The Future is Already Here: Medium Altitude-Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the Marine Air-Ground Task Force
Abstract
The evolution of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) illustrate the reciprocal relationship between ideas and technology in military innovation. Medium altitude-long endurance (MALE) UAS, in particular, have the potential to be both a key enabler and a driver of future operating concepts. Based on this premise, the Marine Corps can develop two critical aspects of unmanned aircraft operations by immediately fielding an existing MALE UAS. First, existing MALE systems have the potential to meet short and mid-range operational shortfalls in the fires, intelligence, and command and control warfighting functions. Second, the Marine Corps can simultaneously gain the experience required to develop employment concepts, influence the advancement of future systems, and refine the support structure required to realize the manifest potential of UAS. The Marine Corps has an opportunity to meet current operational requirements, develop the manifest potential of unmanned systems to enable future operating concepts, and accelerate the development timeline by immediately fielding an existing MALE UAS.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 15, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1178798
Entities
People
- Scott E. Stephan
Organizations
- Marine Corps University