With the Predator UAV providing streaming video to the Combat Air Operations Center (CAOC) during Operation Iraqi Freedom, it quickly became the platform of choice to provide real-time assessment and real-time intelligence of the battlefield to theater commanders. With a thirst for information, theater commanders requested more UAVs from Congress to increase the flow and volume of information into the CAOC. With the U.S. Air Force controlling the UAVs and providing mission support, the other services quickly became interested in acquiring their own organic UAV support. One of the first to provide organic capability to the battlefield was the U.S. Army that began using the Shadow and Raven as sources of intelligence for forward operations instead of CAOC usage. Depending on the mission, soldiers could launch a small UAV, such as the Raven to survey road conditions for Improvised Explosive Devices, enemy placements, enemy movements and urban environments for increased situational awareness.

The manned aircraft community quickly recognized the significance of having increased situational awareness provided by the UAVs to assist with locating targets, locating threats and locating friendly forces. Once again, the U.S. Army was first to capitalize on this capability with its AH-64 Apache and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters sharing information with the Gray Eagle UAV. To date the Army has deployed two units to Afghanistan with Manned Unmanned Systems that are equipped with hardware and software upgrades that allow for live video feed to be ported directly to the cockpits of the helicopters. This upgrade allows for manned Apaches and Kiowas to standoff at a safe distance while the Gray Eagle surveyed the threat area and provided video surveillance prior to mission execution.

Manned Unmanned Systems serve the Army well and will undoubtedly increase situational awareness into the cockpit and live video footage is great at the CAOC but having the video directly shape the battlefield and potentially save human lives, is the right solution.

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At the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) the U.S. Army had to submit a request to the U.S. Air Force for use of the Predator for tactical operations. The Air Force would then decide whether the request was significant enough to warrant the Predator’s time and if the Predator could support given their higher priority, sometimes strategic commitments. This prioritization frustrated the Army and they began to develop an organic UAS presence that relieved the Army from requesting support from another branch of the military. As expected, this change caused a “turf battle” between the Air Force and the Army and the Army was able to convince authorities that it’s tactical needs and support we’re not being met by the Predator.

With funding from wartime rapid fielding initiatives, the Army was able to acquire smaller UAVs to include the Raven and Puma which were used at the battalion levels and did not impose a threat to the Air Force’s UAS dominance in theater. The “turf battle” of Army UAS didn’t really begin in earnest until the Shadow and Gray Eagle began showing up on the horizon and caused the Air Force to stand-up and take notice, but it was too late, the Army had convinced enough folks in Congress and within the DOD that their organic UAS capability was necessary and funding needed to be continued to fully upgrade current systems and purchase more systems.

Given the budget concerns that burden the U.S. today, one of the few DOD programs that are actually growing in size and scope are the Army UAS programs. Specifically, the Army’s budget in April requested $550 million to acquire 15 new Gray Eagles, $122 million for upgrades to the Shadow and $11 million for the Raven. Time will tell whether the budgets will support the requests but it appears that the Army convinced the right folks and won the turf battle and apparently, the turf war as well.

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The Global Hawk is designed and built by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force with the mission of providing long endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) collection of targets at significant stand-off ranges. The Global Hawk Block 20 is currently serving in combat operations and provides critical electro-optical and infrared images to theater commanders. In addition to the Block 20’s sensor package, the Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) is capable of providing signals intelligence by monitoring the battlefield for emissions. The Block 20 has also been modified to carry a communications relay called the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN) which acts as a translator for various networks being used in the battlefield and provides line-of-sight communications for warfighters that might be geographically limited.

The Block 30 provides an Advanced Signals Intelligence Payload that is more capable than the Block 20 signals intelligence package but overall the Block 30 Global Hawk was criticized for not integrating a more powerful engine to keep up with ever growing demands of the payload weights. The Block 30 is also expected to fall victim to budget cuts as the remaining 10 to be built are expected to be terminated. Likewise, the Global Hawk Block 40 may be cancelled before it really begins development.

The Global Hawk Block 40 was planned to be installed with a Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor that was designed to track moving ground targets and relay the information to soldiers on the ground but the maturity of the radar has been slow. As budgets become leaner and at an estimated cost of $35 million for the Global Hawk Block 40, USAF planners are looking to cancel the program and move funds to support the Joint Strike Fighter F-35 development program and fill the ISR role with the U-2 spyplane that has been operational since the 1950s.

With “war budgets” running dry, every DOD program is under the microscope to determine if the Pentagon is getting a return on their investment and with a lofty price tag, development that’s behind schedule and performance that can be replaced by other platforms, the USAF has asked Congress to cancel any further purchases of the Global Hawk Block 40. “Lean” is the buzzword for current and future acquisition programs and until budgets are brought under control, programs should be weary of the “budgeteer’s axe”.

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Prior to the development of “human” smart targets, both the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army were left with stationary targets to practice marksmanship at established shooting ranges. Stationary targets provide a means for shooters to calibrate their weapons to sights and allow marksmen an opportunity to practice their skills. Now, with the help of an Australian company named Marathon Targets, soldiers and Marines have the option to practice shooting moving targets or better known as “human” smart targets. Human smart targets are essentially human-like Segway robots that are currently in test by both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marines. The targets are equipped with humanoid heads and torsos and are placed on a four wheeled vehicle that can either be remotely controlled or programmed to execute a specific path. They can navigate in and out of buildings and have laser sensors attached that allow them to avoid obstacles and also react by scattering and hiding when encountering gunfire. They also come equipped with speakers that can produce gunfire noise to create a more realistic simulation to marksmen.

The U.S. military recognizes the significance of providing the best realistic training possible and instead of shooting at stationary targets which don’t move and don’t “fire back”, have instead invested in “human” smart targets that will undoubtedly serve the military well and better prepare soldiers and Marines for the next conflict.

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China currently has one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, which was purchased from Russia and was originally told to the press that it would be used as a floating casino but once it was acquired, it was converted into an operational aircraft carrier. By most other measures, China’s second aircraft carrier doesn’t mark a significant shift in the balance of power but when combined with its economic might and buildup of other military hardware, demonstrates a commitment to becoming a world leader in military strength. Recent hardware development includes stealth fighters, drone aircraft, bomber aircraft and nuclear submarines, all of which highlight a prolific rise of the over 3 million active and reserve personnel in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

It’s expected that the Liaoning will be fully operational in two years but carrier landings have already been accomplished and it’s just a matter of time before the carrier is underway. China’s second aircraft carrier will take some time to build and test and it is expected to be larger, more modern and equipped with the latest technology. “We hope the next aircraft carrier can be bigger, because then it would be able to carry more aircraft and be more powerful,” said Song Xue when addressing foreign military attaches in Beijing.

China’s second aircraft carrier marks a significant effort by the Chinese to invest in defense. By contrast, as the rest of the world scrambles to produce meager defense budgets brought on by years of recession, the Chinese are investing in means to catapult themselves as a legitimate military superpower in the world.

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The Gray Eagle UAS looks remarkably similar to the U.S. Air Force’s Reaper UAS because they are both built by General Atomics and both have similar characteristics. Like the Reaper, the Gray Eagle can perform hours and hours of ISR operations while also being able to engage targets with Hellfire missiles. Unlike the Reaper, the Gray Eagle UAS has an automatic landing system, a fuel system that is capable of using ground vehicle fuel instead of aviation grade fuel and most importantly, comes equipped with a linked system that allows video feed to troops on the ground and to attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, if needed. In addition, the Gray Eagle UAS is capable of near all-weather operations with the addition of an anti-icing system and a triple redundant flight control system, all of which gives the Gray Eagle UAS an operational combat envelope that is more flexible and more resilient to various flight conditions than both the Predator and Reaper.

The Gray Eagle UAS has completed its initial Operational Testing at Fort Irwin, California and is currently deployed to Afghanistan in support of combat operations. It’s interesting to note that what started as a response to the U.S. Air Force’s unwillingness to integrate the Predator and Reaper into the U.S. Army’s ground movements, has moved to the development of arguably the most flexible and combat capable UAS aircraft in the world.

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To make it to the 2013 California State Science Fair the kids had to complete an experiment complete with correct scientific methodology, scientific notebook, data, charts, abstract, procedures, and results and summarize their efforts in a 3’x 5’tri-fold poster board. At the local level, the poster board is reviewed by local academia and then the kids must present their projects to judges as they ask detailed questions to really understand how much kids learned from their science projects. Once the judging is complete, the scores are tallied and the top two kids from each category are invited to the county level to begin the judging process again. At the county level, only the first place contestants are invited to compete at the state level where they join over 1000 fellow county winners in various categories for the chance to lay claim to the title, “Best in State”.

To say that the science projects at the state-level are impressive would be a huge understatement. The science projects at the 2013 California State Science Fair are simply amazing and are true testaments to the intellect of the youth of America. From a science experiment that explores the best spoiler angle for a vehicle in a wind tunnel to an experiment that compares the growth of garden beans when exposed to various levels of electro-magnetic fields, the projects are incredibly insightful and detailed. The next great innovation in U.S. technology or the next breakthrough in scientific discovery could be found in the halls of Exposition Park and with a heavy dose of youthful enthusiasm and innovation the future of American ingenuity seems like it’s in very capable hands.

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If history is any indication, North Korean threats are usually in conjunction with posturing for more economic aid and relief from international sanctions. Negotiating from a position of power has always been a tactic of North Korea and this current round of threats could prove to be the same. Regardless of the tactical positioning, the U.S. and South Korea are not taking any chances and are meeting power positioning with power positioning by deploying the B-2 stealth bomber to exercises in South Korea. The deployment of the stealth bombers is intended to send a strong message to Pyongyang regarding the commitment to defending South Korea. The bombers are participating in a joint South Korean and U.S. military exercise that has incensed North Korea and has prompted threatening statements of “unpardonable provocation”  and “The U.S. should not forget that the Andersen base (located at Guam)…as well as naval bases at Japan’s main island and Okinawa, are all within range of our precision target assets.”

As the Obama administration decides how to handle the escalation and aggressive rhetoric, the world watches to see the events unfold. North Korea has performed nuclear weapon tests and makes claims that it’s the eighth member in the nuclear weaponry “club” and with a strong dedication to developing a strategic missile system that can deliver the payload, the U.S. will need to tread lightly. Is the posturing and language by North Korea real or is it more saber rattling? It’s hard to say for sure but being prepared for any possible outcome is certainly prudent and will insure that any escalation by the North Koreans will be acted upon with forethought and pre-planning.

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The U.S. Air Force hasn’t officially announced that it will purchase the Reaper ER but sources close to the negotiations are implying that once a budget is signed, it is expected that the Reaper ER will be purchased. The purchase could reduce the number of Reapers currently in theater by having the Reaper ER provide longer coverage during missions with its increased fuel. “Extended range would give you certain capabilities to perform certain missions which would be very advantageous, and it would allow the Air Force to look for certain efficiencies,” said Col. Bill Tart, director of the Air Force’s Remotely Piloted Aircraft Capabilities Division.

The new wings would be designed to carry two external fuel tanks and winglets to increase fuel efficiency. The wings would be the same size as existing wings on the Reaper and are designed to swap out with the older wings. The cost is expected to be approximately $500,000 to $1 million to modify the current wings with the ER wings. Also, it’s expected that half of the 400 Reapers currently on contract to be delivered to the U.S. Air Force could easily be modified with the new wings.

It’s interesting to note that as the rest of the world struggles with development of generic UAV capability with Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) mission support the U.S. is not only fielding attack UAVs but is looking to enhance existing designs. The Reaper ER will undoubtedly bring increased combat capability to the fight of today but it’s the advancements and innovation that will serve the U.S. well in the conflicts of tomorrow.

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The Sandshark is designed, built and flown by Northrop Grumman and is being marketed as the risk mitigation solution for landing practices for the Predator and Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The Predator and Reaper were designed by General Atomics and are both unmanned aircraft that have been in use for many years and make up the bulk of the unmanned aircraft hours in the U.S. The Predator and Reaper were used extensively in Iraq and Afghanistan to monitor potential threat areas and provide “an eye in the sky” for military leadership and intelligence sources. Both the Predator and Reaper are flown remotely from Creech Air Force Base in Nevada via a satellite feed and both UAVs require a pilot and a sensor operator to conduct missions. The pilot is responsible for takeoff, landings and navigation, while the sensor operator is responsible for managing the sensor package onboard to provide the best source coverage as dictated by the mission. While the UAVs can loiter airborne for many hours, they eventually have to land to refuel and most Predator and Reaper pilots will agree that landing the aircraft remotely can be very challenging.

This is where the Sandshark UAV comes in. With the cost of practicing landings and the risk to such high valued aircraft, the Sandshark UAV provides a low cost solution to using Predators and Reapers for landing practice. The Sandshark is about ¼ the size of the Reaper and is designed to perform multiple practice landings at about a hundredth of the cost of a practice flight with a “real” UAV. The Sandshark is designed to feel and maneuver just like a Predator and Reaper and provide the remotely controlled pilot the exact same training to that of flying the Predator and Reaper at a fraction of the cost.

The Sandshark UAV could prove useful as a training surrogate for the U.S. Air Force in reducing the number of landing accidents but with technology improving by leaps and bounds, it’s just a matter of time before UAV landings are automated and no longer require a “pilot-in-the-loop.” The Navy has been conducting automated landings for some time and other than having the pilot as a backup, the days of a pilot landing a UAV, may soon be a thing of the past.

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