unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems and of experienced members of the UAV community who desire an overview and who, though they may find the treatment of their particular discipline elementary, will gain valuable insights into the other disciplines that contribute to a UAV system. The material has been presented such that it is readily understandable to both technical and non-technical persons working in the UAV field, and is based on standard engineering texts as well as material developed by the authors while working in the field. Most equations have been given without proof, and the reader is encouraged to refer to standard texts of each discipline when engaging in actual design or analysis. After a brief introduction in Chapter I, each of the primary subsystems of a UAV system is addressed in the following chapters: Chapter II - Air Vehicle, Chapter III - Mission Planning and Control System, Chapter IV - Payloads, Chapter V - Data Links, and Chapter VI - Launch and Recovery Systems. Introduction to UAV Systems first was published in 1992. It was then and, as far as we know still is, the only text that is dedicated to a complete treatment of UAV systems in a single volume. The response to the first two editions from the rather specialized community to which it was addressed has been heartening and demand for the text has continued at a steady pace. Much has happened in the UAV world since the first edition was written. In the preface to the second edition (1998) we commented that there had been further problems in the development process for tactical UAVs....

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