Unmanned Aircraft Systems Features
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) consist of an aircraft, its mission payloads, and ground support equipment (e.g., transporters, storage containers, launchers, and control stations).
Capability
Various types of UASs could contribute to Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) by providing persistent, wide area surveillance MDA, a central Coast Guard operational concept, refers to the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States.
Tactical, cutter-based Unmanned Aircraft Systems would augment the operational effectiveness of Coast Guard cutters by extending a cutter’s surveillance horizon. The Coast Guard is studying the most effective classes of UASs to operate from the National Security Cutter (NSC), an advanced capability vessel that uses onboard sensors and partnerships with manned and unmanned aircraft to support a significantly expanded surveillance range.
Additionally, the Coast Guard is studying tactical, long range land-based UASs that would provide long endurance surveillance capability comparable to those of Coast Guard manned fixed wing aircraft.
Both cutter-based and land-based UASs should be able to perform long endurance surveillance, detection, classification, and target identification functions and on-scene tactical communications. To accomplish these tasks, the payload of the UAS should include a maritime radar, electro-optical sensors, an automatic identification system, and maritime and law enforcement voice communications.
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