The Challenge
No AF tactical UAV system
Little AF interest in tactical UAVs
Insufficient tactical reconnaissance coverage
Need for a small footprint and transportable vehicle
Easily maintained and operated
Avoid duplication of effort
Special Forces Loading at Libreville, Gabon
Notes:
Over the past two years the Battlelab has teamed up with AFSOC and conducted significant research to address the issue of supporting special operations missions in a Small Scale Contingency environment.
Prior to conducting this demonstration, we identified several challenges to the deployment and use of UAVs and or tactical reconnaissance support which existed. These included the following:
- Air Force policy which does not include Tactical UAV’s,
- Little to no interest in pursuing tactical UAVs for the Air Force
- Rapidly changing situations make tactical reconnaissance and national support difficult often resulting in insufficient situational awareness once deployed.
- Current tactical reconnaissance systems are too large for an initial timely deployment. Any system supporting SOF must have relatively small footprint for forward deployment
- Whatever UAV system is procured, it must be easily maintained, operated and have a dependable logistics and support system
- Similar programs occurring in various services, sometimes there is unknowing duplication of effort.