DTIC ADA588081: U.S. Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)

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U.S. Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
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U.S. Navy Employment Options for
UNMANNED SURFACE
VEHICLES (USVs)
Scott Savitz, Irv Blickstein, Peter Buryk, Robert W. Button, Paul DeLuca, James Dryden,
Jason Mastbaum, Jan Osburg, Philip Padilla, Amy Potter, Carter C. Price, Lloyd Thrall,
Susan K. Woodward, Roland J. Yardley, John M. Yurchak
CORPORATION
NATIONAL DEFENSE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
U.S. Navy Employment Options for
UNMANNED SURFACE
VEHICLES (USVs)
Scott Savitz, Irv Blickstein, Peter Buryk, Robert W. Button, Paul DeLuca, James Dryden,
Jason Mastbaum, Jan Osburg, Philip Padilla, Amy Potter, Carter C. Price, Lloyd Thrall,
Susan K. Woodward, Roland J. Yardley, John M. Yurchak
Prepared for the United States Navy
Approved for public release; distribution unlimited
This research was sponsored by the Assessment Division of the Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N81) and conducted within the
Acquisition and Technology Policy Center of the RAND National Defense
Research Institute, a federally funded research and development center
sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Staff, the
Unified Combatant Commands, the Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense
agencies, and the defense Intelligence Community.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2013951904
ISBN: 978-0-8330-8143-8
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Preface
In recent years, unmanned vehicles have become increasingly impor-
tant for military operations. However, there has been relatively little
focus on or operational employment of unmanned surface vehicles
(USVs)—that is, uninhabited maritime vessels. The purpose of our
research was to analyze how, in what contexts, and to what extent the
U.S. Navy can employ USVs. This report identifies the U.S. Navy mis-
sions and functions for which USVs are suitable while also highlighting
operational issues and technological and programmatic requirements
that should be considered to ensure that USVs are effectively integrated
into naval operations.
This research was sponsored by the Assessment Division of the
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N81) and conducted
within the Acquisition and Technology Policy Center of the RAND
National Defense Research Institute, a federally funded research
and development center sponsored by the Office of the Secretary of
Defense, the Joint Staff, the Unified Combatant Commands, the
Navy, the Marine Corps, the defense agencies, and the defense Intel-
ligence Community.
For more information on the RAND Acquisition and Technol-
ogy Policy Center, see http://www.rand.org/nsrd/ndri/centers/atp.html
or contact the director (contact information is provided on the web
page).
iii

Contents
Preface ............................................................................. iii
Figures ............................................................................. ix
Tables .............................................................................. xi
Summary .........................................................................xiii
Acknowledgments ............................................................ xxxi
Abbreviations .................................................................xxxiii
ChAPTer One
Introduction ....................................................................... 1
Scope of This Report ............................................................... 2
Research Objectives and Approach .............................................. 3
Organization of This Report ...................................................... 6
ChAPTer TwO
The USV Marketplace Is Vigorous but narrow ............................. 7
The Current USV Market ......................................................... 8
The Current USV Marketplace Focuses on Relatively Few
Categories of Applications ................................................. 8
Current Civilian USVs Tend to Have More Diverse Missions Than
Current Naval USVs .......................................................10
USVs Are Primarily Manufactured in the United States and
in Friendly Nations ........................................................11
Current USVs Are Relatively Small ...........................................12
The Emerging USV Marketplace Primarily Consists of Small USVs
with Limited Endurance, Payloads, and Power Output .................13
v
vi U.S. Navy Employment Options for Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs)
The Nature of the Current and Emerging USV Marketplaces
Influences U.S. Navy Acquisition Options ...............................15
ChAPTer Three
Developing and evaluating USV Concepts of employment .............17
Categories of Naval Missions ...................................................17
C4ISR Missions .................................................................18
Offensive Missions ..............................................................18
Defensive Missions..............................................................18
Non-Mission Functions ........................................................19
Concepts of Employment ........................................................19
Evaluation Criteria ............................................................... 23
USV Comparisons with Competing Platforms ............................ 28
Technological Maturity of USV Capabilities for Specific
Concepts of Employment .................................................. 30
ChAPTer FOUr
USVs Are highly Suitable for Diverse naval Missions ...................31
Nearly Half of the Missions and Functions Evaluated Are
Highly Suitable for USV Employment ....................................31
USVs Could Enhance Cross-Domain Integration, Overcome
Anti-Access and Area Denial Threats, and Facilitate
Technology Transfer Across Manned and Unmanned Systems ......39
ChAPTer FIVe
Capitalizing on the Potential of USVs: Key enablers .................... 43
Advances in Autonomy and Assured Communications Are
Path-Critical for Complex Missions and Environments ................ 43
Launch, Recovery, and Underway Refueling Capabilities
Need to Be Further Advanced ..............................................49
Modular Payloads and Common USV Platforms Could Enhance
USV Suitability ...............................................................49
Optional Manning Could Enhance USV Capabilities and Mitigate
Autonomy Challenges ......................................................52
Long Endurance Is Singularly Important for USVs ..........................53
ChAPTer SIx