Air 7000 - Maritime UAV options

The US Navy's selection of Boeing's 737 Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) virtually ensures that the RAAF will follow suit for the manned component of its future maritime patrol fleet. But what about the unmanned element?
Last year Australia received a formal offer from the Pentagon to participate in the US Maritime Surveillance International Program (MSIP). The US Navy had been courting various countries to participate in joint projects especially the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) and the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) programs with Australia the first to be invited.

The cooperative framework for the BAMS-UAV and MMA programs is now being progressed and with B737s selected for the RAAF's VIP and the recently augmented AEW&C fleets it seems most likely that the same type will be introduced commencing 2012 with the replacement (rather than the refurbishing) of the RAAF MPA fleet. Air 7000 issues for Australia included:

* refurbishment or replacement of the AP-3C

* an affordable force mix to meet requirements with initial studies indicating eight manned and five unmanned platforms

* consideration of the emerging roles that will impact requirements, eg Land ISR, Littoral Strike

* due to limited alternative platform options, the USN's MMA and BAMS-UAV are seen as the likely focus for Air 7000.

For the Maritime Surveillance International Program (MSIP) the US Navy proposed multilateral cooperation on development, production, and support of MMA and BAMS UAVs. Somewhat similar to the JSF program, the international program was structured to allow multinational cooperation at differing levels of financial commitment. Nations could focus their efforts on the MMA airframe, MMA system, BAMS airframe and BAMS system. Industrial participation by partner nations was to be commensurate with investment level negotiated and managed by US prime(s) with MOUs lasting 20+ years.

Although the US Navy had hoped to sign up a lead partner by now, with Australia in its sights, it appears that this country is in no hurry to buy into program and is currently 'progressing' the arrangement. Nevertheless Air 7000, with the following phases, has a structure that accords with the USN's BAMS/MMA programs:

Maritime Patrol UAV (Phase 1)

* Phase 1A-Collaborative Development and Demonstration

* Phase 1B-MPUAV Capability (2009-2012 Incremental Introduction)

Maritime Patrol & Response (Manned) (Phase 2)

* Phase 2A-Collaborative Development & Demonstration

* Phase 2B-Manned MPR Capability (2012-2015 Incremental Introduction)

Tactical/battle control of a UAV from a maritime patrol aircraft is the essence of the BAMS program. Earlier this year, resisting pressure from the USAF to choose the Global Hawk, the US Navy announced that it would proceed with its own acquisition plan. Australia had earlier seen Global Hawk as possibly providing its broad area long endurance maritime and surveillance requirements under JP 2062. However while cooperation with the USAF Global Hawk program continues, the latest Defence Capability Review speaks more generically of Air 7000's Multi-mission Unmanned Aerial Vehicle and does not nominate any particular vehicle.

The USN wants a long endurance aircraft that will complement the MMA and be capable of ocean and littoral surveillance and operations in net-centric environment. So far the USN has not issued a detailed specification of its requirement, leaving it to industry to offer what it considers to be an optimal solution to a broad statement of requirement.

In general the BAMS UAV has to be capable of stand-off, sustained high altitude surveillance and reconnaissance, and attack. It will operate at ranges up to 5,400 kilometers from its launch area, with loiter capability over the target area of up to 24 hours at altitudes greater than 60,000 feet, with extended low-level capability when needed.

It must be capable of simultaneously carrying day and night vision digital video cameras as well as high definition radar, and must be capable of both wideband satellite and Line-Of-Sight (LOS) data link communications. Command will be from the MMA aircraft or from other stations through satellite link.

The US Navy actually plans to arm the BAMS aircraft, creating a UCAV for broad area high seas, coastal and armed reconnaissance in conjunction with the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft. MMA/BAMS is to begin replacing the P-3 by 2012.

The prime contenders for BAMS at this stage are Lockheed Martin teamed with General Atomics offering the Mariner, based on a modified Predator B, and Northrop Grumman offering the Global Hawk RQ-4B derived from the RQ-4A. General Dynamics may offer an unmanned version of its Gulfstream 550 executive jet and it is possible that Boeing will offer a solution drawn from its quiver of UAVs and one that is perhaps operationally compatible with the MMA.

The Mariner is a derivative of the well-established and proven Predator MQ-9A, a medium altitude endurance UAV designed for battlefield surveillance. Manufactured by General Atomics, the Predator B is 27 feet long with a 49 ft wingspan and, as designed, had a loiter time of up to 40 hours and a maximum ceiling of 25 000 feet. This UAV now has the capability to launch an air to ground missile such as Hellfire.

For the BAMS requirement Lockheed Martin's Mariner has an 86 ft wing span for increased altitude and range and increased fuel capacity. Thus modified Mariner, has nearly 50 hours endurance and can operate for 24 hours on station 2,000 nautical miles away from its base. It is designed to fly at 50,000 ft and below for optimum radar performance. Mariner will also be capable of carrying 3,000lbs of external wing stores. It is equipped with C-Band and Ku-Band communications and whatever other sensors are required that meet its payload limits.

There are reports that South Australia-based National Air Support, which represents Mariner in Australasia and whose subsidiary Surveillance Australia is fixed wing contractor to the Coastwatch program, may offer to sell data gathered by Mariner to the ADF in support of Air 7000.

Lockheed makes much of its data link and operator display capabilities and the networking that is achievable and claims that the Predator-based Mariner solution will be cheaper than the Global Hawk solution for the BAMS requirement by offering the 'lowest total ownership cost.'

A more recent design than the Predator, Global Hawk was developed to meet an entirely different operational specification. In the simplest comparison Predator was designed to perform a tactical role and Global Hawk a strategic role approaching that of the U-2 and Blackbird aircraft. Northrop Grumman is offering its RQ-4B derived from the current RQ-4A.

Global Hawk is optimised for low-to-moderate threat, long endurance reconnaissance missions where range, endurance and persistent coverage are paramount.

With its 116- foot wingspan and 44-foot length, it carries a synthetic aperture radar (SAR), an electro-optical (visible spectrum) and third generation infrared sensors that are capable of simultaneous operation to cover wide geographic areas, and provide situational awareness, targeting, and damage assessment. DSTO has undertaken significant development of SARs optimised for maritime surveillance for the Australian Global Hawk program.

The sensor combination will be able to survey, in one day, an area of about 40,000 square nautical miles, providing imagery with a three-foot resolution or more detailed 'spot' images can be provided. For a ty
Northrop Grumman claims that a cell of three Global Hawks - each with an endurance of 36 hours - can successively provide for 30 days continuous 24-hour surveillance of an area at least 2,000 nautical miles from its base. Northrop Grumman claims the Global Hawk BAMS offers the best value at the lowest risk.

In addition to Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin/General Atomics, General Dynamics may propose an unmanned version of its Gulfstream 550 executive jet. Boeing, not to be left out and as a major player in the development of UAVs also cannot be ignored and it may offer a solution based on operational compatibility with the MMA.

Of interest to Australia perhaps will be the USN's separate acquisition of two Global Hawk Maritime Demonstration vehicles for maritime CONOPS development, sensor technology experimentation, and fleet orientation prior to the introduction of the BAMS-UAV in 2009.

This country will be awaiting the outcome of the BAMS-UAV competition with considerable interest especially if there will be opportunities in the SDD and other phases for Australian industry involvement as proposed under the Maritime Surveillance International Program.

By Tom Muir, Canberra