Air Recon

Electronic:

-Electronic reconnaissance DETECTS, IDENTIFIES, AND EVALUATES ENEMY ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION. If the enemy uses electronic means of fire control, navigation, communications or air surveillance, electronic interception equipment can recover enemy signals and determine: Direction, source, and characteristics -Analyzing the enemy's electronic emissions (that is communications and radar) allows analyst to: -Update the Electronic order of battle -Update the technical intelligence -Identify the enemy's critical nodes (ie. command posts, force concentrations, and high threat weapons systems)

Identify the three categories of air reconnaissance:

-To be effective, air reconnaissance must produce imagery products in all weather conditions and be Responsive, flexible, and survivable. Visual Imagery Electronic

RQ-7B Shadow Detachments:

A full VMU squadron with three independent shadow detachments is suited for supported a MEF. Two officers and 51 enlisted Marines and a corpsman operate and support a single four aircraft RQ-7B detachment

Flexible Control

A responsive and flexible command, control and communications (C3) system is required to ensure that air reconnaissance requests are satisfied in a timely manner. Information flow, both up and down the chain of command, with a simple and redundant backup plan is the key to successful control.

Air superiority (AR):

ALLOWS FRIENDLY AIRCRAFT TO OPERATE WITHOUT PROHIBITIVE INTERFERENCE. This can be achieved by conducting an aggressive antiair warfare or offensive counterair operation prior to conudcting air reconnaissance or by tasking aircraft to function as fighter escorts during an air reconnaissance operation. Without air superiority, the enemy can interfere with air reconnaissance aircraft and prohibit or disrupt their ability to collect the air recon information required to support the MAGTF.

Carrying communication payloads, UAS can serve to extend the effects of command and control by acting as an:

Airbourne communications relay for ground, air, and maritime assets

Suppression of Enemy Air Defense (SEAD)

Allows friendly aircraft to operate in airspace defended by enemy air defense systems. it creates a sanctuary within which air recon a/c can collect info without prohibitive interference from the enemy. Traditionally SEAD is an artillery responsibility; however to protect the air recon mission, ACE planners must plan for SEAD requirements when IDF is not available.

Imagery:

Detects and pinpoints the location of enemy installations and facilities and concentrations of enemy forces. It also supports terrain analysis. Imagery records from sensors and other collateral equipment in or on the aircraft. To plan and execute MAGTF operations, the Marine Corps relies on a complementary mix of tactical, theater, and strategic air reconnaissance assets to support its imagery collection requirements.

Identify the prerequisites for effective air reconnaissance:

FACCS. Air reconnaissance personnel can maximize intelligence support by applying the principles of integration, accuracy, relevancy, and timeliness. Without the application of these principals, air reconnaissance operations generate large amounts of information with questionable intelligence value that can slow the intelligence cycle, when any one or a combination of these prereqs is omitted, air reconnaissance may not be as effective and may expose an aircrew to unnecessary risk.

Capable platforms and sensors

Historically, target acquisitions has been the most difficult task associated with an air reconnaissance mission. To increase the probability for successful target acquisitions, air reconnaissance platforms need accurate reconnaissance systems and sensor equipment for both day and night operations.

Imagery, Nonoptical:

INFRARED and RADAR SENSORS capture nonoptical imagery. Unlike optical sensors, nonoptical sensors function regardless of the presence or absence of visible light and can be used at night as well as during the day. Infrared sensors use thermal differences in objects to capture nonoptical imagery; therefore, they are highly effective at night and in certain types of weather. However an infrared sensor is limited by battlefield obscurants and cannot image through clouds. Radar uses recorded returns to produce images. Light conditions do not affect radar imagery, and weather conditions have little effect on radar images, making radar a true all weather sensor.

Cooperative weather

Inclement wx causes aircrews and operators to experience prohibitive interference or unacceptable attrition. Low ceilings may force air recon platforms performing visual and imagery recon to acquire targets "under the wx" and in the heart of air defense artillery envelope. Inclement wx adversely affects target acquisition and sensor performance.

When intel Marines are integrated into the UAS crew, UAS can provide:

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) to the commander.

Additional limitations of UAS include:

Materials: Include the use of special fuels and/or batteries and non standardized launch and recovery methods for specific systems Weather: High winds can limit launch and recovery operations, influence fuel consumption, and therefore affect mission time. Winds in the target area may influence target acquisition and weapons employment. Turbulence can affect flight controls and impact data links, as well as the stability of the sensors or sensitive payloads. All but the largest UA have no anti-icing systems due to weight constraints and therefore cannot operate in icing conditions. Other weather effects limiting the UAS are space weather effects (for example solar winds and solar flares), precipitation, low cloud decks, thermal crossover, excessive heat, high-altitude environments, and sea state or sea spray. Air frame integrity: Most UA also lack watertight airframe integrity, preventing operations in even light rain Day/Night transition: transitioning between day and night is a limiting factor for UA without both Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IR) sensors.

Advantages of UAS

RERV: A major advantage of UAS over manned aircraft is the: -removal of limitations imposed on an aerial platform when a crew is on board. Removing the operator from the platform expands both the endurance and maneuver envelopes and offers trade-offs for carrying additional fuel, payload, or ordnance where crew positions and crew life support systems would normally be installed. -additionally, advanced technologies in automated flight controls reduce the cost and time to train operators and increase the number of platforms that a given number of personnel can operate. -UAS also offers commanders viable alternatives when risks to manned aviation are deemed unacceptable.

Small (SUAS)

RQ-11B, RQ-12A Wasp, and RQ-20A Puma. Joint Group 1 systems -hand launched, battalion owned, and company employed asset capable of remote reconnaissance and surveillance, target acquisition, and limited battle damage assessment. These UAS provide real time direct reconnaissance and surveillance for target acquisition and force protection at the battalion level and below. a. Detachments: relatively low cost, "around the corner" and "over the hill" airborne sensor providing commanders with enhanced situational awareness.It aids in observation of objective areas and danger areas beyond the unit's immediate line of sight. SUAS are able to provide observation, day or night at varying ranges. b. System Operations: A crew of two - air vehicle operator (AVO) and an observer - operate the RAVEN. The WASP can be operated by a single AVO but it is typically operated by two Marines like the Raven. The extremely small size and quiet battery driven propulsion system make them nearly undetectable in flight at their operating altitudes. RQ-11B use modular payloads, including EO and IR thermal sensors. In ten minutes, a two man team can assemble and hand launch the RAVEN UA and it is fully autonomous with an in flight reprogramming capability. The battery operated system uses a modular payloads, including EO and IR thermal sensors with sensors with resolution sufficient to identify the hostile intent of a man sized target. c. Systems: SUAS are organic to Marine maneuver and special operations battalions and they can be employed down to the squad level. Similar to the way MAGTF aviation assets operate under the cognizance of the ACE, the Raven operates under the staff cognizance of the battalion Air Officer and is tasked by the operated department (S-3) in close coordination with the intelligence department (S-2) d. Employment: SUAS can be effectively employed in support of the Company's Tactical Air Control Party (TACP). TACPs have a robust targeting team that includes elements of the company level intelligence cell and aviation expertise in the form of a Forward Air Controller (FAC). Capitalizing on organic air recon capability, the TACP can react quickly to a commander's tactical needs. Battalions will maintain up to12 Raven and some Wasp and Puma AVOs as collateral skills, depending on unit requirements and number of systems on hand. 1. One AVO designated the senior AVO manages both annual requalification currency training and tactical employment and proficiency training. 2. Each battalion with Group 1 UAS has on UAS safety officer designated as a collateral duty. The safety officer ensures that minimum standards set forth for AVO qualification are met in accordance with applicable joint and naval policies to include the Naval Aviation Training and Operating Standards (NATOPS) program

Small Tactical (STUAS)

RQ-21A, a Joint Group 3 asset. It is a larger, more capable UAS operated and maintained by the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadrons (VMU) in support of MEUs, Regiments, and battalions. The joint program of record titled STUAS began fielding in 2013 to meet the Marine Corps requirement for a Group 3 UAS. It is a flexible and rugged expeditionary system capable of operating from austere land based locations, from amphibious (LPD Class naval vessels) shipping. a. Detachments: Multiple RQ-21A detachments can provide support to the MEB level MAGTF, especially when combined with a single RQ-7B. The RQ-21A provides real time video imagery and with appropriate payloads, electronic warfare support in the form of electric signals cueing, geolocation and if properly augmented, exploitation. Cross-cueing between signals and imagery sensors is possible. b. System Operators: An unmanned aircraft commander (UAC) and an AVO operate the RQ-21A. It is typically supported by an intelligence/imagery analyst, providing the supported unit with an immediate intelligence estimate. Detachments currently number around 24 personnel depending on mission requirements. c. System: Each system consists of the following major subcomponents: -five UA, each with combined EO/IR sensors and integrated IR pointer -Communications/data relay packages -two GCSs -Up to six ground vehicles with towed equipment

Marine Corps Tactical UAS (MCTUAS)

RQ-7B Group 3 Asset, Largest of the three USMC UAS and operated by VMU. Employed at MEF and MEB levels

Whether UAS are armed or their crews are simply providing reconnaissance, UAS can perform:

Strike Coordination and Reconnaissance (SCAR), or Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisitions (RSTA).

Identify the range, endurance, and payload of the RQ-7B Shadow:

The Marine Corps' largest system is the RQ-7B Shadow, a Joint Group 3 system. the RQ-7B is the MAINSTAY of the Marine Corps UAS FOS. The RQ-7B is operated and maintained by the VMU and organized under the Marine Air Group (MAG) as a subordinate unit of the MAW. System descriptions are as follows:

RQ-7B System operation:

The RQ-7B system is operated by a crew of three Marines: UAC, AVO, MPO. An intelligence analyst and/or imagery analyst is normally included as part of a Shadow crew. When the intelligence member is included, the unmanned system can provide intelligence in addition to the reconnaissance and surveillance functions.

Identify the element of the MAGTF the Small UAS supports: RQ-7 system:

The range is limited to 67 nautical miles and the endurance is 6-9 hrs, depending on the aircraft configuration. Some USMC RQ-7B systems are equipped with a laser target designator/laser range finder and/or a VHF-FM radio retransmission capability. The full RQ-7B system consists of: Four aircraft- the aircraft are included as system subcomponents, each with combined EO/IR payloads. The EO/IR payload is capable of day and night operations with target detection out to 10 km and target recognition out to 7 km. Six High-Mobility Multipurpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs), two with Ground Control Stations- ThE HMMWVs serve as transportation for the personnel, transport the Ground Control Station, provide facilities for limited maintenance, and carry the four unmanned aircraft. Towed equipment that includes equipment trailers, generators, and launch and recovery equipment- The pneumatic rail-launched system can launch in crosswinds of up to 20 knots and recover on short runways of at least 710 feet using the Tactical Automated Landing System.

Disadvantages of UAS

There are specific challenges peculiar to UAS when compared to manned aircraft. Most notably is the necessity for constant and reliable communication data links for control and monitoring of the aircraft and its systems. Additionally, the lack of authorization to operate routinely in the National Airspace System (NAS) increases the burden on UAS operators and hampers the use of UAS in domestic situations such as disaster relief and homeland security operations.

Identify the USMC family of systems (FoS)

To satisfy the increasing requirement for UAS support, the MC developed its FOS with three overlapping and complementary levels of UAS across each level of the MAGTF with the future goal of a common C2 architecture (allow control of any UAS from a common Ground Control Station (GCS), enhancing the compatibility of the FOS and its flexibility to the MAGTF. The three types are: Small (SUAS), Small tactical (STUAS), and Marine Corps tactical UAS (MCTUAS)

Imagery, Optical:

Uses a LENS (that is, a still or video camera) to focus on light on a image sensor to produce high-resolution still images. Produce images that the analyst can easily interpret. However, optical imagery requires that visible light illuminates the targets and that the view of the target be unobstructed.

Visual:

Visual reconnaissance acquires current information on enemy activities, resources, and installations. In addition, the weather; and the physical characteristics of a given area are also acquired through visual reconnaissance. It can be conducted by any airborne platform, fixed- or rotary-wing, and provides immediate information. A visual reconnaissance mission is flown in response to a specific request, but all aircrews must be aware of the need to report information when assigned other types of missions. Visual reconnaissance can also be used to support the delivery of offensive fires (such as artillery support and naval surface fire support), and it may supplement operational information concerning friendly forces. The limitation of human vision makes the effectiveness of visual reconnaissance susceptible to enemy cover, concealment, and deception techniques.

Identify unmanned aircraft systems limitations:

WMAD: The most specific limitation associated with UAS is the unique requirement of control through a remote data link. A particularly vexing problem for UAS is the lack of a "see and avoid" capability that prevents or at best, severely limits UAS operation in the NAS. Weather Materials Airframe Integrity Day/Night Transition