departure from the conflict area
- Attack the perception of host nation government legitimacy by creating the perception of government weakness and inability to provide security
Against these tactics, an unmanned system deprives the enemy of the opportunity to create the dramatic, emotional news stories and images. For specifically that reason, I think that the development of unmanned systems for land warfare functions, particularly operations in close, complex terrain such as populated places, is of the utmost importance. If a force can get into such terrain and forgo pulling the trigger in self-defense, accept damage or destruction of equipment, and use tactical patience to resolve a problem to that force's advantage (fewer noncombatant casualties), then the ramifications are bigger than tactical - they are at least operational.
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