Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) A maritime perspective

Transcription

1 Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) A maritime perspective Cdr Al Cummings RN British Embassy Staff Aviation Officer Cdr Gavin Edward British Embassy Staff C4ISR Mr Philip Rayfield British Embassy Staff Air Systems Research and Technology 8 November 2012

2 Current status Loss of Nimrod MRA4 MPA (2010) Land-focussed campaigns for 2 decades (+) Available maritime surveillance capability (Sea King ASaC) also land-based in Afghanistan Negligible investment in maritime UAS

3 Strategic considerations Geo-strategic shifts: From a continental to a maritime century From campaigns to contingency Relative (and/or actual) decline in Defence resources Increasingly complex operating environment Less assurance of overseas basing permissions Global interests and security responsibilities From Polar to Pacific Tyranny of Distance Reducing cost-effectiveness of non-organic assets Constraints of non-segregated airspace

4 Maritime Surveillance Doctrine FIND, FIX, STRIKE, EXPLOIT: FIND FIX STRIKE EXPLOIT Dedicated Persistent Wide Area Maritime Surveillance (DPWAMS) Persistent Local Area Maritime Surveillance (PLAMS) Range of tailored / flexible options Collated information to generate Understanding and Information Superiority (Intelligence and Targeting)

5 Manned Unmanned Mix (MUM) Manned platforms remain essential due to unmanned constraints: Expense of cross-operating between platforms, as manned Airspace regulations and uneven/constrained availability Potentially barred by foreign political motivations Cultural Can we really expect to extract frightened natives from a disaster zone with an unmanned air vehicle (despite technical feasibility) Likely coalition spectrum congestion (especially in early stages) Cyber resilience? BUT need to exploit Unmanned advantages now

6 FIND Persistence to deliver 24/7 surveillance Target Custody Lighter-than-Air (Hybrid Air Vehicle) promises gamechanging potential + unparalleled cost-effectiveness Manned for regulatory compliance [Also potential for logistic use strategic/maritime lift] Supplemented by land-based MPA (if affordable)

7 FIX Tactical UAS Greater local area persistence than organic manned platforms BUT operating range dictated by host platform surveillance capability (and radar horizon) to adhere to ICAO regulations MICRO For SF operations Launch and ditch (SSN, small boats) MINI e.g. Scan Eagle/Integrator, BAT Limited sensor payload MALE Rotary Wing UAS Complementary suite of sensors [+ light weapons?]

8 FIX MUM Manned = Merlin Mk2 and (Lynx) Wildcat HMA Unmanned complements manned, does not replace Ship platforms must accommodate both With environmental protection Increasing size of RWUAS platform offers light optionally-manned platform potential Unmanned for optimum surveillance Manned when required for flexibility e.g. HADR, manned u/s

9 STRIKE MUM Manned: Fast jet (F35B) Helicopter MPA (Primary = ASW, Supplementary = Surveillance) Unmanned Single UCAV platform to operate from Carriers and land En route to 6 th Gen cross-domain UCAV? MALE Tactical RWUAS (optionally-manned?)

10 6 th Generation UCAV STOVL Carrier!? MUM equally applies to high end Alongside F35B What is the solution and roadmap to 2030+? Can we operate 4 th Gen (marinised Reaper/Avenger) alongside F35B in the meantime? Technology challenge? Recover to STOVL Platform Where are the USMC going?

11 EXPLOIT Networked information Interoperability Common Operating Picture Sustained by surveillance assets 24/7 coverage UAS can expect to play an increasing role in facilitating comms rebro and local area (resilient) networks in cyber-constrained or satellite-denied environments Routinely relaying data from UUVs in support of rapid environmental assessment, mine warfare and ASW in parallel with other ISR tasking

12 Unmanned systems - networked connectivity

13 Current UK Maritime UAS Programmes Maritime Urgent Operational Requirement Rotary Wing UAS (RWUAS) Capability Concept Demonstrator (CCD) [Down-selection imminent] Flexible Deployable UAS (FDUAS) Cross-domain objective but limited progress so far Potentially compatible with Maritime UOR

14 So What? UK needs to: Restore contingent expeditionary capability Strive for cross-domain agility Reduce platform proliferation across Defence Commonality with coalition allies? Address legal requirements for operating UAS in nonsegregated airspace Increase appetite for maritime experimentation Lighter-Than-Air Tactical UAS Optionally-manned Optimise MUM (will vary with some current ship constraints)

15 QUESTIONS?