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Five Demonstration Objectives

1. Data to support future UAS CONOPS.

2. Evaluate (subjectively) the Maritime Surface Search Radar and Electro-Optical/Infrared sensors.

3. Demonstrate capability to switch UAS control from Line-of-Sight (LOS) to Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) while airborne.

4. Demonstrate NATO STANAG 4586 Level 2 control (direct receipt of payload data to a remote terminal) onboard USCG and CBP marine assets.

5. Demonstrate capability of the UAS to receive and downlink Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.


Four Operational Objectives

1. Limited verification of the surveillance capabilities of a maritime Predator B UAS.

2. Integrate the Predator B UAS with crewed aircraft and marine assets to augment current capabilities of USCG and CBP assets.

3. Operate a Predator B UAS in a conventional USCG/CBP maritime mission in the Florida Straits from a Forward Operating Location (FOL) at Tyndall AFB.

4. Perform a surge operation in the southeast coastal region that will result in increased border security by detecting and deterring violators of U.S. immigration and importation laws.


Demonstration Description

MQ-9A/Predator B with Radar Pod

Raytheon: MTS-A (AN/AAS-52)

Israeli Aerospace Industries, Elta Systems Ltd: EL/M-2022A(V)3


Demonstration Description (cont)

Split OperationsL a u n c h a n d R e c o v e ry

@ T y n d a ll A F B

A M O C / C G P -D H S O n e N e tw o rk / E c h o S to rm

C u e in g to U S C G /C B P A s s e t A IS In fo rm a t io n

C2 &

Paylo

ad D

ata

C2 & Payload Data

In te r c e p t

K u -B a n d S A T C O M

RVT Video

RVT Video

B L O S C o n tro l @F t. H u a c h u c a

In te rc e p t

L a u n c h a n d R e c o v e ry @ T y n d a ll A F B

A M O C / C G P -D H S O n e N e tw o rk / E c h o S to rm

C u e in g to U S C G /C B P A s s e t A IS In fo rm a t io n

C2 &

Paylo

ad D

ata

C2 & Payload Data

In te r c e p t

K u -B a n d S A T C O M

RVT Video

RVT Video

B L O S C o n tro l @F t. H u a c h u c a

In te rc e p t



Ground Control Station (GCS) Remote Video Terminal

Directional Range >50NM

Omni Range >10 NM



Ku Antenna forBeyond Line of Sight (BLOS)

Satellite Antenna and Equipment

C-Band Line of Sight(LOS) Antenna


DHS Participants

• Coast Guard:

- R&D Ctr personnel, CG 41’ Small Boat, 87’ and 110’ Patrol Boats and 270’ Medium Endurance Cutter.

• Customs and Border Protection:

- AMOC, Air & Marine personnel, Midnight Express and Safe Boat marine assets, Dash-8, CBP Predator

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=154699&g2_imageViewsIndex=1

http://www.uscg.mil/d8/cgcHeron/img/heroncover.jpg


West Coast Operations

t

GreyButte

R-2515

W-532

Functional Check Flight, Payload and Target of Opportunity Test Flights


Gulf Coast Operations

Northern Gulf – Phase 2A

W-151

40 NM

45 NM

W

X

S

Tyndall AFB

40 NM

45 NM

W

X

S

Tyndall AFB

Florida Straits – Phase 2B

W-174 C and W-465 A/B

Payload Test Flights Mission Flights


Radar and EO/IR imagery

Initial Detection Range (Radar): 40.99NMSpeed: 9.04KTSISAR Length: 101MAIS Name: Liberty Sun AIS Type: Merchant-Cargo ShipAIS Length: 225M


Radar and EO/IR imagery

Initial Detection Range (Radar): 60 NMIR Classification Range: 3 NM ISAR Length: 9 MKnown Length: 12.5 M


Demonstration Objectives Results

1. Data to support future UAS CONOPS.- Achieved – UAS surveillance missions were conducted against Targets of

Opportunity (TOOs) in cooperation with both USCG and CBP assets.

2. Evaluate (subjectively) the Maritime Surface Search Radar and Electro-Optical sensors.- Partially Achieved – The ELTA maritime radar, EO/IR sensor, and AIS

receiver were used together to detect and classify TOIs. The sensors did not identify targets (i.e. reading hull numbers).

3. Demonstrate capability to switch UAS control from Line-of-Sight (LOS) to Beyond Line-of-Sight (BLOS) while airborne.

- Achieved – Tyndall operators switched UAS ground and in flight control from LOS to KU Satcom BLOS and then relinquished control to operators at Ft. Huachuca, AZ who assumed the KU Satcom BLOS control.


Demonstration Objectives Results (cont)

4. Demonstrate NATO STANAG 4586 Level 2 control (direct receipt of payload data to a remote terminal) onboard USCG and CBP marine assets. - Achieved – CG UTB and WPB equipped with Remote Video Terminals received

EO/IR video from the UAS during several flights.

5. Demonstrate capability of the UAS to receive and downlink Automatic Identification System (AIS) data.- Achieved – The UAS relayed AIS data while in flight to both Ft. Huachuca and

Tyndall AFB ground control stations.


Operational Objectives Results

1. Limited verification of the surveillance capabilities of a maritime Predator B UAS.

- Achieved –Overall 30+ vessels detected and classified during 40 flight hours.

2. Integrate the Predator B UAS with crewed aircraft and marine assets to augment current capabilities of USCG and CBP assets.

- Achieved – The UAS operated in cooperation with USCG and CBP units.

3. Operate a Predator B UAS in a conventional USCG/CBP maritime mission in the Florida Straits from a Forward Operating Location (FOL) at Tyndall AFB.- Partially Achieved –The UAS was flown from Tyndall AFB to the Florida

Straits operating areas (W-174 and W-465).

4. Perform a surge operation in the southeast coastal region that will result in increased border security by detecting and deterring violators of U.S. immigration and importation laws.- Not Achieved – 2.6 hours out of 50 flown in the operational “box.”


Statistics vs. Measure of Success

•Flight Statistics:-Scheduled number of Flights / Hours: 16 / 93-Actual number of Flights / Hours: 9 / 39.7 or 43%

•Availability was not a goal or defined measure of success:-CRADA Aircraft was not a production model-Limited demonstration budget -Logistics tail supported by contractor vice organic resources -First time flown with RADAR pod-First time payload was flown and operated over water-First time flown BLOS using Ku-band Satellite

•Actual measure of success:-Demonstration achieved or partially achieved 90% of stated objectives-Lessons learned ensures continuous refinement


Path Forward

• Encouraged by the results and the numerous lessons learned.

• Must collaborate with DHS S&T and CBP to further refine a Maritime Predator:- Fund and coordinate additional test activities

- Investigate aircraft performance capabilities

- Inform maritime radar and EO/IR requirements

- Inform future land-based UAS CONOPS and acquisition

• Pleased by the forward leaning efforts of CBP.


Why is the Maritime Environment Different

• Coastal airports are subject to localized wind conditions

– Having multiple directional runway options reduces crosswind issues

• Distance to OPAREA

– Regional / Municipal airports are close to local OPAREAs

– It takes time to transit to offshore OPAREAs

• Icing and Weather Reporting

– Local land-based weather reporting is more accurate and had more sources

– Maritime reports rely on more generalized reporting (NOAA buoys, etc)

RDC eagerly anticipates partnering with CBP on Maritime UAS development


Questions?

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