Air Force Research Laboratory Technology Strategy for Agile and Affordable Unmanned Air Systems 7-8 Mar 2017 Dr. Reid Melville Air Force Research Laboratory Integrity Service Excellence Distribution A : Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. (88ABW-2017-0853 )
USAF Strategic Master Plan Pursuit of Operational and Developmental Agility Agility is the Strategic Imperative Warfighting Capability: Responsive, affordable, adaptable, seamless integration Capability Development Process: More responsive, adaptable, and agile The increasing rate of change of today s technologies and security environment Points toward is fundamentally at odds Smaller, with a decades-long capability development process Smarter, and More UAS Provide Opportunity to Change Operations and Development I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 2
Unmanned Air Systems The Game Changing Promise Changing how we Fly and Fight New class of air platforms Combined into air weapon systems Expands options for every mission Changing how we Build and Buy Low-cost, risk accepting platforms Perfect for agile manufacturing Allows frequent technology refresh Operational Agility and Acquisition Agility for the Air Domain Distribution Statement D. 20 3
Survivable Attritable Expendable Reusability Changing How We Fly and Fight Emerging Solution Space Emerging Low-Cost Platforms Air-launched Attritables Tube-Launched Expendables Smart, Loitering Munitions Smart munitions = expendable UAS Munitions MALE ISR 5th Gen Companion Reusable UCAV Rail-launched Recoverables New class of air platforms Small Size Large Manned Systems Keys for acquisition agility: speed and affordability 4
Reducing Acquisition Cost Low Cost Attritable Aircraft Technology Unitized Assembly JASSM X-55 Non-traditional & agile manufacturing Reduced manufacturing complexity Automated and scalable processes Advanced joining & forming Traditional A/C Designed for Safety with High Reliability Tailored Specs & Criteria Airworthiness & service spec highly tailored Event probability of occurrence increased Reduced system redundancy NDI & quality acceptance practices tailored Failure Definition 90% part-count redux 95% fastener redux Material Design for Attritability Reduced design margins Definition of appropriate allowables Limited life design => no fatigue; no corrosion Allowables tolerant of variations e.g. porosity 5
Low Cost Attritable Strike Demo Aircraft Manufacturing Benchmark Proof of Principle JCTD Key Program Outcomes Demonstrate low cost design & manuf concepts Identify technology gaps and primary cost drivers Capture guidelines for a limited life attritable aircraft Deliverables Tailored design and manufacturing criteria for limited life Gov t owned cost data to feed an attritable aircraft cost model Experimental flight test asset Planform Comparison Establishes a benchmark for future low cost aircraft demonstrations 6
Changing How We Build and Buy The Technology It Takes UAS Certification Process faster, cheaper & risk-accepting UAS Class Certification Architectures and Interfaces upgradable modularity Open System Architectures Design-life Tailored Standards Rapid T&E and V&V Open Mission Systems Aggressive Technology Exploitation Nontraditional Partners Rapid Design to Rapid Fabrication timely to requirements Low-rate, purpose-built procurement On-demand, incremental technology refresh Integrated Design & Manufacturing Additive Manufacturing Automation & Robotics Airframe and Subsystem Affordability lower overall costs Low-Cost Structural Components Low-cost, Small Engines Low-cost, Multi-Function Sensors Acquisition competition within system lifecycle 7 Pioneer with Unmanned Systems, Propagate to Manned Systems 7
Agile Manufacturing for ISR AgilePod TM Multiple Platform Pod*: C-130 MQ-9 RC-26 P-3 others *Each platform requires airworthiness certification Completed prototype multi-int, reconfigurable ISR pod Early adopter of Sensor Open System Arch, drove standards Multi-mission capable: multi-band radar, high-res SAR, EO/IR FMV, SigInt Agile manufacturing: Digital thread, Flex tooling, Additive mfg Next phase in FY18, with flight demos in FY19 8
Changing How We Fly and Fight Increasing Complexity of UAS Ops Systems of air systems yield operational agility Now 0-5 Years Next 5-15 Years Cooperative Strike Future 10-25 Years Distributed, Cooperative SEAD Dependence on autonomy Unmanned Teaming Manned + Unmanned Teaming Manned Platform Replacement Cooperative ISR Persistent ISR Off-Board Sensing Air-to- Ground Penetrating Strike Def, Off Counter-Air DE Strike Tactical Refueling AirDrop Strategic Refueling AirLand 9
A TOBS Ecosystem Extensible Tube-Launched Operations P-8 Poseidon AC-130J & Harvest Hawk Motherships Civil Mission App Optional Air Launch Current Technology Limit Video Altius HellDiver Group 4 & 5 RPAs Fast, Short Endurance UAV CLT-Compatible SUAVs Coyote Stiletto / P-38 TOBS C2 Server C2 Video TOBS UAV Interface Mothership-Specific Interfaces Waveform TOBS ICD (Gov Owned) UAV and Payload Specific Interfaces RF/DF Multiple Targets Laser Designation Chain-of-Custody Payloads & Applications Any mothership Any payload or UAV, ground or air launched Gov-owned core is the airworthy component 10
Changing How We Fly and Fight The Technology It Takes Command, Control, Comm Technology Distributed, Dynamic C2 Platform Technology Multifunctional Composites Operator HMI Flexible Electronics RPA Unique HSI Hybrid Electric Power Cyber Assurance Onboard Computing Secure Resilient Comm Extend to New Missions Payload Technology Compact Flexible Lethality Collaborative Sensing Spectrum Warfare Directed Energy Payloads Team to Create New Capabilities UAS Operations Technology Airspace Integration Aerial Launch and Recovery Aerial Refueling UAS-tailored T&E and V&V Overwhelm with Quantity 11 11
Realizing Autonomy for Intelligent Adaptive Hybrid Control Tri-Service Virtual Lab: humanautonomy multi-uxv control testbed Flexible delegation interface for enabling high-level tasking via Plays Agent decision aiding for prioritybased resource management Collaborative Control Algorithms dynamically interact with Agents Advances operator-autonomy tactics, trajectory planning, machine-learning Tri-Service Team: AFRL, SPAWAR, NRL, ARL 12
Effectiveness of a Mixed Fleet Combining High and Low Value Platforms When every adversary has access to UAS, what will be the US Strategic Advantage? Low-end assets Combine for greater than single effect Complicate the enemy response Permit judicious use of high-end assets May be sacrificed to gain advantage Masterful and dynamic composition and coordination of simple, cheap things 13
AFRL Autonomy for Loyal Wingman Manned-Unmanned Teaming Incremental development program (FY18-22) Software algorithms and reusable, extendable open architecture Autonomous system with a tactical mission adaptable to various fighter-class platforms Adapts to changing operational conditions consistent with mission-planned contracts Assess workload of manned flight lead with increasing mission & threat complexity Demonstration of: Formation flying Adverse weather operations Integration with mission planning Interactions with manned flight lead Simple air to ground tactics 14
15 Autonomous UAV-UGS Teaming Cooperative Control Demo Patrol: optimal revisit to all UGS based on likelihood of intrusion Isolation: determine the location of the intruder and obtain aerial imagery of the intruder Delivery: cue sensor operator to video or vector UAV to delivery region Response: operator takes action based on UGS history and collected imagery
Reversing the Cost Curve Aggregated Disaggregated LADAR ELINT HDFMV LLTV HDFMV SAR HDFMV HDFMV LWIR HDFMV HDFMV SWIR Multi-Mission Air Vehicle $20M+ Surface-to-Air Missile $1M HDFMV Swarm Air Vehicle < $1M Mission Augmentation or Replacement Short Lifecycle & On-Demand Production SUAS Takes Back Economic Advantage I n t e g r i t y - S e r v i c e - E x c e l l e n c e 16
17 Advances in Hybrid Electric Propulsion Great Horned Owl Demo Vehicle Technologies - Unique hybrid electric propulsion - Reduced acoustic footprint - Low cost production techniques Inboard Fence Outboard Fence Capabilities - Extended operational endurance - Permits range of mission profiles - Flight demonstration Nov 2017 Unique engine and propulsion design
Pursuit of Affordability in UAS Unthinking Assumptions About Aircraft Small and smaller riding Moore s Law Focus on value engineering deliberately un-exquisite Simplicity of individual parts complexity in composition More specialized function - avoid the multi-role premium Reduce, but don t focus on, platform fly-away cost Focus on system ownership cost per mission outcome Drive toward commoditization to reduce maintenance cost Increase automation to reduce manpower costs Minimize the investment exposed to risk: platform, payload, onboard systems, etc Maximize the SAFE investments: comm infrastructure, algorithms, manufacturing tech, etc. 18
Unmanned Air Systems Summary Operational Agility: Changing How We Fly and Fight Capability leap when teamed with manned platforms New air combat modes thru distributed unmanned teams Reduce risk by matching High-end and Low-end systems Acquisition Agility: Changing How We Build and Buy Pioneer agile manufacturing and provide rapid tech refresh Master methods of responsive and extensible development Present more cost-effective approaches to AF missions AFRL is engaging over full range of needed technologies Distribution Statement D. 20 19