February 2001 - UAV-Air Maneuver Integrated Operations

by Maj. Gen. Anthony Jones 

The mission of the Air Maneuver Battle Laboratory (AMBL) is "to examine advanced concepts and technology through warfighting experimentation and technology demonstrations to assess if they enhance the commander's ability to fight and win on the 21st-century battlefield."  The AMBL uses a combination of constructive, virtual and live simulations to execute that comprehensive mission.

Since 1993 AMBL has explored advanced concepts of teaming manned and unmanned aerial platform system capabilities on the digitized battlefield in order to capitalize on the unique benefits provided by each system. Our focus has been on capabilities, equipment, employment methods and concepts that provide relevant battlefield information to assist in answering the maneuver Commander's Critical Information Requirements (CCIR).  In particular, the focus has been on information provided by a lethal, survivable, flexible team - an air-maneuver team - of helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) conducting tactical reconnaissance missions.

Manned and Unmanned Experiments

        In 1996 AMBL began a series of Manned and Unmanned (MUM) Concept Experimentation Programs (CEPs) to investigate the synergy that occurs when the capabilities of manned and unmanned aerial platforms are combined. MUM I and II CEPs were completed in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

        During 1999 and 2000 AMBL conducted the MUM III CEP, which examined the synergistic effect of teaming in order to increase the commander's ability to visualize, shape and dominate the battlespace. Initially, the experiment assessed the information exchange between the UAV and helicopter when the UAV platform and sensor payload were controlled from the manned platform (level 4 control). The information received from the UAV sensor payload was processed through the Comanche's Mission Equipment Package (MEP) Aided Target Detection/Classification system. 

        MUM III CEP also examined Cognitive Decision Aiding technology from the Rotorcraft Pilot's Associate (RPA) Advanced Technology Demonstration to enhance both hasty and deep-attack missions, and en route reconnaissance and security operations. The integration and use of the RPA Cognitive Decision Aiding System (CDAS) improved the overall mission effectiveness of the team.

During MUM III the potential effectiveness and efficiencies of CDAS tools were successfully demonstrated. The results of MUM III clearly indicate that without integrating a reasonable level of CDAS tools the manned system cannot effectively conduct teaming operations when controlling the UAV platform and sensor payload (level 4 control). Without CDAS tools to assist in providing MANPRINT solutions, the most effective teaming operation is controlling the UAV platform and sensor payload from the ground-control station with sensor data being transmitted directly to the manned system (level 2 control). Using level 2 control, the manned system communicates with the GCS and the GCS directs the UAV platform and sensor payload. Here's what we have learned from MUM I-III:

        - Top three roles and missions are reconnaissance, surveillance/targeting and battle damage assessment (BDA), and communications relay.

        - Synergy is maximized when MUM aerial platforms use control level 4 with cognitive decision aids, detailed planning and training.

        - When force effectiveness, situational awareness and battlespace coverage increase, mission execution times decrease.

        - A UAV with comparable performance is best suited for teaming with other manned air maneuver systems.

        - Tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) developed and refined in MUM I-III support the Comanche/UAV teaming concept.

        - Effective teaming is limited by current tactical UAV capabilities. 

        - Future UAV platforms require plug-and-play modularity and sensors with advanced technology and greater capability.

The results of MUM III CEP are being integrated into the design of the recently approved MUM IV CEP. MUM IV will continue to investigate CDAS applications to assist in providing the commander a common relevant picture using the C4ISR architecture and operating as a system of systems. This CEP will identify the CDAS requirements necessary to conduct MUM team operations, identify the most appropriate level of command and control, and define the MUM mix at the team, platoon and troop level. We envision that these MUM teams will support the interim and objective force brigade combat team, division and corps across the full spectrum of operations.

        The focus of MUM IV will be on the contributions of the mix of Comanche and UAV to tactical ISR (for example, using the Comanche system as a remote ASAS work station), and the use of computer-assisted control technology to provide timely and relevant information. Candidate technologies from Science and Technology Objectives include automated man-computer-machine interfaces; real-time mission replanning; near-term historical cognizance of areas covered by sensors; data monitoring; and employment of aided target recognizer technology in support of commander's intent, CCIR and high-priority targets.

        The overall MUM IV objective is to define a capability requirement that will enhance the warfighter's ability to effectively control the actions of unmanned platforms and their sensors with minimum operator input, and capitalize on data fusion and aided target recognition to focus the reconnaissance effort on high-payoff areas. The MUM IV CEP will assist the Horizontal Technology Integration (HTI) of concepts and technologies to control of UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), combined with tactical decision aiding technology for asset and mission management. 

        Candidate concepts and technologies assist mission planning, create a composite battlefield picture, detect plan violations, recommend plan changes based on threat actions, collect and distribute battlefield information, ensure communications links and manage the battle. Mission scenarios include recon­nais­sance, surveillance and attack operations over extended battlespace. The CEP's determination of workload issues, and definition of the team and platoon mix, will be essential input into follow-on studies of the optimal mix of manned and unmanned platforms above the company and battalion operations. CEP outputs will support determination of control and decision-aiding technology insertion options throughout the platforms of the combined arms team.

        The results of MUM IV will directly affect the following initiatives being investigated and supported by the Aviation Warfighting Center:

        M Provide support to Air Maneuver Concepts-Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Team (AMUAVT) Tier II Integrated Concept Team (ICT), DCD, at Fort Rucker, Ala.

        M Revise TTPs and identify requirements for aviation/UAV integration for the RAH-66 Comanche and the AH-64D Longbow.

        M Conduct experiments with live UAVs at the Aviation Warfighting Center beginning in April.

   M Develop and field solutions to the air maneuver integration issues identified by Task Force Hawk.

  M Identify integration and teaming insights for use in the Hunter Stand-off Killer Team (HSKT) ACTD. 

  M Conduct OSD directed AoA and follow-on objective force optimum mix analyses to support Comanche Mile-stone III decision. This process will define the required capability to fully integrate UAV sensor information imagery into the RAH-66 Comanche.

Task Force Hawk MUM Initiative

        Virtual experiments such as MUM I, II and III have provided valuable insights into the effects of teaming UAVs and helicopters. Additionally, the critical operational need identified during Task Force Hawk operations in Albania and Kosovo indicates this capability is essential to enhance the information available to the force commander by integrating the AH-64 Apache and Hunter UAV. 

These insights and critical operational need are currently being integrated into Army experiments. The Joint Contingency Force Advanced Warfighting Experiment (JCF AWE) was the first live demonstration of manned and unmanned teaming in a tactical scenario. The purpose was to determine if an unmanned aerial vehicle controlled from the cockpit of an AH-64D Longbow could provide enhanced situational awareness to the helicopter crew and maneuver commanders. During this experiment an AH-64D from the 2nd Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, was teamed with a Hunter UAV from the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk, La. 

        The manned and unmanned teaming initiative was employed in the search and attack phase of the JCF AWE. During this low-intensity conflict phase, the infantry brigade task force was to search for and neutralize squad-size enemy guerrilla forces in the brigade's area of operations. The mission of the AH-64D/UAV team was to conduct several area reconnaissance missions on selected named areas of interest (NAIs) as part of the brigade's intelligence-collection plan. 

The AH-64D received telemetry data from the UAV at a distance of 58km, which provided UAV altitude, airspeed and location for both the UAV and where the sensor was looking. Useable, solid video transmission to the AH-64D was measured at 30km. The integration of this information will assist the future maneuver commanders in identifying targets and developing fire distribution plans prior to engaging the enemy.

UAV Integration at the Aviation

Warfighting Center

        Constructive and virtual simulation exercises have created a foundation of understanding on the use and the synergistic effect of manned and unmanned system teaming on air and ground maneuver in support of joint and combined-arms operations. Congress and the Office of the Secretary of Defense have on several occasions indicated that their goal is to have unmanned air and ground systems by the 2010-2015 timeframe. 

        It is now time to conduct live experimentation on MUM concepts to further define the requirements and TTPs for UAV and air maneuver integration. The Aviation Warfighting Center (AWC) is a great location in which to conduct the live experimentation and integration. The Directorate of Combat Developments has initiated an Integrated Concept Team, AMBL has developed a plan to visit and collect information from Army organizations which now operate UAVs, and the AWC is finalizing a plan to begin flying UAVs.  Training of operators and maintainers, as well as air traffic control, approach control and ground control personnel, requires greater definition of mission tasks before the formal training analysis process can begin. Integrating UAVs at AWC will facilitate achieving the following objectives:

        - Address Task Force Hawk Issues "hands-on."

        - Establish a minimal aviation UAV capability baseline.

        - Validate UAV concepts for air maneuver operations.

        - Refines manned/unmanned teaming TTPs.

        - Explore force structure and mix implications.

        - Participate in warfighting exercises and Army experiments.

        - Develop and conduct training.

        - Define operational requirements for UAV/air maneuver integrated operations.

        - Assist in defining material and software requirements for PM UAV.

Maj. Gen. Anthony R. Jones is commanding general of the U.S. Army Aviation Center at Fort Rucker, Ala., and chief of the aviation branch.