Unmanned Air Systems (Intel)

Abstract

Family of Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (FoSUAS) [formerly Small Unit Remote Scouting System (SURSS)] - In support of the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) 2019 Planning Guidance and service Force Design 2030 requirements, the FoSUAS program provides small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for battalion/company/detachment level units with scalable airborne Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) capabilities to aid in detecting, identifying, engaging, and/or avoiding enemy units. SUAS meet validated operational requirements delineated in the Operational Requirements Document (ORD), Vertical Take Off and Landing (VTOL) Rapid Acquisition Top Level Requirements (TLR), and Long Range/Long Endurance (LR/LE) TLR. The ORD and TLRs are transitioning to a new Capability Development Document (CDD) that will incorporate unique mission kits, mission payloads, air vehicle enhancements, and modifications of UAS and related Ground Control Stations (GCS) for tactical FoSUAS systems. FoSUAS will consist of Short Range/Short Endurance (SR/SE), Medium Range/Medium endurance (MR/ME), and LR/LE systems. In addition to supporting the requirements in the ORD and TLR documents, the FoSUAS program also conducts Field User Evaluations (FUEs) to support Urgent Universal Needs Statements (UUNS). SUAS Reusable Architecture (SRA) capability will reduce the size, weight, and manpower required to operate a FoSUAS GCS, increases the mobility of the operator, and improves digital interoperability. The SUAS Reusable Architecture (SRA) project, a technology improvement effort, will increase interoperability, protect cyber security and reduce cyber security risk, decrease maintenance and sustainment costs, minimize risk and cost associated with technology insertion and improvement, and to reduce manpower required to operate a FoSUAS. Development efforts for FoSUAS are ongoing in order to keep SUAS capabilities aligned with emerging technologies and threats. FoSUAS is developing SRA to establish reference implementations and industry guidance for all key SUAS interfaces, drastically improving interoperability by permitting industry, government, and academia to design-to-field hardware and software capabilities with well-defined integration and cybersecurity requirements up front. In addition to accelerating payload integration, SRA will allow portability of both software and hardware-based functionality across disparate platforms and control segments, as well as enable rapid integration of both open and closed-source artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (AI/ML) tools to inject autonomy and target recognition capabilities into FoSUAS. This effort will reduce duplicative engineering, training, integration, and sustainment efforts associated with closed, proprietary systems. SRA also seeks to authorize all SRA-compliance systems under a single service accreditation and COTS waiver in order to define, address, and mitigate security vulnerabilities at the enterprise-level in current and future platforms. Software updates, improved batteries, and alternative repair components are also being explored to increase effectiveness and reliability. In addition, required initial and recurring cyber assessments are conducted in order to meet OSD-mandated waivers for both CONUS and OCONUS FoSUAS operations.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: 2292_0305232M_7_1319_PB_2022

Tags

Fields of Study

• Computer science

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Marksmanship and Weaponry.
• 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
• Cyber