UAV Systems: Aviation Branch Assumes Proponency

By MG(P) John M. Curran

    "The primary reason cited for this action is the evolution of roles unmanned aerial platforms perform on the battlefield. New tactical roles display aviation core competencies and are crossing into those operations. This proponency change will leverage Aviation Center knowledge of manned aerial platforms into unmanned platforms, and will provide the most effective and efficient method for managing the development of this capability for the Objective Force." Department of the Army Proponency Transfer Memorandum, June 19, 2003.
    The advantages offered by unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAVS) to warfighters and the force are many. In an era of resource constraints and force-structure reductions, UAVS are force multipliers, particularly in areas often categorized as "the dull, the dirty and the dangerous."
    UAVS are performing critical roles in operations such as Enduring Freedom and Iraq Freedom (OEF/OIF), and in other mission locations, reducing the risks to our soldiers and releasing manned systems for other diverse roles. The future holds great promise for UAVS capabilities, including "weaponization" and maneuver sustainment.
The military-intelligence branch has masterfully led the charge in integrating UAVS capabilities into current forces, and into future force strategies and concepts. As technology and UAVS capabilities have evolved, the role of UAVS in tactical combined-arms maneuver operations has grown. As evidenced in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq, UAV systems are in high demand by maneuver commanders and are experiencing great success.
    For the future, UAVS will no longer focus solely on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. Army UAVS will also contribute to the success of decisive operations by enhancing current manned-system capabilities to conduct reconnaissance, attack, lift and logistical resupply, command and control, and aerial communications relay. The shift from operational to tactical coupled with the inherent problems associated with air-ground teaming, safety, standardization, airspace command and control, and weaponization — all contributed to the decision for a change in proponency.
    Army aviation has a long history of experience working these areas with manned rotary- and fixed-wing platforms. On June 19, 2003, the chief of staff of the Army approved the formal transfer of UAVS proponency from military intelligence to the aviation branch and to the U.S. Army Aviation Center (USAAVNC) at Fort Rucker, Ala. A transition plan is now being executed, leading to a complete transfer of responsibilities by the end of this fiscal year in September 2004. By the beginning of summer 2004 we will have the new office for the Training and Doctrine Command System Manager for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (TSM-UAVS) fully operational at Fort Rucker.

Defining Future Requirements —A Cooperative Effort
    For the future force, the Army envisions a family of UAVS providing layered multi-echelon support.
The Army's Future Combat System equipped Unit of Action (UA equals battalion to brigade size) requirements call for four classes of UAVS. These systems will range from a small man-portable system employed by platoon-sized units for reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) operations, to multi-functional platforms capable of enabling a variety of no-line-of-sight joint supporting fires.
    Other requirements will team UAVS with the RAH-66 Comanche for RSTA operations throughout the UA area. UAVS requirements at the Unit of Employment (UE equals division to corps size) will continue to evolve as the Army refines the UE and maneuver-sustainment concepts.
    The massive combat and training developments requirements associated with fielding these systems will require a cooperative effort. The U.S. Army Intelligence Center at Fort Huachuca, Ariz., will continue to lead development of the on-board sensors and ISR payloads. Other schools and centers — such as those for infantry, armor, artillery and signal  will provide the expertise necessary for development and refinement of requirements for UAVS use in missions associated with their proponencies.
    The Combined Arms Support Command will lead the concept development for unmanned lift requirements. The role of the USAAVNC will be to integrate these requirements to ensure UAVS capabilities meet warfighter requirements for the total force. We will continue to work toward common architectures, user interfaces, and hardware and software that allow mixing and matching of air vehicles and sensors, and interoperability with the joint force.
    Although proponency at Fort Rucker establishes a single focal point for the "user" in UAVS development efforts (including the science and technologies), UAVS requirements development will clearly continue to be a cooperative endeavor.

What Does the Future Hold?
    Current Army UAVS include the RQ-5A Hunter and the RQ-7A Shadow, and provide excellent test-beds for the evolution of near- to mid-term UAVS capabilities. The Shadow is being fielded to the interim Stryker brigades to enhance the ground commander's operational intelligence and situational awareness. The Hunter is being used as a platform to explore means and methods of weaponization.
    The Army recently selected the RQ-8 Fire Scout, a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAVS, as a platform to meet the Future Force UA battalion and brigade UAVS requirements. This UAVS has already demonstrated autonomous flight, tactical control data link operations, multi-mission payload performance, and ground-control station operations in programs and tests conducted by the Navy.
    Objectives of the ongoing Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the Army's unmanned combat armed rotorcraft (UCAR) program are to develop, integrate and demonstrate the enabling technologies and system capabilities required of an unmanned aircraft to perform reconnaissance, security, close-combat and mobile strike missions.
    Additionally, UCAR will demonstrate the advantages of teaming manned and unmanned systems for target engagement, including detection, identification, weapons delivery and target damage assessment.
    DARPA, the FCS lead system integrator (LSI), and the Army are also exploring micro air vehicles, known as MAVS, which are aircraft no larger than six to 12 inches, to meet the infantry platoon requirements for a backpack deployable system, and a slightly larger organic air vehicle designed for company operations and transport aboard FCS ground vehicles.

Heading Toward a New Horizon
    Recent and emerging technologies offer tremendous promise for UAVS capabilities.
    Science and technology efforts are ongoing in the areas of precision landing, sensor and radar technologies, heavy fuel engines, and the miniaturization of engines and other components. These technologies will provide more capability per pound and support movement toward increasingly autonomous operations. Challenges include weaponization (including both lethal and nonlethal initiatives), developing and demonstrating heavy-fuel engines suitable for UAVS use, joint-force interoperability, frequency-management issues for the large number of UAVS expected to be operating in the battlespace, manned-unmanned integration and control of UAVS from mounted combat systems, airspace command and control, and developing collective training strategies with manned systems.
    USAAVNC, in concert with other proponent schools, Training and Doctrine Command integrating centers and the materiel developer, will continue to work toward solutions in each of these areas as UAVS capabilities are defined and refined. We must balance these needs with the requirement to work near-term UAVS issues to ensure current force needs are addressed.
    Above all, we cannot allow ourselves to become so enamored with the technology that we lose sight of the doctrine, training, leadership and education, organizations, personnel and facilities impacts on the soldier and the Army as UAVS are developed and fielded. USAAVNC looks forward to the challenges which lie ahead. For UAVS one thing is certain … the sky's the limit!
    Continue to think safety and risk management in all that you do, be safe and watch out for your fellow soldiers.
 

 "Above the Best!"

 MG John M. Curran is the commander of the U.S. Army Aviation Center and chief of the aviation branch.