USCG preps for UAS integration
The US Coast Guard is moving toward the release of a request for proposal for a small UAS capability for its National Security Cutters (NSCs), with a number of training and concept of operations development projects underway.
As part of work to stay informed on the state of the UAS market, acquisition personnel have attended operational training with Insitu to achieve the certification required to operate the ScanEagle UAS.
The coast guard will use a contractor-owned and -operated ScanEagle UAS this winter to test integration and a concept of operations for UAS on USCGC Stratton based in Alameda, California. The service will use the deployment data to refine requirements for installing and integrating future systems across the NSC class.
The training course will also help the acquisition programme to more effectively analyse and assess potential UAS for NSC solutions.
The course included training to perform launch, recovery and minor maintenance. A ten day mission coordinator course was also carried out by Stratton crew to better understand capabilities, limitations and standard operation of the ScanEagle and the command, control and coordination functions to smoothly integrate operations.
The Coast guard plans to release a request for proposal for small UAS for NSC capability by the end of 2017, with contract award for the retrofit of Stratton and one additional NSC targeted for 2018.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration]()
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
![HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment]()
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.
-
![How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China]()
How Operation Epic Fury could reduce US readiness to face China
The offensive against Iran could impact training and maintenance cycles and accelerate the degradation of the US arsenal on top of depleting Washington’s stockpiles.
-
![UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet]()
UK Royal Navy explores modular counter-drone capabilities for future hybrid fleet
The UK MoD is scoping out systems to counter the growing threat of uncrewed aerial systems, with a focus on low-cost modularity and speed to field.
-
![US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks]()
US Pentagon claims to have severely damaged Iranian capabilities, promises to increase attacks
US military authorities claim to have sunk 20 Iranian vessels and destroyed Tehran’s Air Force, with the Pentagon making plans to send additional assets to the region.
