Navsea Peo Ships

Navy UCAS achieves milestone aboard Eisenhower

July 07, 2011

The Navy is one step closer to demonstrating the first carrier-based recoveries and launches of an autonomous, low-observable relevant unmanned aircraft.

Aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) July 2, a team from the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System program office (PMA-268) accomplished the historical first carrier touchdown of an F/A-18D surrogate aircraft emulating an unmanned vehicle using systems developed as part of the Unmanned Combat Air System Carrier Demonstration (UCAS-D) program.

“What we saw here today is cutting edge technology for integrating digital control of autonomous carrier aircraft operations, and most importantly, the capability to automatically land an unmanned air system aboard an aircraft carrier,” said Capt. Jaime Engdahl, N-UCAS Program Manager. “Successfully landing and launching a surrogate aircraft allows us to look forward to demonstrating that a tailless, strike-fighter- sized unmanned system can operate safely in the carrier environment.”

Demonstrating the UCAS-D system with a proven carrier aircraft, the F/A-18D, significantly reduces risk of landing an unmanned system aboard the ship for the first time. The F/A-18 surrogate aircraft, provided by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23, is controlled with actual avionics and software that are being incorporated on X-47B UCAS-D aircraft.

“Surrogate testing allows us to evaluate ship systems, avionics systems, and early versions of the unmanned vehicle software with a pilot in the loop for safety,” said Glenn Colby, team lead for UCAS-D Aviation/Ship Integration. “With this we can verify our interfaces and functionality while minimizing the risk to an unmanned vehicle.”

Along with the F/A-18, the test team employed a King Air surrogate aircraft operated by Air-Tec, Inc. According to Colby, the King Air gives the team a low-cost test bed to evaluate the ability of the UCAS-D avionics and ship systems to properly adhere to existing carrier operations procedures. PMA-268 is using the King Air to test all of the system functionality that does not require actually landing on the ship.

“The most important thing we have done is adapted the ship’s systems to handle a vehicle without a pilot, then seamlessly integrated it into carrier operations,” said Rob Fox, UCAS-D Aviation/Ship Integration deputy team lead. “We’re using both current aircraft carrier hardware and software systems and processes, and introducing new systems and processes to accommodate an unmanned system.

Consolidation: US Navy to Stand up PEO LCS

The program offices are all established under the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA). While a detailed announcement is expected soon, the reorganization would reportedly include the following offices: Remote Minehunting System (PMS 403); LCS Mission Modules (PMS 420); and Mine Warfare (PMS 495) - all now organized under the PEO for Littoral and Mine Warfare. Why was LCS a bad fit for PEO SHIPS? Because LCS is not like other warships, indeed LCS is more like Carriers. Cruisers, Destroyers, and Amphibious Ships do not come with the engineering for reconfiguration options of major capabilities that make up the ship. Yes, while Amphibious ships have plenty of options for Marines, they do not have serious engineering considerations for equipment brought plugged into the ship itself like the LCS does. This will get particularly important down the road as mission modules are fielded in deployments. Acquisition experience is seen as a requirement for any major PEO Flag tour. If I was picking from the pool of acquisition professionals to take up the LCS, I think the top name would and should be Rear Admiral James D. Syring , current PEO IWS. Sincere apologies to everyone else, but that guy is the only program manager rock star in uniform today, and the only other options would be if the Navy wanted a civilian who serves or served as the Auxiliary Ships, Boats and Craft program manager over the last decade. Interesting detail though, in this case the acquisition aspects of the ship hulls are already worked out for what will be the tour duration of the first person to hold the PEO LCS tour, and the focus will be on module systems. I think we also have to look at the LCS and realize; what this program needs more than anything right now is someone who can set up and organization that will initially include multiple acquisition managers, and not send in an acquisition micromanger that could potentially create new problems during this consolidation. This means you need qualities of leadership of someone who can set up and run a major office in the Navy while also having someone who can move the LCS into the role of an operational asset for the warfighter.

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