Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - The Key to Effective Situational Awareness in Littoral Operations.

摘要

This paper describes the Vital Role Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) should play in providing much needed 'Eye in the Sky' situational awareness to Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) Marine Corps Expeditionary Unit (MEU) operations in highly challenging littoral environments. The argument is made that this UAV surveillance capability must be organic to ARGIMEU units to ensure timely and comprehensive implementation contributing to effective local battlespace dominance and force protection. An historical examination of UAV use in littoral operations by the U.S. Armed Forces is made to illustrate that an effective, reliable UAV system tailored for ARGIMEU use is long overdue. Advances in current surveillance technology are described that should be considered for incorporation in UAV programs supporting amphibious operations. The argument is made that Long-Dwell UAV flight endurance is vital in providing the level of surveillance necessary to fully support amphibious operations. The endurance of 'Firescout' - The Navy/Marine Corps vertical takeoff and landing UAV (VTUAV) program competition winner, currently scheduled to 'Replace' the troubled pioneer UAV beginning in 2003, places it in the category of an interim answer to the Long-Dwell surveillance requirement.