George w. casey jr. - Federation of American Scientists

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Sergeant First Class Bryan J. Ward Introduction The Shadow tactical unmanned aerial system (TUAS) is a key part of the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) package directly under the brigade combat team (BCT) control. It is often the most valuable (or the only) means of collecting live video feed within the BCT area of operations (AO). That unique capability can be absolutely critical to the commander in full spectrum operations (FSO), allowing him to see contiguous, non-contiguous, and unassigned areas that would otherwise become defacto blind spots. Where is the Shadow Platoon? Only the Enemy Knows… In the moving gun fight called FSO, it is especially easy to leave that asset vulnerable. Years of mission readiness exercises (MREs) have accustomed commanders to secure base operations for TUAS. FSO, at least in part, strips away much of that security blanket. Most TUAS platoons across the Army are currently undermanned. During a conflict where the platoon is launching and recovering from a location that is not built up and easily secured, the platoon is unable to provide its own site security. Remember, a TUAS platoon on the ground has an easily detectable signature but the Shadow at altitude is hard to detect. That all changes when it lands or takes off. In FSO, if the TUAS platoon is to operate securely it is essential that a minimum of an Infantry or Military Police (MP) platoon be assigned to provide security for the launch and recovery site (LRS) as well as engineer support to help provide a defensive perimeter and fighting positions. Securing the LRS, Secure the BCT A fully manned TUAS platoon will conduct split site operations effectively removing half of the platoon from the LRS. During consolidated flight operations the entire platoon is located at the LRS and is expected to provide its own security. This is not a realistic requirement. Flight operations require at a minimum five personnel for launching an aircraft, three to fly the actual mission, three to prepare the follow-on aircraft for the next mission, and five to conduct recovery operations. Using the platoon to provide its own security would hamper the ability of the platoon to provide continuous coverage. The unit would have to sacrifice security for operational necessity when forced to provide internal security at the LRS between phases of flight operations. As those phases of flight operations start, Soldiers have to be pulled from security leaving areas of the LRS perimeter exposed. Tasking an Infantry or MP platoon to provide LRS security will help alleviate the need for the TUAS platoon to have to provide its own security. Securing the TUAS provides better security for the entire BCT. Incorporating Engineer Enablers The same holds true for Engineer enablers. Providing Engineer support for runway preparation and repair is a no brainer. The same Engineer assets can help build up defensive perimeter or dig out fighting positions. This assistance will substantially increase the TUAS platoons chances of surviving contact with enemy forces. The TUAS platoon also needs to be provided with the materials (concertina wire, barricades, etc.) to assist with forming a perimeter around the LRS. While there is no way to ensure complete survivability during combat, these changes would effectively increase the chances that the TUAS platoon would 30 Military Intelligence
e able to survive enemy engagements and continue providing the BCT with live video feed of the AO and current maneuver unit operations. Proper LRS selection is vital to the performance of flight operations during any conflict or exercise. During most operations, BCTs will locate the LRS at the same airfield where air land operations take place and often where all supporting rotary wing aircraft are located, especially during the initial entrance into an AO. This is ideal for consolidating all assets in one spot for security reasons. However if the TUAS platoon is required to launch/recover aircraft on the same runway being used for air lands and rotary wing, safety issues will require the TUAS platoon to displace their equipment after each launch and recovery. Incorporating Engineer support into the TUAS platoon will allow for the creation of and repair of an auxiliary runway a safe distance from the main runway allowing for continuous TUAS operations. The TUAS platoon can operate from any location, given a clear flat surface from which to launch/recover. A long runway setup as shown below allows for launching and recovering in both directions without being required to move any emplaced equipment due to wind direction change. The long runway setup requires a minimum of 900 feet total length and 164 feet wide, this is including 100 feet of runoff on either end. A short runway setup as shown below allows for launching and recovering in both directions without having to move any of the emplaced equipment due to wind direction change. The short runway setup (to include 100 feet of runoff on either end) requires a total length of 710 feet and 164 feet in width. April - June 2011 31
Page 2 and 3: Commanding General Brigadier Genera
Page 4 and 5: always out front by by Brigadier Br
Page 6 and 7: 4 Military Intelligence
Page 8 and 9: All the STX lanes included time for
Page 10 and 11: access to a higher echelon tactical
Page 12 and 13: We should also note that the 2006 F
Page 14 and 15: BCTs will face a more sophisticated
Page 16 and 17: Lieutenant Colonel (P) John Haynicz
Page 18 and 19: 1. A qualified field support engine
Page 20 and 21: The Role of the Company Intelligenc
Page 22 and 23: with operational requirements. Patr
Page 24 and 25: Targeting is another critical area
Page 26 and 27: Chief Warrant Officer Three Conan P
Page 28 and 29: provides and how HUMINT collects it
Page 30 and 31: We have the SIGINT equipment to cov
Page 34 and 35: Engineer support provided to the TU
Page 36 and 37: model is the lack of appropriately
Page 38 and 39: COIST members is that their focus m
Page 40 and 41: fore information is pulled away by
Page 42 and 43: y Major Ismael R. Rodriguez Militar
Page 44 and 45: e no solution at all. Thus, determi
Page 46 and 47: 20. FM 2-01.3, MCRP 2-3A: Intellige
Page 48 and 49: a bodyguard and assassination unit
Page 50 and 51: device from a distance without expo
Page 52 and 53: Iraq and Afghanistan. None of these
Page 54 and 55: This, of course, is Intelligence’
Page 56 and 57: fined steps to prevent CIVCAS shoul
Page 58 and 59: Insurgencies are protracted by natu
Page 60 and 61: y First Lieutenant Tyler Jost In 19
Page 62 and 63: Services Intelligence (ISI), the or
Page 64 and 65: y Robert J. Leach In the U.S., inte
Page 66 and 67: plant, gave concrete evidence to th
Page 68 and 69: it was a case of mistaken identity,
Page 70 and 71: culturation, and one of its consequ
Page 72 and 73: of the actual negotiation process,
Page 74 and 75: leader who appears to have complete
Page 76 and 77: and data constantly bombards intell
Page 78 and 79: elies heavily upon on a person-to-p
Page 80 and 81: Eyes in the Sky: Eisenhower, the CI
Page 82 and 83:
The event itself has been written a
Page 84 and 85:
Soldiers at Camp Tracy deliberately
Page 86 and 87:
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George w. casey jr. - Federation of American Scientists

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