Australian Defence Force UAS into the 2030's - Royal Aeronautical Society, 16 Sep 20
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Royal Aeronautical Society, 16 Sep 20
Australian Defence Force UAS into the 2030’s
Lieutenant Colonel Keirin Joyce
@keirinjoyce and @AuADRT
Scope • Context: • Army is Australia’s biggest, most experienced, safest drone user • 3 systems in-service, 2 systems in-use • 1,000+ drones, 1,000+ operators • Specialised, non-specialised and for sport • Navy is experimenting and established • Air Force is experiencing and establishing • By the mid-2020’s, ADF will be a very unmanned force. • Uncrewed expansion will exceed $30B in the 2030’s
NUAS / Black Hornet
• Demonstrated at AID14
• Acquired 25 for trial; AMP024.33
increased fleet to 175 over 2018-20 –
every Combat Platoon / S&R Team
• 25mins, 2km, day or night
• Short LoT: L125-4 Future Soldier Combat
Ensemble – every Platoon/Section
Trialx25 Entire Combat Army – 175 Systems L125-4
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
SUAS / Wasp AE
• Demonstrated at AID14
• AMP 024.32 acquired 14 for trial: L129-4A is increasing
the fleet to 68 over 2018 to 2021 – every CT
• 45mins, 5km, day and night
• IIS commenced in 2018
• Short LoT: L129-4B in 2023-2025
Entire Combat Army
Trial x 14 - 67 systems -4B
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
SUAS+
• BG support ‘SUAS+’
– 2+ hr, 20+km, day and night, extras
• Capability gap – AMP024.35 to treat
– Kicked off in FY18/19
AMP024.35
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
TUAS / Shadow 200
• JP129-2 acquired two Shadow 200’s
• One system supports a deployed Bde
• Life of 2011-2023
• L129-3 will replace/increase in 2022-5
• Experimentation/Risk Mitigation:
– Shadow 200 constraints: Runway, amphib ops,
manning, sensors, weather, noise
– Experiment on path to L129-3: VTOL, HFE, sensors
Experimentation
G1 Shadow 200 L129-3
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
COTS MRUAS
• Two years, now in every Army unit
– C-UAS training / Unit training review
• Drone literacy
• Experimentation
• AMP 023.34 acquired 350 systems:
– Every unit (Regular, Reserve and Cadet) in Army
– 1 day trg – online (not CAMPUS, internet)
• UAVAIR
350
Systems
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Logistics UAS • MRH90 PRIDEM is expensive • CSS UAS = 150+kg combat supplies out, 120+kg CASEVAC back • Two DIH innovations in support: – AMSL VertiPlane – Sypaq PPDS 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Pseudo Satellites
• Pseudo-Satellite could provide alternate:
– Precision Nav and Timing
– MilSat Comms
– MilSat Data
– MilSat Imagery
• 70,000ft, 30+ days
• DST Group HAPS Trial 2018+
– Army is lead Service
– Zephyr S = 5kg payload
– Zephyr T (2019) = 20kg payload
HAPS: HAPS:
?
Zephyr S Zephyr T
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Swarming • DST Group leading under the Contested Urban Environment program • Cross program approach with SCS, LISREW and LC3 programs, and FLW 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
Army Drone Racing Team
• Team selected from across Army
• Flying and racing all over Australia
• Engages young soldiers and youth
• Non-traditional Army sport
• Army sport no longer just rugby/AFL!
• Hosted inaugural MIDRT in Oct 18
– And won it!MRUAS (SECFOR) Systems •3x SkyRanger R70 UAS •Distance - 0-8km Range •Flight time: 40 min per (In air replacement capable) Payloads •EO/IR 30Hz •30x HDZoom (60x digital zoom) •Osprey (2kg Payload Delivery) •Tether Mission Profiles •ISR Collection Operations •NSB/Expeditionary Operations •Targeting Support Operations 2 x Mission Teams capable of 24/7 operations. Mission Team: •1 x Msn Comd •2 x UAS Operators
MRUAS (Maint Inspection)
Aim
• Reduce time taken to perform paint surveys, flight
servicings, and ad-hoc inspections
• Reduce working at heights risk, increase efficiency,
inspection fidelity, and ease of data capture / sharing /
archiving
Context
• Paint survey conducted first day of scheduled servicing
(Home Station Check) following wash
• Detailed static images captured and analysed by surface
finishers (painters) – previously conducted using Elevated
Work Platforms (EWP) and hand held cameras or by
marking damage on an aircraft schematic
Outcomes
– Archival record of paint condition – able to be shared easily
– Significantly faster and safer than using EWP
– Assists in planning and prioritising rectification of paint
defects
– Potential for quick and easy access to upper surface and tail
Recommendations / Future
• Introduce IR for additional inspection capability
• Introduce automated flight and mapping to automatically
detect and map damage and record defects (including paint)
• Increase scope of inspections, reduce restrictions on UAS
operation on flightline (currently requires NOTAM, clearance
from tower, and cessation of operations during aircraft
movements)Air Force Drone Racing Team
• Team selected from across Air Force
• Flying and racing all over Australia
• Engages young airmen and youth
• Non-traditional ADF sport
• ADF sport no longer equals just rugby and AFL!
• Drone racing – Where six pilots compete at
180km/h pulling up to 8g, using goggles with a
live video feed to guide their drone through the
course.
• Cutting edge sport aimed at:
– Science Technology Engineering Mathematic
(STEM) engagement.
– Mentoring Air Force Cadets (AAFC).
– Providing continuation training of technical skills
for Air Force members.
– Awareness of RPAS regulations and emerging
technologies, for a RPAS literate ADF.
– Promoting a positive RPAS image for Air Force.Air 7003: MQ-9B ‘Sky Guardian’ (UK – ‘Protector’)
Air 7003 MQ-9B SkyGuardian
• IOC FY25/26, up to 12 x Air Vehicles
• Fully certified
Wingspan: 79 ft Max air speed: 220 KTAS
Length: 36 ft Electrical Power 45kVA (37kW available to payloads)
850 lb (386 kg) internal
Max altitude: 45,000+ ft Payload capacity: 4,000 lb (1364 kg) external on 9 hard points
Max endurance: 30+ hrs •High-definition (HD) EO/IR camera system
•Lynx Multi-mode Radar
•Multiple weapon capabilities
Payloads:
~6000 lbs •Pod mounted payloads
Max fuel:
•De-ice/Anti-ice system & Lightning Protection
•Sense and Avoid/Due Regard RadarMQ-4C air vehicle
Air 7000-1B MQ-4C Triton
• Based on Global Hawk
• IOC FY25/26, 3 x Air Vehicles
• Key characteristics
– Wingspan: 130 ft
– MTOW: 32,250 lbs
– Endurance: >24 hrs
– Payload: 3000 lbs (int), 2000 lbs (extl)
• Optimised for HALE
• Multi-int variants
• Sensors:
– AN/ZPY-3 Multi-function Active Sensor
(MFAS) maritime radar
– AN/ZLQ-1 ES
– AN/DAS-3 EO/IR
– Automatic Identification system (AIS)
– ADS-B, TCAS, SAA and Wx detection and
avoidanceFutures (M/HAPS, Loyal Wingman, Inno) • Pseudo-Satellite could provide alternate: – Precision Nav and Timing – MilSat Comms – MilSat Data – MilSat Imagery • Loyal Wingman / Air Teaming • Innovation – Jericho and Hub collaboration
Future opportunities • FSP20 just announced a raft of uncrewed capability projects - $30B • TASDCRC • NGTF / SBIRD • DIH – Case Study: SUAS of the Future (10 contracts, $11.3m) • Projects
Questions?
LinkedIn: keirinjoyce
Twitter: @keirinjoyce and @AuADRTYou can also read
