Air Force unveils vision for small unmanned aerial systems

The Air Force unveiled on Tuesday its vision of developing a force of small unmanned aerial systems, or drones, which could be used creatively to meet future missions at lower costs.  

“We already know today that we will have MQ-1s and MQ-9s in scenarios where [we] can’t get below the weather,” said Lt. Gen. Bob Otto, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, referring to the Air Force’s “Predator” and “Reaper” drones. 

{mosads}”But what if we could have an expendable from one of those platforms that could get below the weather and could use electro-optical or infrared in order to sense the environment?” 

The plan, which looks out to 20 years, is still in a conceptual phase, but officials expect to begin demoing some of its concepts before the end of this year, said Col. Brandon “BB” Baker, the Air Force’s director of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. 

Those concepts include “teaming,” in which two drones work together to achieve an objective; the “loyal wingman,” in which drones work with a host system, such as a fighter jet to augment its capabilities or protect it; and “swarming,” in which drones work together as part of a swarm to accomplish an objective. 

Using small drones would change the enemy’s calculations on the battlefield, Baker said. 

For example, an adversary would find it worthwhile to fire a $1 million surface-to-air missile at a $20 million drone or at a $2 billion B-2 bomber, Baker said. 

However, if you instead disperse small drones, and some decoys, costing less than $1 million each, that changes the enemy’s strategy or else forces them to invest in different modes and methods, he said. 

“Now they have to take multiple shots at you,” he said. 

Baker said the demand for drones by combatant commanders continues to grow, and using small drones is one way to start chipping away at the demand.

The use of cheaper, smaller drones that are more autonomous can also help relieve the burden on the current pool of drone pilots, he said.

And as autonomy of the systems improve, one operator could command a mission using several drones, versus one operator directly piloting one drone, he added.   

Otto said small drones can be especially useful at medium altitudes, which takes an “incredible amount of manpower.” 

“We are always seeking ways to offer a robust defense for less investment in capital than what we’re doing today,” he said. 

The Air Force has allocated $2.5 billion in its 2017 science and technology account, which could go towards developing the concepts, Baker said.