COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 5 July 2005

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ESDP/PESD
COSDP 461

NOTE from : to : No. prev. doc. : Subject :

European Union Military Committee Political and Security Committee EUMC Mtg Doc 31/1/05 REV 1 EU MALE/HALE UAV Concept of Employment

Delegations will find attached the " EU MALE/HALE UAV Concept of Employment", which was agreed by the EUMC on 1 July 2005.

The EUMC recommends that the PSC take note of this document.

________________________

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EU MALE/HALE UAV CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT

1.

INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................ 4 1.1 1.2 1.3 BACKGROUND........................................................................................................... 4 AIM............................................................................................................................ 4 FOCUS........................................................................................................................ 5

CONCEPTUAL ENVIRONMENT................................................................................. 5 2.1 MILITARY ISTAR CONCEPT FOR EU CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND EU-LED CRISIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS......................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Concept of ISTAR Architecture........................................................................ 6 2.2.2 Principles of EU Military ISTAR...................................................................... 6 2.2 MILITARY INTELLIGENCE STRUCTURES CONCEPT FOR EU CRISIS MANAGEMENT AND EU-LED CRISIS MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS......................... 7 2.3. POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTION FROM MALE/HALE UAV SYSTEMS TO THE OVERALL EU-ISTAR CONCEPT............................................................................... 7

CHARACTERISTICS OF HALE / MALE UAVS........................................................ 8 3.1 3.2 3.3 GENERAL................................................................................................................... 8 BEYOND LINE OF SIGHT (BLOS) COMMUNICATIONS............................................. 8 DEPLOYABILITY........................................................................................................ 9

3.4. USE OF AIRSPACE...................................................................................................... 9 3.5 INTEROPERABILITY................................................................................................... 9

4.

MALE/HALE UAV MISSION AND CAPABILITIES................................................. 10 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE (ISR).............................. 10 TARGET ACQUISITION (TA)...................................................................................... 10 ELECTRONIC SUPPORT MEASURES (ESM)...............................................................11 SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE (SIGINT).......................................................................... 11 ELECTRONIC COUNTER MEASURES (ECM)............................................................ 11 RADIO/COMMUNICATION RELAY............................................................................. 11

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OPERATIONAL TASKS................................................................................................. 11 5.1 5.2 SCOPE......................................................................................................................... 11 OPTIONAL MILITARY TASK...................................................................................... 12 5.2.1 Airborne Communication Nodes (ACN) and Communication Support............ 12 5.2.2 Early Warning of Ballistic Missiles.................................................................. 12 5.2.3 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)............................... 12 5.2.4 Geography........................................................................................................12 5.2.5 Meteo................................................................................................................ 13 5.2.6 Search and Rescue (SAR)................................................................................. 13 5.3 POTENTIAL CIVIL APPLICATIONS............................................................................. 13

PAYLOADS....................................................................................................................... 13

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATION............................................................................ 14

TRAINING......................................................................................................................... 15

GLOSSARY....................................................................................................................... 16

10

DEFINITIONS................................................................................................................... 18

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INTRODUCTION

1.1

Background

Over the past decade, developments regarding Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) systems have shown tremendous progress both in terms of reliability and capability. As a result of the current maturity of UAV systems, the EU assessed that these systems could help eliminate the shortfall in intelligence gathering.

At all level of commands UAVs support the process of planning, conduct and evaluation of operations and provide data/information to facilitate continuous risk assessment and situational awareness.

1.2

Aim

This concept of employment is to be the lead document for implementation and future use for UAVs in Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR).

The aim of this document is to set initial guidelines for the implementation and employment of HALE/MALE UAVs within the Command, Control, Communications and Computers (C4) ISTAR structures in EU-led operations.

It is to be read in conjunction with the "EU Military Intelligence Structures Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations" as an overarching concept1.

Military Intelligence Structures Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations from 13.02.2003, Brussels, document 6346/03

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1.3

Focus

This concept focuses on the employment of UAVs in ISTAR missions and roles within the TEU 17.22tasks framework. For the purpose of this document, UAVs are therefore, considered as sensorcarrying platforms.

The concept will describe initial guidelines on how to use UAVs in EU-led operations, including basic guidelines on tasks and the environment in which to use UAVs, characteristics, capabilities and initial views for training requirements.

CONCEPTUAL ENVIRONMENT

2.1

Military ISTAR Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations3

The EU has established the objective of an autonomous capacity to take decisions, to launch, and then to conduct, EU-led crisis management operations in response to international crises in support of Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). At the Helsinki European Council, the Member States decided to develop collective capability goals, particularly in the field of Command and Control and Intelligence. As a result, the EU requires accurate, appropriate and timely intelligence data. This includes the whole spectrum of ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) as a system of systems, which will integrate sensor output, the collection, direction and processing stages of the Intelligence cycle and the targeting process. ISTAR derives synergy from integrating Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance assets into the Intelligence process.

"Questions referred to in this Article shall include humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking." Military ISTAR Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations from 26.03.2002, Brussels, Document 7480/02

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2.1.1 Concept of ISTAR Architecture

The European Military Staff (EUMS) will have a constant requirement for Intelligence data available from EU bodies, e.g. the EU Satellite Centre, as well as that which is available from the Member States individually, in order to provide its decision bodies with the information necessary for assessment and decision.

2.1.2 Principles of EU Military ISTAR

Basic principles of the EU Military ISTAR concept:

Centralised Co-ordination. ISTAR must be centrally coordinated without sacrificing the principle of decentralised execution implicit in mission command. This ensures the most effective and efficient use of resources.

Timeliness. Information must be provided to the commander in a timely fashion to allow him to work within the adversary's decision/action cycle. Accuracy. The ISTAR product must be accurate and relevant to the operation it is supporting. Passage of information. Within an ISTAR system, it must be possible to pass relevant information between appropriate commanders and staffs without overloading them with irrelevant data.

Economy of Effort. The ISTAR system provides improved situational awareness, allowing the Commander to achieve economy of effort in his manoeuvre and firepower assets.

Areas of growth:

The ISTAR system should be a true part of any future Military Network Centric Environment. The ISTAR system should be a Network of Networks. The EU ISTAR-system of 2010+ should therefore have one integrated network infrastructure, to be able to technically connect with any other Command and Control-, INTEL and Communication Network.

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The ISTAR system should be a System of Systems. The EU ISTAR-system of 2010+ should therefore allow for boundary-less exchange of information, to be able to secure timely transfer between any sensors and any Commander.

The UAV system should be based on a flexible, modular and evolutionary architecture in order to remain interoperable and to keep abreast of technical improvements.

2.2

Military Intelligence Structures Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations4

EU Crisis Management and any EU-led Crisis Management Operation (CMO) rely on the Intelligence capabilities and sources of the Member States DIOs, EU Satellite Centre and, when available and appropriate, of NATO and other organisations and non-EU countries. The EUMS itself neither collects nor processes raw data, but processes and disseminates already assessed Intelligence data for the purpose of informing EU decision-making bodies. It is particularly important, therefore, that Member States are fully aware of the EU's Intelligence requirements and acknowledge that the provision of appropriate Intelligence is critical for the successful accomplishment of tasks as defined in Article 17.2 of the Treaty of European Union (TEU).

2.3

Possible contribution from MALE/HALE UAV Systems to the overall EU ISTAR Concept

Long Endurance systems are made of a network of sensors, ground stations and crews gathering and transmitting near real time information and supporting offensive operations.

UAVs do have great potential and will provide an important contribution to the overarching EU ISTAR concept and architecture for EU operations. The use of these platforms, therefore, will improve and enhance the overall ISR capability within the EU.

A Long endurance UAV system must be integrable in CIS network to be able to take part of any national or multinational C4ISR structure in order to support all types of Air, Land or maritime missions.

Military Intelligence Structures Concept for EU Crisis Management and EU-led Crisis Management Operations from 13.02.2003, Brussels, Document 6346/03

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UAVs will play a significant role in information gathering, starting with routine peacetime missions up to and including target acquisition, target tracking and target illumination of stationary and mobile targets.

The Long Endurance UAV system is a key asset for short and very short loop of decision making especially for non symmetric conflict and time sensitive targets.

CHARACTERISTICS OF HALE / MALE UAVS

3.1

General

A UAV can operate for a prolonged period of time at long range, performing various tasks, and are therefore especially suitable to perform ISTAR missions. Some UAVs may potentially also perform tasks in high threat environment or contaminated areas, where it would be undesirable to put human life at risk. In order to provide a 24/7 capability, the systems used have to be capable of operating during day/night and in adverse weather conditions.

3.2

Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) Communications

Operating UAVs over long distances requires BLOS communications using satellites. Therefore SATCOM resources, which are currently mostly provided by civilian operators, are key issues. In that context, technical solutions need to be found to optimise the efficient use of communications.

Moreover, users need sensor data in near real time and in a usable format. BLOS is not only used for commanding and controlling the platform in itself, but also for controlling on-board sensors, and furthermore for data transmission. Even in the event of loss of a data-link, continuation of

operation has to be assured by an automatic mode. For data exchange, that might mean having a memory storage capability on-board the UAV in case of an interruption to the data-link.

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3.3

Deployability

All elements of the UAV system must be deployable. UAVs need to be either deployable by themselves, or be transportable by existing means together with their ground equipment, whenever the operating range of the system from its main operating base is insufficient to comply with political and/or military demands.

In order to maximise the ISTAR contribution of UAVs, the ability to deploy assets as early as possible (in accordance with any relevant Host Nation regulations) requires responsiveness and flexibility. Standing co-ordination measures are essential to allow a rapid deployment of assets.

3.4

Use of Airspace

MALE/HALE UAVs are usually deployed from a location outside the AOR, and will have to use common airspace in order to reach it. Adherence to Civil Aviation Regulation should be

paramount. The aim is to operate UAVs in all classes of airspace in accordance with rules governing the flights of manned aircraft. Measures have been initiated in order to reach this goal.

At present there are considerable limitations to the operation of UAVs in civil airspace. However, it is imperative that the challenges of operating UAVs are solved in the future. The aim is to operate UAVs in a similar way to todays manned aviation.

3.5

Interoperability

Interoperability of Long Endurance UAVs must be taken in account in an ISTAR environment. A Long Endurance UAV system must be interoperable within EU and NATO and it should reach at least level 2 according to STANAG 4586 i.e.:

harmonised data links standardised data format real time reception of data provided by another system by direct data link

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Others important steps could be: reception of missions requests planification of the use of the systems data exploitation of another system.

MALE/HALE UAV MISSION AND CAPABILITIES

The Long endurance UAV mission is Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) in support of Air, Land and maritime operations. With its sensors, the system accurates the operational tempo and enhances target accuracy on steady or moving targets making major contribution during each phase of the mission from detection to damage assessment.

4.1

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR)

The aim is to establish long endurance systems able to carry out ISR missions in order to provide and/or contribute to situational awareness for the planning and execution of operations, including precise engagement (including geographical data). This will provide improved knowledge of the opposing forces and his intent, whatever the situation (day/night, threats such as deception/jamming, weather etc). The UAV can also provide pre- and post strike recce information to facilitate Battle Damage Assessment. UAVs can also provide data and information gathering in order to contribute to IMINT (Imagery Intelligence) activity.

4.2

Target Acquisition (TA)

This role combines the detection and the designation of targets. MALE/HALE ISTAR UAV systems support the designation of targets by providing precise geographic coordinates or geolocation and optionally by laser designation.

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4.3

Electronic Support Measures (ESM)

ESM provides the ability to electronically survey, and locate the opponents Electronic Order of Battle (EOB). An airborne ESM suite sharply reduces the geographical limitations of ground-based systems. UAVs equipped with ESM payloads will provide deeper and more precise observations and determinations.

4.4

Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

Sensors may include SIGINT capabilities. SIGINT capabilities enable own forces to identify and locate emitters associated with potential targets, such as air defence sites, as well as to monitor hostile communication lines for the purpose of developing and maintaining an electronic operational picture, in order to provide a database of current threats.

4.5

Electronic Counter Measures (ECM)

The payload may be supplemented with, or may consist solely of, ECM for defensive and/or offensive jamming, including self-protection.

4.6

Radio/Communications relay

This function should allow communication relay, Network Connectivity, Routing and Switching Services and Multiple ACN Environment.

OPERATIONAL TASKS

5.1

Scope

The use of UAVs is envisaged for all categories of military tasks in the fulfilment of the tasks resulting from the European Security Strategy and the Headline goal (HLG) 2010, which shall include humanitarian and rescue tasks, peacekeeping tasks and tasks of combat forces in crisis management, including peacemaking.

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The task is to support the decision-making and operational planning process at all levels of command in order to fulfil the overall goals of the EU Task Force in the five illustrative scenarios elaborated in the frame of the Requirement catalogue of the HLG2010: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Separation of Parties by Force (SOPF) Stabilisation, Reconstruction and Military Advice to Third Countries (SR) Conflict Prevention (CP) Evacuation Operation in a Non Permissive Environment (EO) Assistance to Humanitarian Operation (HA).

5.2

Optional Military Tasks

5.2.1 Airborne Communication Nodes (ACN) and Communication Support

The Long Endurance UAV system could provide a wide range of communication services for C2 and deployed forces.

5.2.2 Early Warning of Ballistic Missiles

This function should allow the detection of ballistic missile launches by means of an adapted sensor, to transmit the alert and to calculate the precise location and trajectory of the missile in order to protect deployed forces.

5.2.3 Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)

The UAV system can contribute to the detection and the location of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear contamination, analysing data during flight and broadcasting the alert.

5.2.4 Geography

Available geographic information needs constant updates in order to remain current and usable.

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5.2.5 Meteo

Many modern military attack systems need precise meteorological information in order to meet required levels of precision, and UAVs can enhance and complement existing satellite capability.

5.2.6 Search and Rescue (SAR)

The search for missing persons or crews downed in combat (CSAR) can be carried out using UAVs, taking advantage of their endurance and low detection profile.

5.3

Potential Civil Applications

UAVs could exercise a wide variety of tasks such as: Geographical mapping, civil communication support, large area surveillance, environmental patrols, counter drug policing, civil maritime control, border control, fuel spillage monitoring, weather reporting and high altitude research. With its long range and endurance capabilities, a Long Endurance UAV system might be able to contribute effectively to civilian security and protection.

PAYLOADS

ISR missions are conducted with a sensor-suite comprising: Infrared (IR) cameras (still and / or motion imagery), Electro Optical (EO) cameras (still and / or motion imagery), Line-scanners and radar sensors such as Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), including a Moving Target Indicator (MTI) functionality that could be either Maritime or Ground MTI and provide a Coherent Change Detection (CCD) capability. Radio/communications relay

Best results may be achieved when a suite of these types of sensors can be combined and operated simultaneously in a UAVs payload. ISTAR missions are conducted against both static and mobile targets.

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Those sensor systems could include electro- optical (EO), infrared (IR), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI), Electronic Support Measures (ESM) and Signal Intelligence (SIGINT)5 as a combination or stand alone system depending to national requirements and could be reconfigured to adapt to operational requirements".

OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Information superiority has become a huge concern for crisis management. It encompasses information collection, exploitation and dissemination, asset and Communication and Information Systems (CIS) protection, as well as EW. Obviously, information superiority is based upon both the efficiency and the complementarity of different sensors, as well as efficient exploitation capabilities.

For this purpose data has to be collected and transferred to the exploitation workstations for processing. For a timely and near real-time assessment of this data, a near real-time network architecture for information and distribution of data with secure data links has to be used. After processing the sensor data, the product is disseminated throughout the intelligence network. Data links in the UAVs must be enhanced in order to shorten the cycle time, allowing the exploitation of data whilst the UAV system is still airborne.

By deploying and operating UAVs, a new quality of information gathering in the field of surveillance and reconnaissance can be derived. Therefore, a common understanding/common standards for planning and employment of UAVs must be developed. These standards should include procedures on how UAVs and manned aircraft can be integrated in air operations. As UAVs, especially the Long Endurance systems by its design are more vulnerable than manned aircraft, some prerequisites, such as a certain degree of air superiority should be met in order to avoid losses.

SIGINT includes Electromagnetic Intelligence (ELINT) and Communication Intelligence (COMINT)

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TRAINING

Since UAV systems are playing an active role while operating in general airspace it will be necessary to prove the reliability of the systems. Furthermore, certain levels of skills for personnel operating the systems must be defined. The definition of such criteria and the requirements for such personnel have to be developed within the context of the airworthiness and certification of the systems of nations / organisations involved in UAV operations. To improve the level of interoperability, establishing a common UAV training could be a mid term aim.

To make training more efficient, the programme should include simulation facilities. These simulation facilities should be suitable for initial training as well as advanced, including real time mission replay capability, in order to reduce the number of training flights and to retain defined levels of proficiency. At a later stage, such simulation facilities should be available for tactical and operational training with defined threat scenarios.

UAV system training criteria must consider Crew Resource Management (CRM) techniques. CRM is essential for UAV system operations.

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GLOSSARY

The following is a list of acronyms and abbreviations used in this document, some of which may have more than one meaning in the UAV context.

ACN AOI AOR BDA BLOS C4RSTA

Airborne Communication Nodes Area Of Interest Area Of Responsibility Battle Damage Assessment Beyond Line Of Sight Command, Control, Communication, Coordination, Reconnaissance, , Surveillance and Target Acquisition

CBRN CCD CIS CFSP CMO COMINT CP CRM CSAR DIO DOB ECAP ELINT EO EO EOB ESDP ECM ESM EU

Chemical, Biological; Radiological and Nuclear Coherent Change Detection Communications and Information System Common Foreign and Security Policy Crisis Management Operation Communication Intelligence Conflict Prevention Crew Resource Management Combat Search and Rescue Defence Intelligence Organisations Deployed Operating Base European Capabilities Action Plan Electromagnetic Intelligence Electro Optical Evacuation Operation in a none permissive environment Electronic Order of Battle European Security and Defence Policy Electronic Counter Measures Electronic Support Measures European Union

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EUMS EUSR EUST EW FOB GMTI HA HALE HTF IMINT IR ISR ISTAR LOS MALE MTI NATO NCW NRT PG RSTA SAR SAR SATCOM SEAD SIGINT SOPF SR TA UAV WG

European Union Military Staff European Union Staff Requirements European Union Staff Target Electronic Warfare Forward Operating Base Ground Moving Target Indicator Assistance to Humanitarian Operation High Altitude Long Endurance Headline Goal Task Force Imagery Intelligence Infra Red Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Intelligence Surveillance Target Acquisition Reconnaissance Line Of Sight Medium Altitude Long Range.(Endurance) Moving Target Indicator North Atlantic Treaty Organization Network Centric Warfare Near Real Time Project Group Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Synthetic Aperture Radar Search and Rescue Satellite Communications Suppression of Enemy Air Defence Signal Intelligence Separation of Parties by Force Stabilisation, Reconstruction and military advice to third countries Target Acquisition Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Working Group

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10

DEFINITIONS

HALE6

A HALE UAV is defined as a vehicle that, within its parameters, is designed to optimally operate at altitude above 45.000 feet, with endurance greater than or equal to 24 hours

MALE7

A MALE UAV is defined as a vehicle that, within its mission parameters, is designed to optimally operate between 10,000 and 50,000 feet, with endurance in excess of eight hours

UAV8

A powered, aerial vehicle that does not carry a human operator, uses aerodynamic forces to provide vehicle lift, can fly autonomously or be piloted remotely, can be expendable or recoverable, and carry a lethal or non-lethal payload. Ballistic or

semi-ballistic vehicles, cruise missiles, and artillery projectiles are not considered unmanned aerial vehicles. UAVs will normally be recoverable due to the value of the UAV systems.

6 7 8

This is not an official definition, however currently used by Air Group 7 This is not an official definition, however currently used by Air Group 7 This is not an official definition, however currently the proposed definition for UAV within the NATO Standardisation Agency (NSA) UAV Panel

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