[iwar] [fc:US.Mulls.Electronic.Attack.Potential.For.Strike.Drones]

From: Fred Cohen (fc@all.net)
Date: 2002-08-21 07:56:38


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Date: Wed, 21 Aug 2002 07:56:38 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [iwar] [fc:US.Mulls.Electronic.Attack.Potential.For.Strike.Drones]
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Jane's Defence Weekly
August 21, 2002
US Mulls Electronic Attack Potential For Strike Drones 
By Michael Sirak, JDW Staff Reporter, Washington DC 
US defence officials are studying the technical feasibility and
cost-effectiveness of accelerating by several years the integration of an
electronic attack capability to Boeing's nascent X-45 unmanned combat air
vehicle (UCAV). 
This integration would improve the aircraft's ability to penetrate heavily
defended areas and destroy enemy anti-aircraft missile launchers and radar
with precision-guided munitions during the initial phase of a conflict,
officials say. The proposal is also consistent with the US Air Force's
(USAF's) desire to carry out electronic attacks by combining next-generation
manned and unmanned systems instead of relying on one platform. 
USAF planners originally envisaged a jamming capability as part of the
X-45's second production configuration around 2010. This version will be
optimised to accompany manned strike packages and protect them, with the
ability to respond to battlefield dynamics, like the emergence of a mobile
missile launcher. This mission is dubbed 'reactive' suppression of enemy air
defences (SEAD). 
USAF Col Michael Leahy, who until mid-August managed the UCAV programme for
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and USAF, said
programme engineers are now evaluating the merits of adding an initial
jamming package to the first production-version aircraft, which is expected
around 2008. 
This configuration is designed for 'pre-emptive' SEAD, the ability to attack
fixed and relocatable air defences and command nodes during the first hours
of a conflict, but without the inherent capacity to react dynamically and
attack targets of opportunity. 
"We are trying to access the state of the art of the technology ... what its
affordability is, and then determine, given our system, how to have a
worthwhile effect on the battlefield," Col Leahy told Jane's Defence Weekly.
"We are not going to change the air vehicle. If this is something that is
going to require a large developmental activity, then that clearly would
have to wait for the [later] spiral." 
Col Leahy, succeeded by USAF Col Earl Wyatt, said the initial electronic
attack package, if pursued, would be housed in one of the UCAV's two payload
bays. 
This would mean carrying fewer weapons. Without the package, the vehicle is
designed to carry either two 1,000 lb (450kg) Joint Direct Attack Munitions
or 12 Small Diameter Bombs. 
During the programme's next phase, UCAV officials will tackle questions like
whether the UCAVs would perform persistent jamming over a battlefield for
extended periods or merely 'stand-in' disruption during the ingress and
egress of a strike team, Col Leahy said. 
Boeing received a $460 million contract on 7 August to continue the
programme. It will use a portion of the funding to complete by the end of
2004 'spiral zero' development, which involves testing two X-45A prototypes
and the associated ground-control station. To date there have been two
successful flights of the first X-45A vehicle. 
The company will use most of the funds, about $400 million, to initiate
'Spiral 1' work - development of the larger, stealthier and more advanced
X-45B air vehicle, which will serve as the precursor to the first
operational UCAVs (JDW 6 March). 
The first X-45B is due for completion in 2004 and will begin flight-testing
that year. The second unit will be delivered in 2005. 
'Spiral 2' UCAVs will be the first production models and optimised for
pre-emptive SEAD. 'Spiral 3' vehicles will perform reactive SEAD. 'Spiral 4'
aircraft will incorporate a directed-energy laser or high-powered microwave
payload. 
"We view the X-45B as the basic 'truck'," Col Leahy said. "It is being
developed to host a variety of different payloads. 'Spiral 2' is about
trying to figure out what is the best first set of missions for that truck."

Although USAF officials say the UCAV programme is progressing well, many
challenges remain. Electronic attack and SEAD is "a very stressing
scenario", said Maj Gen Daniel Leaf, director of operational requirements on
the USAF Air Staff. "We are asking it to do some of the most difficult
things we do with manned platforms. We have to find out if we can in fact
achieve that ... and make it affordable." 

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