{mosgoogle}Today’s military has seen an evolution in technology that is creating an entirely new capability to project power through the use of unmanned systems while reducing the risk to human life  The contributions of unmanned systems continue to increase. As of October 2006, coalition Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), exclusive of hand-launched systems, had flown almost 400,000 flight hours in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) had responded to over 11,000 Improvised Explosive Device (IED) situations, and Unmanned Maritime Systems (UMSs) had provided security to ports. As a result of these successes, the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) emphasized the importance of unmanned systems in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).

Unmanned systems are highly desired by combatant commanders (COCOMs) for the many roles hese systems can fulfill. Tasks such as mine detection; signals intelligence; precision target esignation; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive (CBRNE) reconnaissance; and communications and data relay rank high among the COCOMs’ interests. These unmanned capabilities have helped reduce the complexity and time lag in the “sensor” component of the sensor-to-shooter chain for prosecuting “actionable intelligence.” Unmanned systems are changing the conduct of military operations in the GWOT by providing unrelenting pursuit combined with the elimination of threats to friendly forces; including injury, capture, or death.{mosgoogle}

As the Department of Defense (DoD) develops and employs an increasingly sophisticated force of unmanned systems over the next 25 years (2007 to 2032), technologists, acquisition officials, and operational planners require a clear, coordinated plan for the evolution and transition of unmanned systems technology. With the publication of this document, individual roadmaps and master plans for UASs, UGVs, and UMSs (defined as Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)) have been incorporated into a comprehensive DoD Unmanned Systems Roadmap. This integrated Unmanned Systems Roadmap is the plan for future prioritization and funding of these systems development and technology, thus ensuring an effective return on the Department’s investment. Its overarching goal, in accordance with the Strategic Planning Guidance (SPG), is to guide military departments and defense agencies toward logically and systematically migrating applicable mission capabilities to this new class of military tools. This Roadmap highlights the most urgent mission needs that are supported both technologically and operationally by various unmanned systems. These needs, listed below, should be considered when prioritizing future research, development, and procurement of unmanned systems technology to ensure an effective return on the Department’s investment.

1. Reconnaissance and Surveillance. Some form of reconnaissance (electronic and visual) is the number one COCOM priority applicable to unmanned systems. Being able to surveil areas of interest while maintaining a degree of covertness is highly desirable. The reconnaissance mission that is currently conducted by unmanned systems needs to increase standardization and interoperability to better support the broad range of DoD users.

 

2. Target Identification and Designation. The ability to positively identify and precisely locate military targets in real-time is a current shortfall with DOD UAS. Reducing latency and increasing precision for GPS guided weapons is required. The ability to operate in highthreat environments without putting warfighters at risk is not only safer but potentially more {mosgoogle}effective than the use of current manned systems.

 

3. Counter-Mine Warfare. Since World War II, sea mines have caused more damage to US warships than all other weapons systems combined. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are the number one cause of of coalition casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A significant amount of effort is already being expended to improve the military’s ability to find, tag, and destroy both land and sea mines. Unmanned Systems are a natural fit for this dangerous mission.

4. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) Reconnaissance. The ability to find chemical and biologic agents and to survey the extent of affected areas is a crucial effort.

Some of these missions can be supported by the current state-of-the-art unmanned technology where the capabilities of current or near-term assets are sufficient and the risk to warfighters is relatively low. Other mission areas, however, are in urgent need of additional capability.{mosgoogle}

Current unmanned capabilities must evolve into the future DoD acquisition and operational vision. Current support to the warfighter must be sustained while making the transition, but every effort must be made to accommodate these evolving unmanned technologies along with more traditional technologies as soon as possible. The activities the Department is undertaking to address these mission areas are detailed within this Roadmap.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is responsible for ensuring unmanned systems support the Department’s larger goals of fielding transformational capabilities, establishing joint standards, and controlling costs. OSD has established the following broad goals to steer the Department in that direction. It is anticipated that future versions of the Roadmap will include specific methodology, metrics, and assignments to achieve the stated goals.

 

Goal 1. Improve the effectiveness of COCOM and coalition unmanned systems through improved integration and Joint Services 

          collaboration.Goal 2. Emphasize commonality to achieve greater interoperability among system controls, communications, data products, and

          data links on unmanned systems.
Goal 3. Foster the development of policies, standards, and procedures that enable safe and timely operations and the effective

          integration of manned and unmanned systems.
Goal 4. Implement standardized and protected positive control measures for unmanned systems and their associated armament.
Goal 5. Support rapid demonstration and integration of validated combat capabilities in fielded/deployed systems through a more

          flexible prototyping, test and logistical support process.
Goal 6. Aggressively control cost by utilizing competition, refining and prioritizing requirements, and increasing interdependencies

          (networking) among DoD systems.

The long-term plan is to publish a truly integrated Unmanned Systems Roadmap in January 2009 that builds on this effort and increases focus on manned and unmanned systems interoperability to achieve our future vision.

 

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