Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap 2005-2030 - Federation of ...

UAS ROADMAP 2005
� The amount of energy required for effective EA is large unless the delivery platform is in very close
proximity. The ability to generate this large amount of power could drive up aircraft size and cost. In
addition, an aircraft small enough to be unobserved in close proximity to the target may not have the
mobility (speed and range) to close the target or to persist in the target area for a sufficient amount of
time. These considerations argue for the use of expendable jammers from unmanned aircraft as one
means of delivering low cost EA performance.
Electronic Attack summary. DoD is advancing the development of an EA UA capability. Initial study
indicates that there are both significant potential unmanned system strengths and significant challenges to
be overcome for this mission. New unmanned systems will add new options in the application of force,
and promises to both reduce the cost of our armed forces and to decrease the risk of friendly losses. It
should be noted, that unmanned EA systems are not a complete replacement for manned EA aircraft. An
unmanned EA aircraft can bring enhancements to mission capability (e.g. risk-free close approach to
heavily defended targets) but will not have the autonomy required to completely replace manned systems
in the foreseeable future. Research in autonomy will remain an emphasis area.
Network Node/Communications Relay
It is anticipated that communication relays will need to exist in a multi-tiered structure. For example, to
create a wide communications footprint, the UA platform must have a capability of extremely long
endurance, high altitude, and generate adequate power. It would provide an airborne augmentation to
current tactical and operational beyond line-of-sight and line-of-sight retransmission capability. A more
focused footprint to support brigade and below combat elements will require tactical communication
relays to address urban canyon and complex terrain environments. Support of the communications relay
mission will require continuous coverage in a 24 hour period, and sufficient redundancy to meet “assured
connectivity” requirements. Additionally, UA must be capable of relaying VHF-AM radio voice
communications using an International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standard and recommended
procedures (SARPs) compliant radio operating with 8.33 kHz channel spacing from the control station to
airspace controller communication (threshold).
The “shoulds and should nots” of an airborne communication node payload will be established by
requirements documentation and approved in the Joint Staff requirements process. Any airborne
communications node is likely to be a “Joint Program” due to the broad user base accessed by such
systems. The inclusion of legacy formats and architectures will be established in any approved
requirements document and receive input from the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Network
Integration.
Network node/comms relay summary. Payload requirements must be defined and meet all
interoperability and network centric standards. Platform must stress availability of electrical power to
provide sufficient throughput capacity that supports modern warfare requirements. Technology push in
power extraction apertures and auxiliary power production needs to be emphasized.
Aerial Delivery/Resupply
The Special Operations community has been the leading advocate for using UA to delivery leaflets for its
psychological operations (psyops), as well as to resupply its forces in the field. Dispensing leaflets has
traditionally been performed from C-130s, but the altitudes required to ensure aircrew safety tend to
scatter the leaflets over a wide area and reduce their effectiveness. Small SOF teams have to carry all of
their equipment and supplies on their backs when they deploy, and the weights of dense materials (water,
bullets, batteries) greatly reduce their mobility. USSOCOM has explored using UA for both of these
aerial delivery/resupply missions.
To address its psyops mission, USSOCOM developed the CQ-10 SnowGoose unmanned, powered,
guided parasail (see section 2.3.5), capable of delivering 575 lb of leaflets with a 3-hour endurance,
during the successive Wind Supported Aerial Delivery System (WSADS) and Air-Launched Extended
APPENDIX A – MISSIONS
Page A-8