RPAS (was JUSTAS): the project to buy armed Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAVs

[Good2Golf]

This would seem to put them on pace with the Boeing Australia Loyal Wingman programme.

…surpass…

 

[Kirkhill]

…surpass…

The difference?

One group thinks the project is important and an opportunity? The other struggles with the threat to the existing order?

 

[Good2Golf]

I was referring to Baykar’s exponential rate of progress, that at current rates will likely sling past even the RAAF and MQ-28 progress.

 

[Kirkhill]

I was referring to Baykar’s exponential rate of progress, that at current rates will likely sling past even the RAAF and MQ-28 progress.

Me too...

Bayraktar is invested in getting these birds in the air. As are their partners supplying the engines - the Ukrainians.

The Ukrainians in particular are looking to solve a real world problem (killing aircraft of all types) in the very near term.

The Aussies and Americans are more invested in keeping the advantage they have held from exploiting earlier solutions - especially manned aircraft.

 

[Kirkhill]

To complicate things further

JUSTAS - MALE - Sky Guardian?
CMMA - P8?

Canadian Space Agency - Radarsat
PAL - Civil air patrol

Now the USARMY is investigating Contractor Owned Contractor Operated ISR service. Think of it like Federal Fleet Services and Asterix but supplying long range ISR from civilian Challenger 650s.

https://bit.ly/3VTIJc1

 

[dimsum]

To complicate things further

JUSTAS - MALE - Sky Guardian?
CMMA - P8?

Canadian Space Agency - Radarsat
PAL - Civil air patrol

Now the USARMY is investigating Contractor Owned Contractor Operated ISR service. Think of it like Federal Fleet Services and Asterix but supplying long range ISR from civilian Challenger 650s.

https://bit.ly/3VTIJc1

I skimmed that link and thought "this sounds like an ad". And sure enough, it totally is.

I'm not sure how it complicates anything though. The only change for the RCAF is the addition of RPAS - JUSTAS isn't a term used anymore.

 

[Kirkhill]

I skimmed that link and thought "this sounds like an ad". And sure enough, it totally is.

I'm not sure how it complicates anything though. The only change for the RCAF is the addition of RPAS - JUSTAS isn't a term used anymore.

It absolutely is an ad. I think it is a US Army work around.

The US Army wants to get into long range fires. It needs precision targeting capabilities. Those need aerial assets. That means the US Air Force because the USAF is unlikely to let the US Army get into 707/737 type ISR assets.

So this becomes an off the board capability that the Army can buy - just the way the Ukrainians are buying commercial imagery.



The Canadian overlap is to do with dollars and manpower. If the government doesn't want to be seen spending more than 2% of GDP, or increasing the CAF's manpower budget then civilian contracting is a way out for them. If all you are doing is observing and reporting, especially remotely, then you don't need to be on the CAF regular strength. Those positions can be reserved for people putting themselves in harms way.

 

[Kirkhill]

The Marine Corps can't train MQ-9 operators fast enough - Breaking Defense

In separate hearings, two senators - both from North Dakota - pressed Pentagon brass about training issues and use case for the MQ-9 Reaper.

breakingdefense.com

And, wrt the last comment about workarounds... it seems that is an issue.

SecDef Austin in favor of killing DoD's wish-list mandate - Breaking Defense

Austin’s comments come just hours after it was reported that DoD Comptroller Michael McCord asked lawmakers in a letter to reconsider the unfunded priorities mandate.

breakingdefense.com

In fiscal 2024, for example, the Marine Corps is asking Congress for a total of roughly $3.6 billion in its unfunded priorities list, including $1.7 billion to purchase another San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock. Meanwhile, Indo-Pacific Command is asking for $3.5 billion in its FY24 unfunded priorities list and the Space Force wants an additional $477.3 million.

Opponents counter that the lists are just a way for the services to go around the White House or OSD-level budget decisions and ultimately lead to bad outcomes for taxpayers.

But that is a digression - the bigger question is that of generating UAV operators - especially when working with Civvy peace time constraints?

 

[Kirkhill]

Non-Combat uses of UAVs - Maintenance

RAF could use drones to carry out faster aircraft inspections

Project ASURVEY will look at whether 95% of the aircraft's surface can be inspected in just half an hour.

www.forces.net

 

[Kirkhill]

And on the combat front

What the Ukraine conflict tells us about the future of drone warfare

The unmanned aerial vehicles are being used on the frontline against Russian invaders.

www.forces.net

While Turkey has constructed an Amphib to accommodate Unmanned operations.

Taking new tech to the water - Turkey unveils drone carrier

The amphibious assault ship, which is 230 metres long, also accommodates the take-off of light aircraft.

www.forces.net

TCG Anadolu - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Kirkhill]

So the RAF is establishing Swarm Squadrons ....

Britain’s Royal Air Force chief says drone swarms ready to crack enemy defenses

The conundrum of overcoming enemy air defenses is currently on display in Ukraine, where Ukrainian and Russian air-defense capabilities are effectively canceling out the other side's air power arsenal.

www.defensenews.com

but....

Swarming, which means throwing enough expendable drones at a defensive radar and interceptor position so as to overwhelm them, can be effective he said, but only to a point. The idea of small and cheap drones attacking air defenses by way of swarming may not be feasible because those drones lack the requisite range and speed.

“If you want things to go fast and far, they’re going to be jet-propelled and they’re going to cost a fair bit,” Bronk said.

but....

Mini Jet

Micro Rockets

Small Ramjets

Nammo prepares to integrate solid fuel ramjets into artillery and missile concepts - Nammo

www.nammo.com

How The Air Force Is Using Small Drones To Prove Big Capabilities

Created by the Networked Weapons Laboratory, the customized small drones are designed to behave like the weapons they help develop.

www.thedrive.com

Small Jet Powered Drones in Counter UAS role

This Footage Of Jet-Powered Coyote Drones Obliterating Other Drones Is Incredible

Coyote doesn't play around when it comes to blowing other drones to bits. The explosions alone make the video worth watching.

www.thedrive.com

 

[dimsum]

Mods: Could we just merge this into an UAS Megathread?

 

[dimsum]

MQ-9A Reaper and F-16 Elephant Walk

 

[Ping Monkey]

Another successful IBP ASW exercise for the MQ-9B! Working on this program has been my favourite task since I left the CAF.

Really looking forward to seeing it conducting MPA & ASW operations in WESTPAC later this fall.

SeaGuardian Used by USN in Support of Integrated Battle Problem

 

[Kirkhill]

Effing Millenials...."Angry Kitten"?

USAF fields General Atomics’ Angry kitten EW system for future UAS - Airforce Technology

US Air Force will use the Angry Kitten EW system in the next 2 years to develop the best tactics, techniques and procedures of future UAS.

www.airforce-technology.com

On the plus side -

GA-ASI integrated the EW pod in less than nine months at no cost to the USAF by using a Co-operative Research and Development Agreement.

PS

Something else for Poland to buy.

Already, Poland has purchased a distributed interactive simulation-based systems integration laboratory from the US DoD under a foreign military sales agreement in June.

 

[KevinB]

CRADA’s aren’t necessarily no cost to the government. Quite often the Government supplies material or consumables, so the contractor can experiment.

While they are solid mechanism for innovation, I suspect that in the above case there was USAF platforms that were modified, and potentially permanently removed from (at least their own acquired purpose) service.

 

[dimsum]

WASHINGTON, September 15, 2023 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Canada of munitions and other systems to be integrated into MQ-9Bs for an estimated cost of $313.4 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.


The Government of Canada has requested to buy munitions and other systems to be integrated into MQ-9Bs purchased through Direct Commercial Sales, to include: twelve (12) AN/APY-8 Lynx Synthetic Aperture radars; two hundred nineteen (219) AGM-114R2 Hellfire II missiles; eighteen (18) KMU-572 tail kits for the GBU-38 Joint Direct-Attack Munition (JDAM) and GBU-54 Laser JDAM (LJDAM); twelve (12) Mk82 500-lb General Purpose (GP) bombs; and six (6) Mk82 Filled Inert bombs. Also included are Due Regard Radars; SAGE 750 and SNC 4500 Electronic Surveillance Measures Systems; AN/ARC-210 radios; Compact Multi-Band Data Link (CMDL); KY-100M Narrowband/Wideband Terminals; KOR-24A Small Tactical Terminals; High-Bandwidth Compact Telemetry Modules (HCTM); KIV-77 cryptographic appliques and other Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) equipment; AN/PYQ-10C Simple Key Loaders (SKL); Common Munitions Built-In-Test/Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); FMU-139 Joint Programmable Fuses (JPF); M299 Hellfire launchers and training missiles; DSU-38 Precision Laser Guidance Sets; classified publications and technical documentation; munitions support and support equipment; secure communications, precision navigation, and cryptographic equipment; spare and repair parts, consumables, accessories, and repair and return support; unclassified software delivery and support; testing and integration support and equipment; maps and charts; personnel training and training equipment; transportation support; warranties; studies and surveys; Contractor Logistics Support (CLS); U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $313.4 million.

Canada – MQ-9B Integrated Systems | Defense Security Cooperation Agency

www.dsca.mil

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Canada – MQ-9B Integrated Systems | Defense Security Cooperation Agency

www.dsca.mil

Well, well, well…

 

[GK .Dundas]

Effing Millenials...."Angry Kitten"?

USAF fields General Atomics’ Angry kitten EW system for future UAS - Airforce Technology

US Air Force will use the Angry Kitten EW system in the next 2 years to develop the best tactics, techniques and procedures of future UAS.

www.airforce-technology.com

On the plus side -



PS

Something else for Poland to buy.

Think of it as the flower class corvette of EW world.

 

[dimsum]

Think of as the flower class corvette of EW world.

I await the Morose Marmot system.