UAVs' Operational Advantages Are Fueling an Expanding Demand DARO’s Objective Architecture and 2010 Force Structure Projection DARO has recently developed the DoD’s first fully integrated airborne reconnaissance architecture to achieve the goal of Information Superiority, which underpins the operational concepts of JV 2010.3 This architectural framework presents a vision of the entire Global ISR Enterprise to support our National Military Strategy, namely to fight and win two nearly simultaneous military theaters of war (MTWs), as well as to support peacetime engagement, deterrence, and conflict prevention. The DARO architecture envisions a complementary, balanced mix of airborne and overhead ISR assets. Its attributes are shown in the table above-right. UAV Types. The projected force mix that supports the DARO’s airborne reconnaissance architecture comprises five types of UAV for 2010: Multi- or single-INT HAE UAV (based on Global Hawk); HAE Airborne Communications Node; DarkStar low-observable HAE UAV; Predator (with enhancements); and Tactical UAV in large numbers. Force Migration. With the evolutionary acquisition of technology-enabled and operationally demonstrated capabilities, DARO projects a gradual migration towards UAV dominance in airborne ISR: HAE UAVs to initially augment and eventually replace manned platforms in high-altitude, long-range/endurance, all-weather sensor ISR operations: – HAE UAVs (with IMINT and SIGINT) for standoff missions (to replace the U-2); – DarkStar for penetration missions into heavily defended areas; Predator to be produced and enhanced to augment manned systems for medium-altitude missions; Tactical UAVs to augment low- and medium-altitude tactical platforms; and Both Predator and Outrider to be replaced by updated versions as early as 2010. General Migration Trends. As selected manned platforms are also improved (or replaced by a single airframe to reduce logistics costs), the overall manned-unmanned airborne reconnaissance force inventory is actually increased to meet the projected two-MTW demands on ISR in the 21st century. Beyond 2010, further incremental replacements or new developments may be fielded, to include a reconnaissance variant of, or pod for, an uninhabited combat air vehicle (UCAV) in the post-2015 time frame. In addition, information networks, communications links and surface C4I systems also need to migrate — to the future Distributed Reconnaissance Infrastructure (DRI) part of the Global ISR Enterprise to keep pace with today’s explosive growth in information generation. Adoption of improved communications technology will pace the migration from current “stovepipes” to an integrated information architecture responsive to the needs of the warfighter. Today’s collection of single-INT, Service-specific ground/surface systems connected mostly by point-to-point links will successively lead to: Multi-INT interoperable systems with distributed workgroups collaborating through network interconnections; The addition of software applications that extend Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination System (PEDS) capabilities into non-DARP systems; and Ultimately, fully networked operations supporting “network-centric” warfare. With their flexible payloads and links, UAVs will be an integral part of this architecture. 3 Joint Vision 2010: Full spectrum dominance, via — • Dominant Maneuver • Precision Engagement • Full-Dimensional Protection • Focused Logistics