Eyes of the Army U.S. Army Roadmap for UAS 2010-2035
Foreword
The U.S. Army began combat operations in October 2001 with 54 operational Hunter and Shadow unmanned aircraft. Today, the Army has over 4,000 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in various sizes and capabilities with still more programmed. After nearly 9 years of continuous combat operations, we have significantly evolved the way we employ UAS in support of our Warfighters. These adaptations are reflected in the tremendous growth of platforms and the expanded capabilities in the current UAS force. While Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) documents have captured approved requirements and official programs of record have been established, it is now time we pursue a comprehensive strategy or roadmap for establishing future UAS requirements.
The purpose of The US Army UAS Roadmap (2010-2035) is to provide a broad vision for how the Army will develop, organize, and employ UAS across the full spectrum of operations. The major ideas that emerge will provide a common foundation for continued learning and analysis. We will evaluate ideas and challenge assumptions to develop a full range of UAS capabilities. The roadmap will inform warfighting functional concepts, contribute to capabilities-based assessments, and assist in the development of resource informed decisions on new technologies that will be evaluated through comprehensive experimentation and testing. Ultimately, our roadmap will frame an answer to the question, “What UAS capabilities do we need for the Army in the future?”
As described in the Army’s Capstone Concept, to operate effectively under conditions of uncertainty and complexity in an era of persistent conflict, leaders must understand the situation in depth, adapt the actions of their formations to seize and retain the initiative, and be capable of rapid operations over extended distances while sustaining operations over time and across wide areas. Developing and integrating UAS into these formations provide the means to broaden situational awareness as well as improve our ability to see, target, and destroy the enemy. We also expect the UAS of the future to contribute to responsive and continuous sustainment in unsecure, austere environments.
The road map provides the basis for an evolutionary approach to developing and integrating UAS capabilities into our formations. The road map is divided into three time periods: near (2010-2015), mid (2016-2025), and far (2026-2035). The near-term focus addresses gaps in today’s UAS capabilities while emphasizing the rapid integration of existing technologies to meet current demands of the Warfighter on the ground. The mid-term focus is on integrating additional multipurpose UAS into all aspects of Army operations ranging from “Network” support to “Cargo” capable. The more distant future is focused on increasing capability while reducing size, power, and weight requirements. We will review the roadmap every 2 years to remain relevant with operational needs, lessons learned, and emerging technology.
Our first edition UAS Roadmap provides a new direction for future UAS development, and we will adapt it over time to meet the needs of the Soldiers on the ground.
GEN Martin E. Dempsey Commanding General, TRADOC
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uas...
The U.S. Army began combat operations in October 2001 with 54 operational Hunter and Shadow unmanned aircraft. Today, the Army has over 4,000 unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in various sizes and capabilities with still more programmed. After nearly 9 years of continuous combat operations, we have significantly evolved the way we employ UAS in support of our Warfighters. These adaptations are reflected in the tremendous growth of platforms and the expanded capabilities in the current UAS force. While Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System (JCIDS) documents have captured approved requirements and official programs of record have been established, it is now time we pursue a comprehensive strategy or roadmap for establishing future UAS requirements.
The purpose of The US Army UAS Roadmap (2010-2035) is to provide a broad vision for how the Army will develop, organize, and employ UAS across the full spectrum of operations. The major ideas that emerge will provide a common foundation for continued learning and analysis. We will evaluate ideas and challenge assumptions to develop a full range of UAS capabilities. The roadmap will inform warfighting functional concepts, contribute to capabilities-based assessments, and assist in the development of resource informed decisions on new technologies that will be evaluated through comprehensive experimentation and testing. Ultimately, our roadmap will frame an answer to the question, “What UAS capabilities do we need for the Army in the future?”
As described in the Army’s Capstone Concept, to operate effectively under conditions of uncertainty and complexity in an era of persistent conflict, leaders must understand the situation in depth, adapt the actions of their formations to seize and retain the initiative, and be capable of rapid operations over extended distances while sustaining operations over time and across wide areas. Developing and integrating UAS into these formations provide the means to broaden situational awareness as well as improve our ability to see, target, and destroy the enemy. We also expect the UAS of the future to contribute to responsive and continuous sustainment in unsecure, austere environments.
The road map provides the basis for an evolutionary approach to developing and integrating UAS capabilities into our formations. The road map is divided into three time periods: near (2010-2015), mid (2016-2025), and far (2026-2035). The near-term focus addresses gaps in today’s UAS capabilities while emphasizing the rapid integration of existing technologies to meet current demands of the Warfighter on the ground. The mid-term focus is on integrating additional multipurpose UAS into all aspects of Army operations ranging from “Network” support to “Cargo” capable. The more distant future is focused on increasing capability while reducing size, power, and weight requirements. We will review the roadmap every 2 years to remain relevant with operational needs, lessons learned, and emerging technology.
Our first edition UAS Roadmap provides a new direction for future UAS development, and we will adapt it over time to meet the needs of the Soldiers on the ground.
GEN Martin E. Dempsey Commanding General, TRADOC
http://www.fas.org/irp/program/collect/uas...
Second, this Budget begins the process of implementing my new defense strategy that reconfigures our force to meet the challenges of the coming decade. Over the past 3 years, we have made historic investments in our troops and their capabilities, military families, and veterans. After a decade of war, we are at an inflection point: American troops have left Iraq; we are undergoing a transition in Afghanistan so Afghans can assume more responsibility; and we have debilitated al Qaeda’s leadership, putting that terrorist network on the path to defeat. At the same time, we have to renew our economic strength here at home, which is the foundation of our strength in the world, and that includes putting our fiscal house in order. To ensure that our defense budget is driven by a clear strategy that reflects our national interests, I directed the Secretary of Defense and military leadership to undertake a comprehensive strategic review.
I presented the results of the review, reflecting my guidance and the full support of our Nation’s military leadership, at the Pentagon on January 5. There are several key elements to this new strategy. To sustain a global reach, we will strengthen our presence in the Asia Pacific region and continue vigilance in the Middle East. We will invest in critical partnerships and alliances, including NATO, which has demonstrated time and again—most recently in Libya—that it is a force multiplier. Looking past Iraq and Afghanistan to future threats, the military no longer will be sized for large- scale, prolonged stability operations. The Department of Defense will focus modernization on emerging threats and sustaining efforts to get rid of outdated Cold War-era systems so that we can invest in the capabilities we need for the future, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. My Administration will continue to enhance capabilities related to counterterrorism and countering weapons of mass destruction, and we will also maintain the ability to operate in environments where adversaries try to deny us access. And, we will keep faith with those who serve by giving priority to our wounded warriors, servicemembers’ mental health, and the well-being of military families.
Adapting our forces to this new strategy will entail investing in high-priority programs, such as unmanned surveillance aircraft and upgraded tactical vehicles. It will mean terminating unnecessary and lower-priority programs such as the C-27 airlift aircraft and a new weather satellite and maintaining programs such as the Joint Strike Fighter at a reduced level. All told, reductions in the growth of defense spending will save $487 billion over the next 10 years. In addition, the end of our military activities in Iraq and the wind-down of operations in Afghanistan will mean that the country will spend 24 percent less on overseas contingency operations (OCO) this year than it did last year, saving $30 billion. I also am proposing a multi-year cap on OCO spending so that we fully realize the dividends of this change in policy.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/fi...
"high-priority programs, such as unmanned surveillance aircraft"