The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab, subordinate to Air Warfare Center's 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., opened for business in April.

The UAVB will focus concepts toward enhancing Air Force Core Competencies and will work with a variety of Air Force agencies to study the impact of new concepts on doctrine, training operations and acquisition of UAVs.

"UAVB will identify innovative concepts and prove their worth," said Lt. Col. Joe Grasso, UAVB commander.

"The object of the battlelab isn't new technology. We're out to prove ideas. I want people to bring me concepts for employing UAVs in new, innovative ways."

As for the Air Force's partners in industry, the colonel advises, " If you have a black box to help that process, that's fine as well. But my focus will be the concept, not the black box."

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab concentrates its exploration efforts in three mission areas: air vehicle system integration; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and combat applications.

The System Integration Division will analyze new initiatives involving improvements to unmanned airframes, payload integration, ground control systems and operations and maintenance processes. The division represents the UAVB to outside users in analyzing the impact of new concepts on future UAV systems. The Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Division serves as the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab focal point for UAV-related issues dealing with intelligence collection. The ISR Division explores ISR architecture, processes and technologies to affect overall improvements in the ability to collect and disseminate intelligence information.

This Predator (Tier II Minus) was photographed at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.

This division will also conduct cooperative efforts to analyze the impact of future unmanned aerial vehicles ISR concepts on Information Superiority as an enabling force for air and space employment.

The Combat Applications Division focuses on concepts for employing future unmanned aerial vehicles and weapon systems.

Combat Applications explores new ways to use UAVs to conduct strike, suppression of enemy air defenses, electronic warfare, communications relay and in other innovative roles.

Applications also analyzes the impact of new UAV combat capability on such Air Force Core Competencies as Precision Engagement, Air and Space Superiority and Global Attack.

"We're not like the Air Force test and development laboratories," Grasso pointed out.

"It's important to emphasize the battle' in Battlelab. We explore new, revolutionary ideas and processes which will help the warfighter."

The Department of Defense plans to deploy four, complimentary types of unmanned aerial vehicles in the next several years. While intelligence collection is the initial focus of these platforms, the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab will explore new and innovative concepts for utilizing UAVs across the spectrum of missions.

As development progresses, new versions of UAVs will be fielded as weapon systems for high-risk missions, as communications relay platforms and in other innovative roles. Concept initiatives proven by the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Battlelab will undoubtedly affect the roles, missions and tactics of these newer versions of unmanned aerial vehicles, said Grasso.

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