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Pioneer Short Range (SR) UAV

After having been impressed by stories of Israeli successes with UAVs in the early 1980s, the Navy initiated an expedited procurement of UAV systems. Pioneer was procured starting in 1985 as an interim UAV capability to provide imagery intelligence (IMINT) for spotters for naval gunfire support from its battleships (originally launched from Navy Iowa-class battleships, today from LPD-class ships), as well as provide a UAV capability for the Marine Corps.

Pioneer was procured starting in 1985 as an interim UAV capability to provide imagery intelligence (IMINT) for tactical commanders on land and at sea. In ten years, Pioneer has flown nearly 14,000 flight hours and supported every major U.S. contingency operation to date. It flew 300+ combat reconnaissance mission during Persian Gulf operations in 1990-91. Since September 1994, it has flown in contingency operations over Bosnia, Haiti and Somalia; most recently it flew in Task Force Eagle and IFOR operations again over Bosnia.

Pioneer skipped the traditional U.S. development phase of the acquisition process, and nine systems, each with eight air vehicles, were procured beginning in 1986 at an estimated cost of $87.7 million. Similar to Aquila, Pioneer is a small, propeller-driven aircraft.

The Pioneer began to encounter unanticipated problems almost immediately. Recovery aboard ship and electromagnetic interference from other ship systems were serious problems that led to a significant number of crashes. The Pioneer system also suffered from numerous other shortcomings. Ultimately, the Navy undertook a $50 million research and development effort to bring the nine Pioneer systems up to a level it described as a "minimum essential capability."

Pioneer is a Department of Defense joint system, having been flown by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Army. The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are currently flying Pioneer from LPD class naval vessels and land based operations. First deployed in Dec 1986 aboard the Navy's battleship USS IOWA, the Pioneer is currently assigned to support ship-deployable USN detachments, both East and West coast, two USMC companies, plus testing and training units. Successful deployments have been accomplished by the USN aboard battleships, by the USMC aboard amphibious ships and on land by the USA.

Although Pioneer has never met objective requirements, in the first ten years of service, Pioneer flew nearly 14,000 flight hours and supported every major US contingency operation. The Pioneer system has seen operational use in U.S. contingency operations since the system's original fielding in 1986. Since September 1994, it has flown in contingency operations over Bosnia, Haiti and Somalia; most recently it flew in Task Force Eagle and IFOR operations again over Bosnia. Pioneer flew 1,895 hours in FY-1998, and as of 19 November 1999 Pioneer had accumulated over 20,000 program total flight hours.

Currently, there are nine systems in the active force: the Navy operates five, the Marine Corps three, and one is assigned to the Joint UAV Training Center (JUAVTC) at Ft. Huachuca, AZ. An additional 30 Pioneers (procured in FY 1994) were delivered from September 1995 through November 1996, along with continuing support kit and spares procurement. These aircraft are in the Option 2+ configuration, which has slight increases in air vehicle weight and fuel capacity. A third extension of the Pioneer force's operational life is being planned through FY2003, until TUAV systems are fielded DOD plans to phase out Pioneer when the Tactical UAV [Outrider], which is in development becomes available.

The new replacement Payload the DS-12 EO/IR received Government production approval August 1998. The DS-12 offers improved reliability over existing Moked-200 (DAY TV) and Moked-400 (FLIR)

Manufacturer: AAI	Runway (ISA): improved: 2000 ft. x 80	RATO: yes	Dimensions: length-168.0 in. span-202.8 in. height- 39.6 in.
A/Vs in Baseline: 5	Data Link: Frequency: C-band/UHF Line of Sight: yes Satellite: no GPS:yes	Range: 185 km on GCS 40 km on PCS	Power Plant: 27 hp Sachs 2 stroke, pusher
Fuel: type- 100 LL avgas capacity- 40 liters	Endurance: 3.5 - 4 hours	Payloads: CCD (daylight only) FLIR (day-night) only one at time	Operational Altitudes (ISA): to 15,000 ft. MSL
Speeds: stall- 52 kts cruise- 65 kts dash-110 kts	Max. Gross Take-off Weight: 450 lbs	Weather limits: T/O cross winds-15 kts T/O head winds- 25 kts rain-no visible moisture-no icing-no turbulence-light	Auto. Return Home on Data Link Loss: yes
Emergency Recovery: none	Relay Flight Capability: no	Multiple AV Control: yes: autonomous flight	Control Transfer to Another Shelter: yes

	Aboard Ship
Pioneer Mounted on RATO Stand	VC-6 Det 1 Aboard USS Missouri Nov 90	Manuvering Pioneer onto the RATO Stand
	Flight
Pioneer with Ground Station Below	Pioneer Fly By	Pioneer on Night Approach Landing
	Ground Control Station (GCS)
TV Monitor Panel; Pilot Display Panel; Pilot Control Desk	GCS Console - Observer Bay(L), Traker Bay (C) Pilot Bay (R)
	Recovery
Pioneer "Catching" the Recovery Net During LPD Ship Ops	Pioneer being Lowered to the Deck Following Net Recovery
	Miscellaneous
Saches & Fichtel SF 2-350 26 hp Engine	Image of Kuwaiti Coast taken by Pioneer from USS Wisconsin, Jan 91. "Free Kuwait" made from 55 gal oil drums	Pioneer Base

Operational Units

• Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-1 (VMU-1)
• Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron-2 (VMU-2)
• US Navy VC-6 Firebees

Sources and Methods

• Pioneer UAV Homepage

• Pioneer UAV Program DARO UAV Annual Report November 1996
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: DOD's Acquisition Efforts GAO T-NSIAD-97-138 April 9, 1997
• Spare Parts Horror Stories, Part II, January 16, 1997. -- Case study of overcharging and abuse in a military procurement program.

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