The Northrop Grumman Mq 4c Triton Unmanned Aircraft System

Public Intelligence, a non-profit that advocates for free access to information, released a map of military UAV activities in the United States on Tuesday. Assembled from military sources €" especially this little-known June 2011 Air Force presentation (.pdf) - it is arguably the most comprehensive map so far of the spread of the Pentagon 's unmanned fleet. What exact missions are performed at those locations, however, is not clear. Some bases might be used as remote cockpits to control the robotic aircraft

Furthermore, the private contractors employed by the firm may be selected based on past warfare experience and are generally more available than governmentally controlled defense forces. The government money loaned to the firm can be allocated to establishing counter defense mechanisms against UAVs, comprised of a detecting and neutralizing component. Radar systems are the detecting component of the system, capable of electronically detecting UAVs from long ranges. The radar’s ability to spot potential threats from large distances allows preparation time to neutralize the threat. The most efficient countermeasure against UAVs is jamming the operator’s connection to the device, and then intercepting the signal to overtake control of the drone. The dual-component defense mechanism is ideal for the current technological landscape, as it readily identifies and disarms any potential

As the political landscape in the United States continues to include increasing levels of immigration reform and border security rhetoric, an understanding of current capabilities and operations becomes a vital component when forming an educated opinion. Army National Guard soldiers and aircraft provide a crucial layer of border security, employing the UH-72A Lakota helicopter equipped with technology designed to assist law enforcement agencies in drug interdiction and undocumented immigrant apprehension. Shortfalls in United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) capabilities opened the door for military involvement to stem the influx of illegal immigrants, as well as slowing

Military forces deploy to vastly different environments across the globe. However, two of the most important discriminating factors which shape how operations are conducted are acceptance and protection of US forces by the local population. Operational environments are roughly sorted into two major categories. Permissive environments are locations where the host nation has control of its territory and supports US operations. Non-permissive environments refer to locations with hostile or uncertain local response. Although the weapon’s systems and sensors do not change from one location to the next, the environment surrounding a deployed Air Defense unit has a significant impact on how it is best operated. The Patriot and Avenger weapons systems clearly demonstrate the disparate considerations that must be taken for implementation of each asset when employed in a permissive and non-permissive environment respectively.

NAVAIR is headquartered in Patuxent River, MD, but has eight different locations throughout the continental United States that provide continuous Atlantic and Pacific fleet support. NAVAIR is commanded by Vice Admiral Paul Grosklags; however, Mr. Garry Newton is the senior most civilian member (NAVAIR Leadership). The joint operations between military and civilian personnel allows for ideas to be maximized and fair in distribution to the public. Plus, the delegation of leadership is vital to the success, improvement, and development of any individual or organization. According to the Department of Defense in the United States and NAVAIR, NAVAIR’s mission is to “provide full life-cycle support of naval aviation aircraft, weapons and systems that are operated by Sailors and Marines” (About NAVAIR). The significance of this is that Sailors and Marines are guaranteed continuous support from NAVAIR. With constant support, Sailors and Marines are able to perform their duties on naval ships, land-based operations, and naval aircraft with excellence. NAVAIR explicitly states that “because we develop, deliver, and sustain aircraft, weapons, and systems – on time, on cost, with proven capability and reliability – Sailors and Marines succeed in every mission and return safely home” (About NAVAIR). Since NAVAIR provides diverse support to the Navy and Marine Corps, wartime

At the strategic level I developed an operational plan that consisted of AMOC’s Project and Plans, Operations, and Systems Directorates, AMO Headquarters (HQ) Test and Evaluation (T&E), and the South East Region to participate in the Maritime Lab Demonstration. The Maritime Lab intends to demonstrate the use of a tethered aerostat outfitted with a maritime radar to improve maritime security operations. The demonstration will also include the use of the Minotaur Mission Management System to share surveillance data among aircraft, vessels and command centers. I developed the desired Critical Operational Issues for the Maritime Lab with the Program Manager Rob Brown. The plan I provided consisted of roles and responsibilities, action items, goals and expectations of activities during the maritime demonstration. As the Lead Maritime Operational Representative for Customs and Border Protection, and Deputy Project Manager for the Dark Vessel Detection Project (DVD-P), I initiated the activity to develop a maritime sensor database and coordinated with DHS components and offices with maritime equities to ensure inclusion as the database is developed. I queried the United States Coast Guard, United States Border Patrol, and National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office to obtain their functional needs in using the maritime

In addition to Talisman Sabre 2013, I Corps developed and tested Pacific Pathways, which is a model similar to the Marines’ UDP. I Corps will deploy a HQs, tactical force, with an aviation detachment and enablers will deploy to the USPACOM AOR to participate in exercises and to respond to a contingency. Therefore, the regional alignment of I Corps, represents an opportunity to scale

The mission of U. S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Air and Marine (CBP/OAM) is to protect the American people and Nation’s critical infrastructure. CBP/OAM achieves this mission through the coordinated use of integrated air and marine force-mix surveilling the nation’s border. OAM’s focus of effort is to monitor, detect, track, classify, identify, and prevent acts of terrorism, unlawful movement of people, illegal drugs, and other contraband toward, across, and within the borders of the United States. To accomplish the fundamentals of the agency’s strategic mission, CBP/OAM has a critical mission need for Persistent Surveillance. Persistent Surveillance is the ability to have continuous sensor coverage spanning a fixed geographic

The Predator C, “Avenger” developed and built by General Atomics Aeronautical, is an upgraded version of its predecessors the MQ-1 and MQ-9 and is meant to support military operations well into the next decade. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney PW545B turbofan engine the Avenger is capable of speeds up to 400 knots true air speed (KTAS), and operational altitudes of up to 50,000 feet, well outpacing its predecessors (CITE). The Avenger has also been further optimized to reduce its Radar Cross Section (RCS), making it less detectable by enemy air defenses. Beyond its ability to out-fly the original Predator UAS, the Avenger is able to be equipped with a more capable and configurable sensors and weapons package. These advancements make the Predator C Avenger the most capable and universal hunter-killer type UAS

The integration of air operations into the ground commander’s scheme of maneuver may also require the integration of other services or multinational partners. Integration fundamentals include: understanding the capabilities and limitations of each force, building habitual relationships, and training. BCTs are typically augmented with support from the Air Force Tactical Air Control Party, Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, an Aviation Liaison Officer and multinational liaisons as mission variables of METT-TC dictate. It is important for the ADAM/BAE to manage these additional personnel during UAP development and tailor the product to meet the requirements of all users. A strong measure of performance that signifies a well synchronized UAP is the processing time for both pre-planned and counter fire missions. When all airspace users are integrated, the BCT can expedite air clearance to enable effective fire support to the Soldier on the

Unlike other surface combatants with conventional ammunition, aircraft carriers can safely remain hundreds of miles off the coast of a nation and strike farther inland by utilizing their embarked air wing (Thompson). Also unlike other surface combatants that sail closer to shore, the air wing of the carrier cannot be torpedoed or hit by an enemy mine; the small size and advanced deception technology on the carrier’s various aircraft also make them much more difficult for the enemy to detect than a visible destroyer or cruiser parked directly off their coast. When analyzing the US’s supercarriers, each of their 70 aircraft fulfill a certain role in the theater of war, but they all provide the Navy with the means to dominate the enemy in the sky, on the sea, and on land through electronic and conventional offensive and defensive means

Dating back to the introduction of the original Hercules in 1954, Lockheed Martin has persistently continued to demonstrate perpetual enhancements to the performance of the most veteran line of aircraft platforms in martial history and the transition from the KC-130F to the KC-130J was no exception. The enhancements to its avionics systems, engines, and the addition of the Harvest HAWK weapons kit in 2010 has produced a state-of-the-art platform appropriate for modern day operations. The KC-130J’s improvements in speed, efficiency, and overall combat readiness were demonstrated in the aircraft’s participation in many missions undertaken by Marine aviation. Its first deployment took place in February 2005 with the Marine Aerial Transport Squadron 252 to Al Asad, Iraq in continued support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by conducting aerial refueling and aerial deliveries (Oki, 16). The Harvest HAWK weapons system was first put to the test by KC-130Js deployed with Marine Aerial Transport Squadron 352 in 2010, ordered to provide support for ground Marines in Sangin, Afghanistan (Flurry, “Marine Corps Teaches Old Plane New Tricks in Afghanistan”). The KC-130J also played an important role in the operation, Odyssey Dawn as a part of a pilot rescue mission (Lamothe,

“An air assault is the movement of friendly assault forces by rotary-wing aircraft to engage and destroy enemy forces or to seize and hold key terrain” (JP 3-18). These air assaults would not be an air assault without the attack aviation element supporting them. Additionally, the use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems support air assaults by providing continuous helicopter landing zone “soaks” prior to infill as well as patterns of life observations. The attack aircraft that conduct quick reaction force operations stationed at remoted forward operating bases rely on the utility and cargo aircraft to supply ammo, fuel, POL, and parts to maintain flight operations. Again, Unmanned Aircraft Systems work directly with the attack aviation platforms employing manned unmanned teaming concepts in order to dispatch enemy elements. “An air movement is the air transport of units, personnel, supplies, and equipment including airdrops and air landings” (JP 1-02). “Security operations are those operations undertaken by the commander to provide early and accurate warning of enemy operations to provide the force being protected with the time and maneuver space to react to the enemy, and to develop the situation to allow the commander to effectively employ the protected force “(ADRP 3-90). The early and accurate warnings and the intelligence that these operations provide ensures that the air movements are traversing in as “safe” an environment as

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) , through the Office of Air and Marine (OAM), conducts Air Surveillance and Air Domain Awareness operations by coordinating law enforcement and other air assets to detect, track, intercept, and interdict cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft. The core of CBP’s air domain awareness architecture resides at the Air and Marine Operations Center (AMOC). The AMOC is chartered as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Integrated Domain Awareness Law Enforcement Center of Excellence and is a key element in CBP’s counter-network strategy. The AMOC is an international, multi-domain federal law enforcement center that strengthens the execution of CBP’s global mission.

The MQ-4C Triton Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), previously known as the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS), is a major defense acquisition program (MDAP) based on the United States Air Force (USAF) high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) RQ-4B Global Hawk (Cohn & Harrison, 2014; Department of Defense [DoD], 2013; Naval Air Systems Command [NAVAIR], 2014). The program “…entered System Development and Demonstration (SDD) based on a Milestone (MS) B Acquisition Decision Memorandum (ADM) issued on April 18, 2008” (DoD, 2013, p. 5). An SDD contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC), with an option for low rate initial production (LRIP), on April 22, 2008 (DoD, 2011). Program milestones include: