Joint employment of UAVs

CHAPTER VI

CONCEPT OF JOINT EMPLOYMENT OF UAVs ASINTEROPERABLE SYSTEMS : NET ASSESSMENT

1.Jointness indeed is an inescapable necessity for modern wars.[1] Improved ISR capabilities, networked command and control elements with long-range precision strikes are best exploited by a joint and integrated effort of the three Services[2].In order to critically analyse the advantages and shortcomings of the concept of joint employment of UAVs as interoperable Systems one has to keep in mind the battle field environment in near future transforming from present milieu. The scope of employment in sub conventional operations should also be kept in mind as such operations are likely to be the norm of warfare instead of a full fledged conflict. The operational scenarios 25 to 30 years down the line should be the basis for long term roadmap to development.

3.War fighting is rapidly undergoing a change in the 21^st century with advent of technology and blurring of boundaries in the spectrum of conflict. The conflicts will usually be short and intense where different services have to act in synchronization, graduating above the specified fields of operation. Hybrid wars and emergence of asymmetric threats will call for threat assessment and neutralization with resources and assets of any service as and when available in a theatre of operation. Time critical targeting will gain prominence and the bedrock of which will be seamless real-time integration of all intelligence resources. UAVs of varied endurance and size will definitely be at the front end of ISR assets[3]. It is in these environmental realities that joint use of common ISR and targeting assets like UAVs shall provide maximum pay offs. Inadequacies will also exist but the same has to be weighed against the benefits and overcome in right earnest.

4.Interoperability is the ability to operate in synergy in the execution of assigned tasks. When implemented in true sense, it can serve as a force multiplier, improve warfighting capabilities, decrease integration timelines, simplify logistics, and reduce total ownership costs[4]. The advantages of joint use as seen from own Indian experience and those of countries recently engaged in conflicts clearly emerge from the chapters discussed thus far. It is not without convincing reasons that dedicated institutions like Joint UAS Centre of Excellence[5] and Joint Air Power Competence Centre[6] have been established by USA and NATO respectively and roadmaps planned for common development for 25 years. Dedicated funding is being provided to visualize, plan and implement jointness in the development, induction employment of UAVs and other unmanned systems in most of the developed countries. The issues faced by the countries will be applicable in Indian context sooner than later in addition to well recognized gaps in ISR and targeting along the vast frontiers of our own country. Foregoing the above, the advantages which promote joint use of UAVs as interoperable systems are enumerated as under:-

(a)Interoperable UAVs with shared communication data link and frequencies between the services will facilitate handing over of a UAV in flight, gaining extended reach of surveillance and landing at a air strip of a different service. Commonality and compatibility of equipment profile is a must for such operation.

(b)Standardisation of UAV inventory and sensor payloads will enable tasking of a UAV by different service in a single sortie and thus create better situational awareness.

(c)Interoperable UAVs will help in reducing operating costs and provide the much desired multi sensor data fusion in real time.

(c) Responsive sensor-to-shooter kill chain for quick reaction by UCAVs or other fire delivery means from other service will be feasible as the target data can be accessed by another service with adequate fire power at disposal in that sector. An imperative for such a reaction will be network centric communication architecture.

(d)The fast deteriorating CI environment and sub conventional operations can be managed better with joint use of UAVs by the services as well as the intelligence agencies, Indian Coast Guard and other Central Para Military Forces engaged.

(e)Common training of pilots, observers, mission commanders for mission management and maintenance personnel at a centralized training facility will be feasible which will ease of supplementing and complementing of personnel at the time of conflict.

(f)The number of ground control stations of three services, data dissemination stations will greatly reduce by setting up of Universal ground control stations dispersed in such a way that the theatre of operations is covered with resources available than hitherto duplicated efforts. Satellite based communication will further enhance the reach.

(g) Airspace management with suitable Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems and integration with all users of airspace will be facilitated by integrated use of UAVs in a joint service environment as against autonomous use by three services.

(h)Future C4ISR systems should be procured that they function in a joint environment as per integrated and joint ISR doctrine. This emphasises the need for UAVs to be developed as interoperable Systems.

(j)Looking at an integrated scenario in near future, the ability of this system to exchange data with other platforms including strike aircraft and helicopters can be done better by a UAV which has interoperable features with manned-unmanned interface than a service specific UAV.

(k) Interoperable UAV systems designed, fielded and supported with integrated logistics, personnel, training and operations will help in better maintenance and logistics support across the service domain.

(l)A central joint agency to coordinate the effort will be feasible in the case of UAVs operating in an integrated manner and as interoperable Systems.

5. The short comings of such an employment concept vis-a-vis independent use by three services are also to be taken into account before making a decision in favour. The need for developing joint tactics techniques and procedures for joint employment is pertinent for implementation of concept discussed above. The short comings which are illustrated after recent conflicts are mentioned below along with the measures to be under taken to overcome them:-

(a) It has been proved that the vulnerabilities of all systems getting affected at a time are greater for network centric force. The common tactical data link once spoofed or jammed will create greater confusion and chaos. The architecture of communication should hence be robust with redundancies,

(b)The scope of ingenuity and innovation of a particular service will become reduced in such an employment concept, which can be implemented with own for service specific sensor payloads. Relieving the services of their role as providers and replacing them with a centralized joint organization would be harmful to creativity and ensure that UAVs remain in their present role of limited support[7]. A joint activity should carefully analyze every proposal with the object of ensuring cross-service fertilization of ideas that will enhance interoperability and jointness in the resulting fielded systems. The innovations can be applied for mini UAVs which can remain service specific being controlled by tactical unit commanders.

(c)Increased complexity of systems engineering, development and tests carried for interoperability can increase costs of interoperable UAVs.

(d)System upgrades that cannot be made without associated changes to the interoperable dependencies of multiple systems. This anomaly can be set right by dedicated indigenous research, disseminating the planned roadmap well in advance to private manufacturers and assuring interoperability compliance of all systems as per set standards akin to STANAG of NATO[8].

(e)The danger of overemphasizing joint culture is that it could limit thinking

or result in groupthink. “The differentiation of service cultures is inevitable, bred by the physical environment in which soldiers, sailors, and airmen operate. It is also highly desirable[9].”

6.The critical analysis future dimensions of warfare, advantages, short comings and the means to overcome them support joint employment of UAVs as against the independent use hitherto fore. Although there is no denying the fact that substantial actions have to be taken at the drawing board and planning stages itself so that the results are visible in foreseeable future. In the present context, where the dependency on foreign OEM for UAV procurement is large, the standards for interoperability from basic aspects like common frequencies up to preferred payloads and capabilities have to be spelt out unequivocally to make some progress in the direction.

CHAPTER VII

REALITY CHECK AND WAY AHEAD

“Properly implemented, interoperability can serve as a force multiplier, advance joint war fighting capabilities, decrease timelines for integration, simplify logistics and reduce total ownership costs”[10].

1. It can justifiably be inferred from discussions so far that Jointness will be achieved through cross service interoperability of Unmanned Aerial Systems themselves in addition to integration of other surveillance, fire delivery means and decision support systems across the board. In the Indian context, this aspect deserves focused and joint attention of three services and much of spadework work needs to be done from the foundation stage. HQ Integrated Defence Staff has to take the lead in this regard.

2.Interoperability will definitely increase mission flexibility and efficiency through sharing of resources and intelligence generated by UAVs. Currently, the level of interoperability among UAVs is highly restricted. It can only transmit collected data and information to recipients networked as per communication architecture dedicated for UAVs. Cross service attachment and technical advice between services, even though plausible, is barely a step towards interoperability. Pressing priority issues to be addressed as of today are wide communication bandwidth for better connectivity, compatible data links obtained from the OEM and standardized sensor payloads. Unmanned Aerial System is a network enabled system hence concerned key technologies should be developed in the country for interoperability. The core issues to be worked upon are recommended as:-

(a)Tactical Common Data Link. Joint-service combat environment require UAVs to communicate seamlessly between each other and numerous different ground components, and to also be compatible with diverse ground control systems. Robust, anti-jam and secure communications via multiple links is vital to download data in real time and control UAVs in flight. Common Data Link will provide the means to meet ongoing, wide band, communications requirements.

(b)Effective common standards to be generated to enable data transmission between the GCS, UAVs, other surveillance sensors and the C4I network. Common standards for system interfaces at data processing stations are vital to enable better accessibility, collating and processing of information received from UAVs or manned surveillance systems of a different service.

(c)Adaptable, user-friendly and interactive Human Systems Interface and cognitive decision aids to keep man in the loop situationally aware.

(d) With the rapid proliferation of UAVs at tactical level and introduction of mini UAVs at the disposal of unit commanders, Integrated Airspace Management with clear regulatory policy and compatible Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems is critical to operate UAVs across services without restraints.

3.Connected aspects like command and control integration, well defined concept of operations, training, logistics support, would augur greater interoperability across three services. Priorities should be set for improving UAV capability in operations. The changes envisaged for effective integration are:-

(a)Improving efficiency in tasking and data collection by a common, joint use, ISR tasking and collection plan generated at operational level and vetted by automated systems at theatre level.

(b)Efficient and integrated mission management for UAV sorties is a necessity for combination of tactical and theatre level intelligence requirements and optimum usage of targeting capabilities.

(c) Improved distribution and networking by means of OFCs, satellite based communication and Internet Protocol based data dissemination.

(d)Manned and unmanned interoperability is a fundamental necessity for improved sensor to shooter chain. Payload interface will allow the coherent transfer of intelligence gathered by surveillance. Technological research must be directed in this field in sync with efforts for development of modern fighter aircrafts.

4.Joint doctrine for UAVs should be evolved incorporating the three services, Indian Coast Guard, Para Military Forces and Intelligence agencies of the country. This joint doctrine should be subset of larger Joint ISR doctrine. At the outset, common tactics techniques and procedures for systems currently in operation have to be developed followed by a defined structured approach for integration of present and future systems. The doctrine must be updated from time to time to incorporate automated decision making tools necessary to support ISR operations during rapid manoeuvres of future battlefield. Concurrently, common tasking system as discussed above should be evolved across traditional command seams.

5.Clear expression of qualitative and quantitative requirements for future UAVs as per visualised security scenarios and threats must be stated in a roadmap. The roadmap should declare its common vision for next 15 to 20 years. Continued integration of UAVs into Joint Service environment and identification of steps to execute this integration economically should be the focus areas. The US department of Defence Roadmap for Unmanned Systems 2011- 2036 is an appropriate document to be studied and adapted for Indian needs.

6.The all - encompassing Roadmap akin to the long term perspective planning should lay down standards to be achieved at each five year stage, define roles of each service and list out new technologies to be jointly and individually developed by manufacturers. The roadmap spelling out the standards to be achieved by the Industry, both public and private sector, should be disseminated in open domain (except of course highly classified capabilities) to infuse healthy competition and get products in the timeline desired. The products must meet the interoperability norms and standards

laid down in the roadmap.

Synergies and Coordination Aspect among Services

7.In the meantime, specific services can take the lead in areas of specialization and in geographic zones of predominant presence to develop SOPs and necessary base for a joint organization in future. This will be coordinated at HQ Integrated Defence Staff and pave the way for better integration and desired jointness. For instance IAF can be the coordination agency for areas of airspace management, training-ground & flying, flight safety in peace & war and special maintenance. Indian Army can coordinate tasking in peace & war and use the existing communication infrastructure for GCS and data dissemination. Indian Navy can be the lead service in coastal areas for Operational bases, surveillance and GCS.

8.Renowned Indian skills in software development must be leveraged by incorporating private sector and thus field more sophisticated sensor packages on existing UAVs. An overarching umbrella of an intelligence grid should be formed by fusing the inputs of all sensor systems, ranging from surveillance satellites to AWACS, Aerostats and UAVs.

9.In order to promote realistic jointness and integration and pragmatically assess the impediments in the interoperability joint exercises focusing on C4ISR by diverse surveillance resources across the service spectrum should be carried out in a joint environment. UAVs must form part of such an exercise and attempt made for cross service mission management, tasking, handing over control and relay of data.

10.Institutions can be established to encourage innovation, bring in synergy in employment of UAVs and study and validate future avenues of interoperability for UAVs. Joint Unmanned Aircraft Systems Centre of Excellence(JUAS COE) in USA and Joint Air Power Competence Centre (JAPCC) of NATO can be the base models to implement in India. The organisations are dedicated establishments designed to improve interoperability, use of UAVs and examine the use of sensors and intelligence collection assets to meet joint operational requirements[11]. To begin with, the Joint Institute slated to conduct the training of UAVs across three services can have scientific faculty dedicated for such study, till a dedicated centre of Excellence is established.

11.Services must receive guidance through HQ Integrated Defence Staff to ensure future UAVs are procured that are not incompatible systems not capable to function in a joint environment. One good thing which is happening in the recent years is that all acquisitions are cleared by the Chiefs of Staff Committee, rotationally headed by the senior most of the three Service Chiefs, and they work now on common specifications to the extent possible.

12.UAV systems should be designed, fielded and supported with integrated logistics, personnel, training and operations. Today each UAV system comes with its own unique software and mission-control stations. Keeping trained operators and maintainers for each system also drives up the cost of UAV operations. “Plug-And-Play Architecture” would allow multiple unmanned aircraft, sensors, mission control and ground stations to work in a common network. The manufacturers should provide commonality between systems to minimize uniqueness and give the combat commander flexible, reliable and versatile platform.

13.Interoperability will be critical to reduce acquisition costs, share sensor data among diverse users, allow common operational procedures and reduce training and logistics requirements. Interoperability and integration should be top-down to support system flexibility will pay large dividends in the long run. The Integrated HQ needs take action to enforce common standards, plan with a focused vision and set up institutes of excellence in the field. Notwithstanding that, individual services and executing formations should continue working in synergy and enable UAV systems to operate optimally from the same bases, use the same logistics resources and perform the same mission planning, launch, servicing and recovery.

[1] AK Tiwary. ‘Jointmanship In The Military’. Indian Defence Review Issue vol 26.2 Apr-Jun 2011.pp.8.

[2] Sahgal and Anand. Control Computers Communication Intelligence Interoperability and Surveillance.

[3] AK Tiwary. ‘Time Critical Targeting: UAVs’. Indian Defence Review, Issue Jun 2013

[4] Jt Unamanned Systems Roadmap 2011 - 2036. Op. cit. pp 27.

[5]

ibid.

[6] Strategic CONEMP for UAS in NATO. Op.cit.pp.1.

[7] Reihnhart, Jonathan and Flanagan ‘Issues of Jointness, 1999’. Op. cit. pp.41.

[8] Strategic Concept of Employment for UAS in NATO, 2010.Op. cit.pp.12.

[9] F.G. Hoffman. ‘Innovation Can Be Messy’. U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings, vol. 124, no. 1 January

1998), pp. 46–50.

[10] Joint UAS Roadmap - 2005, US DoD Publication. Op.cit.pp. 14

[11] Jt UAS COE. Op. cit.