The Cargo Unmanned Aircraft System: A Future Battlefield Enabler for Enhanced Company Operations and SeaBasing
Abstract
When Enhanced Company Operations (ECO) and SeaBasing become a reality, the Cargo UAS (CUAS) will address the logistical challenges of providing food, water, ammunition, medical supplies, and critical parts to Marines distributed in company-size elements across the AO when the risks to aircrew and ground convoys are too high. The insurgents' successful use of roadside Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) against ground convoys in Afghanistan prompted the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) to release an Urgent Universal Needs Statement (UUNS) in September 2009 that challenged the Marine Corps to explore alternative means of combat re-supply to remote Forward Operating Bases (FOB) and Combat Outposts (COP). Six months following the release of the UUNS, a technology demonstration conducted by the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) at Dugway Proving Ground, Utah, yielded astonishing results -- the vision of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) conducting re-supply missions on today's battlefield and into the future was far closer to reality than most realized. In addition to getting trucks off the road, the CUAS will considerably augment Marine aviation assault support helicopters by providing critical combat re-supply to remote FOBs and COPs in Afghanistan. By taking the pilot out of the aircraft, commanders will have greater flexibility to re-supply Marines in high surface-to-air threat environments and inclement weather. Technology exists that will allow unmanned aircraft systems to transport food, water, ammunition, medical supplies, and critical parts to Marines distributed across the battlefield. The Marine Corps is prepared to implement the current CUAS initiative to mitigate the lED threat by reducing the amount of convoys on the roads. The CUAS will save lives in Afghanistan, and it will also significantly enhance the Marine Corps' ability to logistically support concepts like ECO and SeaBasing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 14, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA601236
Entities
People
- Jason A. Sharp
Organizations
- Marine Corps University