Systems Consultants was tasked to provide program management and tactical analysis for the development of the UAV Concept of Operations. The project integrated a real UAV system (the Army Hunter) into live fly training and TAC D&E events at NAS Fallon. The project also demonstrated the first Department of Defense laser weapon guidance with the UAV providing the laser designation. The results of this six-month effort were many fold. In addition to the desired CONOPS and tactical lessons learned, NSAWC was given a $ 2,000,000 funding line to continue such efforts for the next nine(9) years. Systems Consultants has remained on as the UAV program consultant and direct support contractor for NSAWC. As such, SCI has spear headed several ground breaking initiative pertaining to Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.  Specifically: 

•  The development of complete, FAA approved, airfield integration procedure for simultaneous manned and un-manned vehicle flight operations from a tactical jet base.

•  NSAWC and SCI also leveraged the Naval Warfare Development Command (NWDC) sponsored TAC D&E program and executed the development of a new UAV TACMEMO entitled “UAV in Time Sensitive Operations.”

•  Having developed formal TTPs for the Navy, SCI worked with the NSAWC staff to integrate UAV operations and products into the Carrier Airwing Predeployment training syllabus at NAS Fallon. The syllabus not only provides fleet exposure to UAVs, but also stimulates a new Strike Warfare Commander Watch Team syllabus.

The Challenge:

JFCOM and TENCAP approached NSAWC for assistance in assessing the technical capabilities and concepts of operations for integrating the Global Hawk UAV into fleet operations as part of the system’s Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD). Again, the focus for NSAWC was UAV support to time sensitive operations.

SCI solution:

Systems Consultants provided program management, technical assistance and tactical analysis to NSAWC, plus assessment and CONOPS formulation to JFCOM and USAF Air Component Command (ACC). The project required the technical integration of several stand-alone systems along with the coordination with their associated Navy/Joint systems programs offices, including; Common Data Link (CDL), Tactical Imagery Segment (TIS), Precision Targeting Work Station (PTW) and the Global Hawk Joint Program Office. SCI worked with the NSAWC staff and integrated several Global Hawk ACTD sorties into live fly Navy training events on the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). Global Hawk products were used to mensurate precision coordinates for Navy strike weapons, and imagery was annotated, then data linked into the cockpits of tactical strike aircraft.

	Based upon the success of the Global Hawk ACTD at NSAWC, Systems Consultants recommended to the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) requirements office that the Navy pursue a similar program for the Navy instead of attempting to design an aircraft carrier compatible Multi-Role Endurance UAV (MRE UAV). The proposed basing plan called for High Altitude Endurance (HAE) UAV integration into Navy Maritime Patrol Squadrons (VP) at their forwarded deployed sites. This plan was embraced by the CNO and became the Navy Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV program, which is in progress today.

Project: Navy Training with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

Clients:  The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center and Commander Third Fleet

The Challenge:

To provide real time Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance training to Navy fleet warfighters during live training exercises.  The challenges included the integration of Tactics Techniques and Procedures into validated training syllabi, and then to integrate a UAV like system into the exercise without compromising safety and at a significantly reduced cost from leasing real UAVs.

SCI solution:

System Consultants has formally teamed with WESCAM, one of the world’s leading provider of Electro Optical (EO) to provide a high impact, low cost, turn-key UAV tactical training program for the US Department of Defense (DoD). The “Surrogate Unmanned Aerial Vehicle” (SUAV) program was designed to fill DoD requirements for integrating UAVs into field exercises, tests, as well as tactics development and training programs. The goal: provide the UAV training capability at a fraction of the cost of leasing actual UAV systems. To date, SCI/WESCAM has supported over 11 Airwing training detachments at NAS Fallon and 5 Joint Task Force Exercises for Commander Third Fleet.

The Platform:The platform is a Cessna 182. The aircraft was chosen for reliability, cost and to alleviate any FAA restrictions that may be imposed upon actual UAVs. Equipped with Oxygen, the aircraft can operate up to 16,000 feet MSL.  The platform has also demonstrated significant better tolerance for weather conditions than actual UAVs.

 

The Sensor: A state of the art MX-15 is installed on the platform. This sensor provides: Geo Pointing-Stabilization Full color motion video Full motion Infrared video IR laser pointer-designator IR laser targeting-designator		The Data link: A commercial, off-the-shelf television data link is utilized to, again, ease SUAV integration into any environment the customer may require.  The link is bi-directional, offering full sensor control and aircraft flight commands while simultaneously providing the sensor product.  Demonstrated range is over 125 NM.

The Training:  Systems Consultants brings extensive experience in integrating UAVs into exercises and training, as well as providing tailored training and assessment.  Although UAVs are traditionally used to provide Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield, SCI specializes in integrating UAV systems into Time Sensitive Operations, such as:

Special Operations Combat Search and Rescue Air Interdiction Non-combatant Evacuation Operations Time Sensitive Strike Operations Amphibious Landing