Air Force Should Lead Way in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Program

Press Release

Air Force Should Lead Way in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Program

Recently I participated in an important hearing in the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces. During the hearing, the Subcommittee received testimony from the Government Accountability Office (GAO); the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD); the Joint Staff and Departments of the Army, Navy and Air Force, regarding Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Systems and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV).

Unmanned aircraft have become a vital part of U.S. military intelligence. DoD estimates that 3400 small and 500 tactical and theater level UAVs accumulated over 160,000 flying hours over Iraq and Afghanistan in 2006. That is up from 60,000 flying hours in 2004.

A GAO study cited during the hearing notes: "As operations overseas continue, DoD is experiencing a growing demand for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) assets to provide valuable information in support of military operations. While the 2006 Quadrennial Review emphasized the need for ISR community to improve the integration and management of ISR assets, DoD plans to make significant investments in ISR capabilities for the future."

One of the important issues facing the military is who should be responsible for the development, integration and management of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle programs? This is of particular importance to the Air Force and Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Currently, each branch of the military has individually developed their own UAVs programs.

The GAO study examined whether it would be most effective for the different branches of the military to develop their own UAV programs. Part of the GAO report's conclusions read: "The growing demand for ISR assets is an indication of their value in supporting combat forces, but DoD does not have sufficient metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of ISR missions and is not getting consistent feedback on whether the warfighter's needs were met." Additionally, the report concludes: "ISR development programs have opportunities for greater synergies and have experienced some cost and schedule growth that impact legacy systems…the Navy could leverage knowledge early in the acquisition process and avoid or reduce costs…The Air Force's Predator is a legacy program that has been operational since 1995. Its persistent surveillance/full motion video capability continues to be a valued asset to the warfighter. When the Army began in 2001 to define requirements for the Warrior, a system similar to the Predator, it did not explore potential synergies and efficiencies with the Air Force program."

There are efficiencies and cost savings that could be achieved if the Air Force led UAV development efforts. As one of the most important assets in the Air Force's portfolio, Wright Patterson Air Force Base plays a critical role in UAV programs. Wright-Patt is a leader in sensor development and other research and development. The technology U.S. Armed Forces will use on the battlefields of tomorrow is being developed in the research labs at Wright-Patt today.

One of the key witnesses who testified before the Subcommittee was Lieutenant General David Deptula, Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance, USAF. He said, "The issue is trying to get to savings by avoiding duplication of program offices, duplication and independent training ops, duplication of logistics and maintenance ops, duplication of independent intelligence support facilities and multiple procurement offices. That's the intent."
The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Ike Skelton (D-MO) recently accepted my invitation to address a group of Dayton region business leaders. He also highlighted the need to consolidate DoD's UAV programs.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles will continue to play an increasingly important role in U.S. intelligence operations. UAV's continue to provide important information in the war on terror. Today several branches of the military are working on their own UAV programs. Putting the UAV programs under the direction of the Air Force would create efficiencies, produce cost savings and benefit Wright Patterson Air Force Base here in our own backyard.

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