Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Payloads

Abstract

The Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Sensor Payload program provides the capability to develop, integrate, field, and sustain tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads and enabling technologies for Group 1-3 aerial platforms in the USMC Family of UAS. In support of Force Design 2030 initiative, tactical UAS ISR is primarily focused on Marine Littoral Regiments (MLR) and on Marine Expeditionary Units (MEU) to enhance their ability to operate within an operating environment characterized by Great Power Competition. In support of the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) 2019 Planning Guidance and service Force Design 2030 requirements, UAS sensor payloads provide modular, low-cost aerial sensing technologies to achieve the Maritime Domain Awareness required by MLRs and MEUs in support of the Joint Forces Maritime Component Command (JFMCC). Within the context of Maritime Domain Operations, Marine forces executing Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO) require the organic capability to establish and maintain awareness of adversaries and potential adversary activities in communications and navigation degraded or denied environments. UAS Payloads enable sensing of threat indicators across the electromagnetic, gravimetric, chemical, nuclear, and acoustic spectrums and within the visual and radar spectrum, with reduced signature, and minimized risk to personnel. The incorporation of advanced technology enablers such as artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) and precision geolocation provide automated recognition, identification, tracking, advanced networks, advanced communications, and cross-cueing in support of accelerated battlespace awareness and targeting. As an essential element of the kill chain, UAS payloads are critical to the JFMCC targeting process to find, fix, track, target, engage, and assess the effects of lethal and non-lethal fires. Employment of UAS payloads on platforms distributed across the MLRs and MEUs during EABO allows for greater distribution of forces while maintaining persistent awareness, enhances the security of tactical units and personnel moving across the battlespace, and enables the rapid transition between positions necessary for force survivability.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 0305242M_7_1319_PB_2022
• Change Summary Explanation: The net increase of $4.274M from FY 2021 to FY 2022 is primarily due to addressing capability gaps by providing engineering services, development and evaluation services, and training services for payload development and engineering analysis for payloads specializing in AI/ML, Enhanced EO, SIGINT/ES and SAR/MTI. Schedules have been updated to reflect Marine Corps Force Design 2030.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• C4I
• Counter WMD
• Materials and Manufacturing Processes
• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Intelligence
• Cross Domain
• Data Management
• Detection
• Detectors
• Fabrication
• Full Motion Video
• Military Operations
• Military Research
• National Security
• Surveillance
• Synthetic Aperture Radar
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Warfare

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• AI & ML
• AI & ML - Autonomous Systems
• AI & ML - DoD AI Strategy
• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs