(U) Unmanned Carrier Aviation (UCA)

Abstract

The MQ-25 program rapidly develops an unmanned capability to embark on CVN's as part of the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) to conduct aerial refueling as a primary mission and provide Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) capability as a secondary mission. MQ-25 extends CVW mission effectiveness range, partially mitigates the current Carrier Strike Group (CSG) organic ISR shortfall and fills the future CVW-tanker gap, mitigating Strike Fighter shortfall and preserving F/A-18E/F Fatigue Life . As the first carrier-based, group 5 Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS), MQ-25 will pioneer the integration of manned and unmanned operations, demonstrate mature complex sea-based C4I UAS technologies, and pave the way for future multifaceted multi-mission UAS to pace emerging threats. MQ-25 requirements are aligned with the Unmanned Carrier Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) Initial Capabilities Document (ICD) and the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Family of Systems (FoS) ICD, which highlight the need for carrier-based refueling and persistent ISR capabilities. The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) endorsed the UCLASS ICD in April 2011 and formally approved it on 9 Jun 11 via Joint Requirements Oversight Council Memorandum (JROCM) 087-11. The NGAD FoS ICD was validated by the JROC on 18 August 2015 and formally approved by JROCM 087-15. The JROC's guidance delineated in the validated ICDs and subsequent JROCMs was to establish a requirement for a versatile platform that supports a myriad of organic Naval missions such as aerial refueling and ISR to support the CSG. MQ-25 is expected to provide an Initial Operational Capability to the fleet by the mid-2020s. This program is funded under SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION because it includes some projects that have passed Milestone B approval and are conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production decision.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 0605414N_5_1319_PB_2018
• Change Summary Explanation: Technical: Not applicable. Schedule/Funding: Air Segment RFP release moved from 1QFY2017 to 3QFY2017 driving $127.5M FY 2018 Program Reduction from PB17 to PB18 due to the deferral of the Air Segment EMD contract award from 2QFY2018 to 3QFY2018. Air Segment System Integration incorrectly shown at PB17 as commencing 2QFY2018; updated to reflect 2QFY2019. CVN Fleet CS Deliveries and Hull, Mechanical & Electrical (HME) installations updated to better align with ship availability schedules.
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy
• Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Aircrafts
• Command And Control
• Command And Control Systems
• Configuration Management
• Control Systems
• Fabrication
• Fighter Aircraft
• Ground Control Stations
• Logistics
• Refueling
• Refueling In Flight
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation
• Test Facilities
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Readers

• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy
• Autonomy - UAVs