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49 Defence applications Ongoing efforts in the US by DARPA and the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) are considering applications to further expand the potential of UASs for surveillance, including mass deployment in swarm configurations. The AFSOC’s Tactical Offboard Sensing (TOBS) programme for example is examining the potential for AC-130J Ghostrider aircraft to deploy a series of small UASs for such purposes, according to spokesman Mike Raynor. “The TOBS system encompasses several parts [including] the Ghostrider and integrated control through the AC- 130J’s Precision Strike Package. Data links provide the necessary information to the fire control software on board the aircraft from the small UASs’ sensors, allowing the AC-130J to use its suite of weapons against enemy targets,” Raynor says. As part of the programme, the Altius UAS has been integrated with the aircraft’s Brimstone battle management system. Elsewhere, DARPA’s Low Cost UAV Swarming Technology effort is aiming to deploy up to 30 UASs simultaneously for ISR missions and target acquisition. For the moment at least, the UAS being used is Raytheon’s Coyote, which can be tube-launched. Raytheon says the Coyote has already been deployed to support National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration operations to support hurricane monitoring from Lockheed P-3 surveillance aircraft. Aerovironment’s vice-president of corporate strategy, investor relations and communication, Steven Gitlin, points to similar extensions to surveillance capabilities across the defence sector. The solutions range from small UASs such as the Raven, Puma AE and Wasp AE to the Switchblade tactical missile system, which is essentially a fusion of small UASs and munition payloads and is currently under evaluation by the US Army and US Special Operations Command for the Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System programme. The concept provides an expendable surveillance capability for close-combat teams who operate on foot at the forward edge of a battle area. “The Switchblade can rapidly provide an expendable miniature flying ISR package on a beyond-line-of-sight target within minutes,” says Gitlin. “This remotely piloted or autonomous platform can glide or propel itself via electric propulsion, providing real- time GPS coordinates and video for information gathering, targeting or feature/object recognition.” It has an endurance of 10 minutes and a range of up to 10 km, flying at 55-85 knots at altitudes below 500 ft. Aerovironment has also developed the Snipe Nano Quad to support close-range ISR missions. Its 140 g airframe can be deployed within a minute for ‘over-the- hill’ surveillance missions, and can be fitted with EO/IR, low-light and long- wave infrared sensors in an integrated tilt mechanism to deliver high-resolution images and record real-time video in daylight and at night. Airborne surveillance | Insight Unmanned Systems Technology | December/January 2018 The ScanEagle is used in the government as well as commercial domains as expertise derived from military operations crosses over into mission sets ranging from agriculture to media coverage (Courtesy of Insitu) Simulation of IAI’s Rotem loitering system observing and engaging a target. It has similar capabilities to the Lethal Miniature Aerial Missile System concept (Photo: Andrew White)