Unmanned Systems Roadmap 2007-2032

United States Department of Defense, 2007. — xii, 174 p.This is the first edition of the integrated Office of the Secretary of Defense Unmanned Systems Roadmap (2007-2032) which includes Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Unmanned Ground Systems, and Unmanned Maritime Systems. This roadmap provides Defense-wide vision for unmanned systems and related technologies. The Department will continue to promote a common vision for future unmanned systems by making this roadmap widely available to industry and our Allies, and updating it as transformational concepts emerge. Unmanned systems will continue to have a central role in meeting our country’s diverse security needs, especially in the Global War on Terrorism.As the Department of Defense (DoD) develops and employs an increasingly sophisticated force of unmanned systems over the next 25 years (2007 to 2032), technologists, acquisition officials, and operational planners require a clear, coordinated plan for the evolution and transition of unmanned systems technology. With the publication of this document, individual roadmaps and master plans for UASs, UGVs, and UMSs (defined as Unmanned Undersea Vehicles (UUVs) and Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)) have been incorporated into a comprehensive DoD Unmanned Systems Roadmap. This integrated Unmanned Systems Roadmap is the plan for future prioritization and funding of these systems development and technology, thus ensuring an effective return on the Department’s investment. Its overarching goal, in accordance with the Strategic Planning Guidance (SPG), is to guide military departments and defense agencies toward logically and systematically migrating applicable mission capabilities to this new class of military tools. This Roadmap highlights the most urgent mission needs that are supported both technologically and operationally by various unmanned systems. These needs, listed below, should be considered when prioritizing future research, development, and procurement of unmanned systems technology to ensure an effective return on the Department’s investment.
Reconnaissance and Surveillance. Some form of reconnaissance (electronic and visual) is the number one COCOM priority applicable to unmanned systems. Being able to surveil areas of interest while maintaining a degree of covertness is highly desirable. The reconnaissance mission that is currently conducted by unmanned systems needs to increase standardization and interoperability to better support the broad range of DoD users.
Target Identification and Designation. The ability to positively identify and precisely locate military targets in real-time is a current shortfall with DOD UAS. Reducing latency and increasing precision for GPS guided weapons is required. The ability to operate in highthreat environments without putting warfighters at risk is not only safer but potentially more effective than the use of current manned systems.
Counter-Mine Warfare. Since World War II, sea mines have caused more damage to US warships than all other weapons systems combined. Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are the number one cause of of coalition casualties in Operation Iraqi Freedom. A significant amount of effort is already being expended to improve the military’s ability to find, tag, and destroy both land and sea mines. Unmanned Systems are a natural fit for this dangerous mission.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosive (CBRNE) Reconnaissance. The ability to find chemical and biologic agents and to survey the extent of affected areas is a crucial effort.
Some of these missions can be supported by the current state-of-the-art unmanned technology where the capabilities of current or near-term assets are sufficient and the risk to warfighters is relatively low. Other mission areas, however, are in urgent need of additional capability. Current unmanned capabilities must evolve into the future DoD acquisition and operational vision. Current support to the warfighter must be sustained while making the transition, but every effort must be made to accommodate these evolving unmanned technologies along with more traditional technologies as soon as possible. The activities the Department is undertaking to address these mission areas are detailed within this Roadmap.