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

UAS ROADMAP 2005
6.1-1 plots the predicted appearance of these capabilities over the next 25 years, with the date of each
centered within a 5-year window of estimated initial availability for fielding. As an example of its use
(see dotted lines on Figure 6.1-1), the information processing speed needed to extract the presence of sea
mines in surf zones in real time from UA video (some 1.8 THz) should become available between 2015
and 2020, which corresponds to the planned introduction of the naval variant of J-UCAS, making this a
reasonable capability to express as a requirement for it, if desired.
Platforms
HFE UAV
Auto aerial refueling
40% SFC / Endurance increase
Inaudible at 500-1000 ft
Payloads
Detect targets under trees
Distinguish facial features
3 in. resolution / 20 nm swath SAR
Communications
Relay COMINT in RT
Relay ELINT in RT
Relay 100-band HSI in RT
Relay 1000-band USI in RT
Information Processing
ATR for vehicles
Human-equivalent processor
Example Map sea mines in RT
Reduce Level 5 DTED in RT
6.2 UAS MISSIONS ROADMAP
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
FIGURE 6.1-1. UAS CAPABILITIES ROADMAP.
Example
Unmanned aviation has historically been limited to the reconnaissance (Firebee, Global Hawk) and strike
(DASH, Predator) missions. Reconnaissance is now a well-established mission for UAS, complementing
manned aircraft in this role. Lessons learned from these ISR platforms point the way to concepts of
operations (CONOPs) that, to some extent, have already brought advantages to the Services and
Combatant Commanders. Aircraft with inhuman endurance bring persistent surveillance at reduced sortie
levels. Fewer flight hours are “lost” due to reduced time otherwise needed for transit time in shorter
SECTION 6 - ROADMAP
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