I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e
MQ-1 Predator / MQ-9 ReaperUnmanned Aircraft Systems
Jeffrey W. Eggers, ColDirector, UAS Transformation
Air Force Combat Support Office
8 Feb 2008
Apr 22, 2023
One Man’s Vision
“We have just won a war with a lot of heroes flying around in planes. The next war may be fought by airplanes with no men in them at all. It certainly will be fought with planes so far superior to those we have now that there will be no basis for comparison. Take everything you’ve learned about aviation in war, throw it out of the window, and let’s go to work on tomorrow’s aviation. It will be different from anything the world has ever seen.”
Gen Hap Arnold, USAAFVJ Day, 1945
Apr 22, 2023
AF Family of Systems
Small UAS Operators Rated Aviators
Micro Man-Portable Small Large/Theater Capable
Low Capability High Capability
Multi-Mission
Apr 22, 2023
Predator/Reaper System
Aircraft
Ground Control Station (GCS)
Predator Primary Satellite Link (PPSL)
Operations Center
Apr 22, 2023
MQ-1/MQ-9 Comparison
MQ-1 Predator MQ-9 Reaper
A-10 SizeC-172 Size
2 x 500 lb bombs
4 x Hellfire
Endurance: 24 HrsMax Speed: 120 KtsMax Altitude: 25,000Payload: 300 Lbs
Endurance: 24 HrsMax Speed: 240 KtsMax Altitude: 50,000Payload: 3000 Lbs
2 x Hellfire
Apr 22, 2023
Current Combat CAPs
Total Combat CAPs - Predator: 20 Reaper: 2
Apr 22, 2023
Remote Split Operations
Ku Satellite
PPSL
Creech AFB
Mission Control Element
GCS
Ops Ctr
LOSOnly
Launch &
Recovery
Element
Fiber Optics
Predator VideoNetwork
In Theater
Apr 22, 2023
Current Operations
Apr 22, 2023
LaserDesignator
EO & IR Camera IR Marker AGM-114P Hellfire
MQ-1B Tactical Systems
Multi-spectral Targeting System
IR Marker
Apr 22, 2023
Target Coordination
Laser Rangefinder Designator*For guiding weapons
Laser Target Marker*Visible in NVGs
Mensurated Target Coordinates
ROVER Video Direct to JTAC
Tactical DatalinkLink-16 and SADL
Standard J-CAS andJ-Fire Procedures
ROVER videoshows target
JTAC
Target Designatorfor Laser Guided
Bombs and Missiles
Target Marking Laser
for NVGs
* Predator cannot see LRDs or LTMs from other providers.
Apr 22, 2023
Close Air Support - Raid
Apr 22, 2023
Close Air Support – An Najaf
Friendlies
Sniper
Apr 22, 2023
Close Air Support – An Najaf
Apr 22, 2023
Disaster Relief
Apr 22, 2023
Relief Operations
Commercial Satellite
GCS*
Creech AFB
Ops Cell
ROVERFeed
Fiber Optics
Network
Relief Personnel•GCS: Ground Control Station•LRE: Launch and recovery element
USNORTHCOMDept Homeland
Security
POTUS
FMV
Katrina New
Orleans
LRE*
MQ-1 to provide full motion video at USNORTHCOM’s direction in the event of CONUS catastrophe
Apr 22, 2023
all pads, 13K[02:17]<QueenTk>Dy01 Clrd KB07 pad 1-6 13K avoid Betty all pads, 13K[02:17]<QueenTk>Dy01 Clrd KB07 pad 1-6 13K avoid Betty [02:17]<Kelt_PM>QueenTK, stardust RTB 0215 NSTR[02:18]<Deadly01> c, kb01 pd1-6 13k, betty hot—tks[02:18]<QueenTK> c, stardust, clrd hammond
[01:57]<CJTF-2>sb, I’ll see if it is ready[02:05] <CJTF-2> target deck sent to your JWICS email[02:10]<Deadly_MC>got it. start from north or by #?[02:11]< CJTF-2 >n2s[02:20]<Deadly_MC> on tgt 2140Z[02:21]<DGS_2> 3 pax sw
support rqd att[01:33]<ASOC_3>c, rock.[02:10]<MNCG_2>Reported shots fired sect 23d[02:11]<ASOC_3>TIC03 activated N361402 W1140232[02:13]<ASOC_3>Strike 44 enroute tic 03, QT pls activate betty sfc to 180[02:13]<MNCG_2>mortar poo
[02:22]<Deadly01> LRE, were low on gas, expect 0330 handback[02:22]<LRE_P1> sb, let me check[02:25]<LRE_P1>Deadly, we can handle that, just don’t be late or you’ll bump hamer22[02:25]<Deadly01> copy, we can make it
all pads, 13K[02:17]<QueenTk>Dy01 Clrd KB07 pad 1-6 13K avoid Betty all pads, 13K[02:17]<QueenTk>Dy01 Clrd KB07 pad 1-6 13K avoid Betty [02:17]<Kelt_PM>QueenTK, stardust RTB 0215 NSTR[02:18]<Deadly01> c, kb01 pd1-6 13k, betty hot—tks[02:18]<QueenTK> c, stardust, clrd hammond
[01:57]<CJTF-2>sb, I’ll see if it is ready[02:05] <CJTF-2> target deck sent to your JWICS email[02:10]<Deadly_MC>got it. start from north or by #?[02:11]< CJTF-2 >n2s[02:20]<Deadly_MC> on tgt 2140Z[02:21]<DGS_2> 3 pax sw
support rqd att[01:33]<ASOC_3>c, rock.[02:10]<MNCG_2>Reported shots fired sect 23d[02:11]<ASOC_3>TIC03 activated N361402 W1140232[02:13]<ASOC_3>Strike 44 enroute tic 03, QT pls activate betty sfc to 180[02:13]<MNCG_2>mortar poo
[02:22]<Deadly01> LRE, were low on gas, expect 0330 handback[02:22]<LRE_P1> sb, let me check[02:25]<LRE_P1>Deadly, we can handle that, just don’t be late or you’ll bump hamer22[02:25]<Deadly01> copy, we can make it
Aircrew collaborates real time with end user, intel analysts, cmd elements, airspace ctrl, other aircraft, ground forces
Secure UHF/VHF/FM radio and secure computer chat
SA provided on FalconView w/ airspace diagrams, Link-16, target sets, tgt imagery, weather, msn planning data…
Mission integration screens NOT tied into gnd ctrl station!
Mission Collaboration
AIRCREWJTAC
How the Mission Gets Done
Army
TOC
Army
TOC
DCGSDCGS
ASOCASOC
CAOCCAOC
LRELRE
CRCCRC
SOFTOCSOFTOC
SIPRSA & Comm
JWICS
SA & Comm
Apr 22, 2023
Pilot’s Mission Integration Screen
killbox 6 180-210[02:16]<QueenTk>SE31, sb coordinating[02:16] ]<Deadly01> QT, rqst kp01 all pads, 13K[02:17]<QueenTk>Dy01 Clrd KB01 pad 1-6 13K avoid Betty [02:17]<Kelt_PM>QueenTK, stardust RTB 0215 NSTR[02:18]<Deadly01> c, kb01 pd1-6 13k, betty hot—tks[02:18]<QueenTK> c, stardust, clrd hammond
[01:55]<Deadly_MC>c, sb[01:57]<Deadly_MC>eta 0220, do you have target list?[01:57]<CJTF-2>sb, I’ll see if it is ready[02:05] <CJTF-2> target deck sent to your JWICS email[02:10]<Deadly_MC>got it. start from north or by #?[02:11]< CJTF-2 >n2s[02:20]<Deadly_MC> on tgt 2140Z[02:21]<DGS_2> 3 pax sw
support rqd att[01:33]<ASOC_3>c, rock.[02:10]<MNCG_2>Reported shots fired sect 23d[02:11]<ASOC_3>TIC03 activated N361402 W1140232[02:13]<ASOC_3>Strike 44 enroute tic 03, QT pls activate betty sfc to 180[02:13]<MNCG_2>mortar poo N361413 W1140155[02:14]<QueenTk>rgr, ROZ Betty active sfc-180 ufn
your clrd Golf sector 12K, ready to handover[02:21] ]<MAC_P1>got it thanks, copy golf @ 12[02:22]<Deadly01> LRE, were low on gas, expect 0330 handback[02:22]<LRE_P1> sb, let me check[02:25]<LRE_P1>Deadly, we can handle that, just don’t be late or you’ll bump hamer22[02:25]<Deadly01> copy, we can make it
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
Apr 22, 2023
Operations Center
How the Missions are Managed
Operations Supervisor
Weather Senior IntelManager
Msn Coord Msn Coord Msn Coord Msn Coord
Air Crew Air Crew Air Crew Air Crew
DCGSDCGSArmy TOC
Army TOC
DCGSDCGSMarineTOC
MarineTOC DCGSDCGSSOF
TOCSOFTOC DCGSDCGSSOF
TOCSOFTOC
LRELRECAOCCAOC
Operations Center Manages sortie generation
and crew assignment Provides msn comm and
situational awareness (SA) to mission crews
Distributes video andtactical data link tracks
Provides weather and intel support to msns
Supports aircraft emergencies andmsn retaskings
Apr 22, 2023
Global Operations Concept
Distributed OperationsCentrally Coordinated
Globally Applied
ND ANGMQ-1
TX ANGMQ-1
NY ANGMQ-9
CA ANGMQ-1
AZ ANGMQ-1
42 ATKS
39 Sq (UK)
MQ-9
15, 17 RS, 3rd SOSMQ-1
Global
Operations Center
Global
Operations Center
Apr 22, 2023
Consolidation and Allocation of Critical Resources
AOR 1
GlobalOperations
Center
AOR 2
AOR 3Global Ops Center Matches dispersed
resources to multiple combatant forces
Preset allocations andalignment for normal ops
Rapid reallocation for weather, equipment failures, combat surge needs
Multi-Aircraft Control Station run from ops center to feed aircraft to flying units near the target area Geographically Separated Stateside units
Apr 22, 2023
Predator Self Image
Apr 22, 2023
From Galileo to Predator
1609-Galileo discovers moons of Jupiter
1655-Lens used to discover Titan
2006-MTS-B Sensor
Development of UASs will be a long and difficult process too!
But we must lead the way.
Development of UASs will be a long and difficult process too!
But we must lead the way.
Apr 22, 2023
Why UAS?
Missions That Are
DullDirty
Dangerous
WasMissions That Need
Now
IntegrationCollaborationPersistence
Tied-InTeamed-UpTenacious
Tied-InTeamed-UpTenacious
Apr 22, 2023
Concepts in Automation
The mission drives the automation design Automate to EMPOWER not replace aircrew Autonomous = BAD, Highly Automated = Good Hybrid Multi-Aircraft Control
Multi-control for low-dynamic periods Single-control for high-dynamic periods
Apr 22, 2023
High Altitude ISR
Example Scenario Image predefined targets Occasional ad hoc targets Altitude above 60,000 ft
Ideal for Automation Objectives clear and consistent Above most weather, other
aircraft, mobile threats
Ideal for Automation Objectives clear and consistent Above most weather, other
aircraft, mobile threats
Notional: Real-world environments and missions can be much more complex
Apr 22, 2023
Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses
Example Scenario Electronically detect and classify
threat systems Predefined search area Predefined rule set for
prioritizing and targeting
But impacted by WX, other aircraft, threats Airspace control and WX
reporting not yet automated all the way to the aircraft Challenging for Automation
Many aspects can be automated, but some
still cannot
Challenging for AutomationMany aspects can be automated, but some
still cannot
Apr 22, 2023
Close Air Support
Example Scenario Fluid ground environment Continually changing objectives Difficult to ID friendly, enemy,
and non-combatant Airspace and weapons
deconfliction is complex Coordination by voice Results proportional to
performance, division of attention can cost lives
Resistant to AutomationVery difficult environment to
codify
Resistant to AutomationVery difficult environment to
codify
Apr 22, 2023
Networked Multi-Aircraft Control
Networked-ControlAllows all aircraft to be monitored and controlled from one or more “Multi-Aircraft Control Stations” (MACS) and rapidly switch to the Advanced Cockpit Control Station
One Mind-One MissionThe Advanced Cockpit provides an immersive environment providing full control of one or more aircraft coordinating on a single mission.
Multi-Aircraft ManagerA pilot who controls multiple aircraft en route to and from targets and manages static/ autonomous missions.
Network Server
Multi-Aircraft Control Stations
Advanced CockpitControl Stations
Apr 22, 2023
AutomatedMission Integration
Automation is not just for aircraft ctrl, but for mission management too Information is life! Build a virtual battlespace Info fusion--multiple domains, multiple security levels
PredatorOperations
Center
Synthesis
VideoDistribution
GroundForces
Voice RadioROVER Video
Weather
Threats
Blue Forces
Msn Assignment
Msn Coord
Target Coord
Airspace Coord
Scheduling
Apr 22, 2023
Automation Conclusions
The Mission Drives the Automation One Mind – One Mission Automate to Empower not Displace Just say “No” to Autonomy Information is Life Network, Network, Network
Apr 22, 2023
Questions?
Apr 22, 2023
Concepts for Multi-Aircraft Control
Cooperative Engagement
Benign Ops Manager
Swarm
One
to M
any
One to Many O
ne to
Man
y