NAVSUP WSS Supports Achievement of 100% Readiness Rate

By Lt. Cmdr. Chase Vizzier, NAVSUP WSS Unmanned Aerial Systems director

In April 2021, the Naval Supply Systems Command Weapon Systems Support (NAVSUP WSS) Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Integrated Weapon System Team (IWST) was able to support the achievement of both 100% Mission Capable (MC) and 100% Fully Mission Capable (FMC) rate for the UAS RQ-21A “Blackjack” platform; a feat rarely, if ever, seen by any Type Model Series.

The RQ-21A platform is utilized by both the U.S. Marine Corps and Naval Special Warfare (NSW) for deployments and exercises around the world. There are currently 155 Blackjack air vehicles in the fleet.

In order to reach 100%, the UAS IWST worked daily with key stakeholders, including fleet users, NAVSUP WSS Engines IWST, NAVAIR PMA-263, Fleet Support Team (FST) and Insitu, the Original Equipment Manufacturer. Collaboration and open communication between all stakeholders enabled real time updates and expedited finding solutions.
Furthermore, the UAS IWST championed different initiatives to increase overall readiness.

For example, the team hosted two End-to-End (E2E) events. These events were aimed at identifying potential issues, developing solutions, and tracking efforts to completion to proactively affect current and future readiness. The recent E2E events focused on the RQ-21 platform, the team identified 226 action items and to-date has completed 210 of those actions. Each week the team meets to review action items and discuss current supply degraders to identify potential solutions.

In addition to the E2E events, the UAS IWST holds weekly meetings with Insitu to discuss critical parts causing readiness issues. Receiving updated status, with all key stakeholders involved, allows the team to drive immediate solutions.

“This was truly a team effort. Not only did the logistics managers and equipment specialists go above and beyond, but our contracts team was paramount to Blackjack’s success,” said Ron Menzel, UAS IWST deputy.

Being able to ensure the right parts are in the right location enables our Blackjack mission partners to accomplish their broad and diverse missions. By reaching 100% FMC, the UAS Blackjack team met leadership standards, as detailed by Acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Harker, in the recently released Department of the Navy Unmanned Campaign Framework, “To ensure success, the Navy and Marine Corps are tightly coupling our requirements, resources, and acquisition policies to develop, build, integrate and deploy effective unmanned systems faster.”
“Reaching 100% MC and 100% FMC is a tremendous accomplishment,” stated LtCol Ryan Finn, Senior Marine Liaison Officer at NAVSUP WSS. “Having the right parts allows both Marine and Naval Special Warfare users to accomplish any mission at any time, in any place. The capabilities the Blackjack brings to the fight are critical, and providing that capability at 100% is an unheard-of accomplishment.”

NAVSUP WSS is one of eleven commands under Commander, NAVSUP. Headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and employing a diverse, worldwide workforce of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel. NAVSUP’s mission is to provide supplies, services, and quality-of-life support to the Navy and joint warfighter. Learn more at www.navsup.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/navsupwss and https://twitter.com/navsupsyscom.

Insitu Advances its Fuel Cell Strategy

BINGEN, Wash., March 15, 2021 – Insitu, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company, today announced new details about its latest efforts to advance hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

First Flight of Hydrogen-Electric ScanEagle3 UAV:  In December 2020, Insitu completed the first flight of their ScanEagle3 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) powered by an all-electric, hydrogen fueled, proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The 30-minute flight confirmed initial performance characteristics including power output, climb rate, and intrinsic aerodynamic flight characteristics for the UAV in preparation for test flights using a Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) storage tank on the aircraft that are planned for later this year. The 3-D-printed LH2 tank is an industry first, and is expected to support 10+ hours of endurance for ScanEagle3. 

Liquid Hydrogen Flight Tank for Insitu ScanEagle3 UAV Completes First Fill Test:  In February 2021, a Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) flight tank designed for Insitu’s ScanEagle3 UAV successfully completed liquid hydrogen fill, pressure and vapor generation testing at Washington State University’s Hydrogen Properties for Energy Research (HyPER) Lab. The tests verified operation performance metrics of the LH2 tank in preparation for upcoming flights of ScanEagle3 equipped with a PEM fuel cell power system. The LH2 Tank Integration project is part of a larger development effort to compare acoustic and thermal signatures of a small UAV powered with an internal combustion engine versus an all-electric
power system. 

“For our global Defence customers, fuel-cell-powered UAS in this Group 2 space represent a significant game changer in the battlespace,” said Andrew Duggan, Managing Director Insitu Pacific. “Operationally, fuel-cell-powered platforms provide the potential for longer endurance missions, increased power availability for payloads, as well as significant reductions in noise signature.”

The defense industry is growing increasingly interested in the benefits of hydrogen fuel cell technology, which range from environmental to operational. Fuel cells support better ISR data collection because PEM fuel cell stack emissions are limited to small amounts of H2O and trace amounts of H2. The fuel cell and electric motor thermal and acoustic signatures are significantly lower than traditional internal combustion (IC) engines, enabling mission routes closer to targets. The PEM fuel cell / electric motor combination also decreases platform vibration and enables excess power to support greater payload diversity. Fuel cells also deliver improved reliability and significantly lower logistics costs relative to small IC engine propulsion solutions.

Tests are expected to continue in Q2 of 2021 with the first liquid hydrogen flight planned for late summer 2021. 

About Insitu
With offices in the U.S., U.K., and Australia, Insitu creates and supports unmanned systems and software technology that deliver end-to-end solutions for collecting, processing and managing sensor data. To date, our systems have accumulated more than 1.3 million flight hours. Insitu is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Boeing Company.

For more information, visit insitu.com. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: 
Jenny Beloy
Insitu Media Relations
+1 509.637.6196
jennifer.beloy@insitu.com

Cutter Kimball Conducts Patrol to Increase Maritime Presence and Support in Pacific

HONOLULU — The Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL-756) concluded a successful two-week expeditionary patrol in support of counter-illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries enforcement, furthering the United States’ commitment to regional security and partnerships, the Coast Guard 14^th District said in a Feb. 24 release. 

As part of Operation Blue Pacific, the crew of the Kimball deployed in support of national security goals of stability and security throughout the Indo-Pacific. The crew of the Kimball remains prepared to use training in targeted and intelligence-driven enforcement actions as well as counter predatory irresponsible maritime behavior. 

While patrolling approximately 3,600 miles in the Philippine Sea, the Kimball’s law enforcement team conducted its first at-sea boarding and expanded on the multilateral fisheries enforcement cooperation such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.  

The WCPFC is an international body made up of 43 nations and international organizations. Members agree to allow the 13 countries in the pact to board and record any potential violations on their nationally flagged vessels. The findings go to the WCPFC, which notifies the vessel’s flag state of the suspected infraction for further investigation. 

“Our presence in the area shows our partners the Coast Guard’s enduring efforts to provide search and rescue response and oversight of important economic resources,” said Lt. Cmdr. Drew Cavanagh, operations officer for the Kimball. “The ongoing presence of a Coast Guard cutter in this part of the Pacific to assist in determining compliance with conservation management measures established by the WCPFC demonstrates the U.S. commitment to the region and our partners.” 

The Coast Guard combats illegal fishing and other maritime threats across the Pacific to protect the United States and Pacific Island Countries resource security and sovereignty. Combating illegal fishing is part of promoting maritime governance and a rules-based international order that is essential to a free and open Oceania.  

While on patrol, the Kimball was briefly diverted to assist in a search and rescue case in the Federated States of Micronesia, where they used a small unmanned aircraft system, or SUAS. The use of SUAS expands maritime domain awareness and provides persistent airborne surveillance on maritime hazards, threats, and rescue operations.  

“Training is also an important component of underway time and affects our readiness,” said Lt.j.g. Joseph Fox, assistant combat systems officer for the Kimball. “The team conducted law enforcement training as well as disabled vessel towing training for our newest crewmembers.” 

The Kimball is one of the newest national security cutters to be homeported in Honolulu. These technologically advanced ships are 418 feet long, 54 feet wide and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed in excess of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, endurance of up to 90 days and can accommodate a crew of up to 150. 

Advanced command-and-control capabilities and an unmatched combination of range, speed and ability to operate in extreme weather enable these ships to confront national security threats, strengthen maritime governance, support economic prosperity, and promote individual sovereignty. 

Read the Seapower article here.

New U.S. Maritime Strategy Makes Case for More Coast Guard Cutters

The Coast Guard is struggling to ensure adequate readiness and simultaneously modernize its entire portfolio of ships and aircraft.

by Dan Goure

The three sea services—the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard—just released their new, joint maritime strategy titled Advantage at Sea: Prevailing with Integrated All-Domain Naval Power. The document reflects the realities of an international environment dominated by great-power competition, most of which is conducted below the threshold of overt conflict. The strategy stresses the importance of peacetime operations and crisis responses to U.S. economic, political, and national security interests. Today’s new challenges demand an expanded role for the Coast Guard.   SPONSORED CONTENT

The U.S. government has identified China as the main competitor, what is often termed the “pacing threat.” But Russia, too, and even lesser players such as North Korea are seeking to undermine the security of the maritime domain. The Maritime Strategy declared that “China’s and Russia’s revisionist approaches in the maritime environment threaten U.S. interests, undermine alliances and partnerships, and degrade the free and open international order,” the document states. “Moreover, China’s and Russia’s aggressive naval growth and modernization are eroding U.S. military advantages. Unchecked, these trends will leave the Naval Service unprepared to ensure our advantage at sea and protect national interests within the next decade.”  

China’s ambitions to dominate the Indo-Pacific region is undeniable. It is also clear that Beijing is using its massive fishing fleets and Coast Guard to extend the regime’s power in the area. This simultaneously undermines long-established tenets of international law and threatens U.S. friends and allies. 

The United States needs an integrated, all-domain naval force that can protect U.S. interests in peacetime, deter conflicts if possible and defeat threats from China and others if necessary. The force must be capable of meeting lesser threats as well as dealing with a host of challenges from piracy to overfishing, human trafficking, drug smuggling and environmental crimes. 

The Tri-Service Strategy declares that “We must operate more assertively to prevail in day-to-day competition as we uphold the rules-based order and deter our competitors from pursuing armed aggression.”SPONSORED CONTENT

The Coast Guard is uniquely qualified to operate in an environment where competition is constant and occurs across multiple domains and missions. Also, due to its special status as both a law enforcement organization and military branch, the Coast Guard can impact the maritime environment in ways that traditional military forces cannot. 

But to do so, it needs modernized capabilities. Current plans envision new generations of ships aircraft and unmanned vehicles. These programs are vital both to the future of the Coast Guard and to the implementation of the new strategy.

Across the world’s oceans and seas, particularly the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard capability that most stands out is provided by the new Legend-class National Security Cutters (NSC). These ships are the foundational capability for Coast Guard operations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Legend-class ships are better in almost all ways to the aging Hamilton-class High Endurance Cutters they are replacing. The NSCs have better seakeeping abilities, sustained transit speeds and range, all-important features for the Indo-Pacific region. Advanced sensors and the Sea Commander combat system allow for close integration with Navy and Air Force units. In addition, the new NSCs can deploy small boats and their aviation infrastructure supports the operation of helicopters and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). All of the Legend-class vessels are being equipped with an advanced version of the Scan Eagle UAS which will significantly expand the area they can surveil.

In many situations, the Coast Guard is the preferred tool for missions in the Indo-Pacific region. After all, the new NSCs are uniquely suited to the demands of operations across the conflict spectrum in the Pacific region.  

“Each NSC is capable of operating in the most demanding open ocean environments, including the hazardous fisheries of the North Pacific and the vast approaches of the Southern Pacific where much of the American narcotics traffic occurs,” according to the Coast Guard. “With robust command, control, communication, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, stern boat launch and aviation facilities, as well as long-endurance station keeping, the NSCs are afloat operational-level headquarters for complex law enforcement and national security missions involving multiple Coast Guard and partner agency participation.” 

A recent patrol by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf exemplifies the breadth of the missions undertaken by the Coast Guard and the unique value provided by the Legend-class NSCs. Operating with Task Force 70 of the 7th Fleet in the Western Pacific, the Bertholf conducted sanctions enforcement and freedom of navigation operations, worked cooperatively with allied naval forces, protected international fisheries and went eyeball-to-eyeball with the Chinese Navy and Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard’s need for Legend-class NSCs is only going to increase in light of the Coast Guard’s growing role in the joint maritime strategy and America’s need to counter China’s aggressive and predatory behaviors, protect U.S. economic interests and the maritime environment, interdict drug smugglers and reassure friends and allies. Despite these threats, the Coast Guard has chosen not to fund a twelfth NSC, despite Congress having provided long-lead funding for this ship.  

While the Coast Guard is struggling to ensure adequate readiness and simultaneously modernize its entire portfolio of ships and aircraft, not proceeding with a twelfth NSC is a shortsighted decision. In view of the intensifying competition with China and other hostile states, as well as the rampant overfishing and smuggling in the Pacific, the Coast Guard will likely need more than twelve NSCs.

The incoming Biden administration needs to plus-up the chronically underfunded U.S. Coast Guard. This funding assistance should add resources to the Coast Guard’s readiness account but also support the all-important Coast Guard recapitalization effort. The USCG needs to maintain old ships while they proceed with critical recapitalization programs. The new administration and the next Congress need to ensure that the Coast Guard can acquire a twelfth NSC.

Dan Gouré, Ph.D., is a vice president at the public-policy research think tank Lexington Institute. Goure has a background in the public sector and U.S. federal government, most recently serving as a member of the 2001 Department of Defense Transition Team. You can follow him on Twitter at @dgoure and the Lexington Institute @LexNextDC.

Original The National Interest article here.

Insitu Pacific launches virtual classroom for Defence

Brisbane, Australia – January 20, 2021 –  The first Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel to undertake training through Insitu Pacific’s new remote training and simulation capabilities have successfully gained their ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) pilot and maintainer qualifications.

The remote training delivers elements of the ScanEagle UAS course virtually, and complements conventional onsite instruction at Insitu Pacific’s training and simulation facility in Brisbane, as well as at the home of Navy’s 822X Squadron at HMAS Albatross in Nowra, New South Wales.

Andrew Duggan, Managing Director Insitu Pacific, said that remote simulation and training had been in the advanced planning stage, but that the impacts of COVID-19 meant the project was prioritised to ensure effective, rapid fielding of training across a number of courses.

“The completion of our first remote course elements for RAN achieved great results, with all students successfully passing the course, and remote instruction remaining at the same high quality as onsite course delivery,” Duggan said. “Our virtual training design builds on 10 years of expertise in providing quality Australian-based training to the RAN and the Australian Army, and offers flexibility for Navy in the future to conduct standard training courses at bases around Australia or overseas.”

Remote classroom theory lessons, flight simulation training and virtual equipment demonstrations have all been made possible through the use of multimedia technology. Remote training will also open new opportunities to conduct shorter, cost effective training and simulation based activities, including re-certification and scenario-specific courses in virtual environments prior to operational deployments, or even during deployments as required.

“The combination of virtual and onsite training has delivered an effective outcome for the RAN,” CMDR Philip Woodward CO 822X Squadron said.  “It not only addressed the challenges posed by COVID-19, but also reduced the time away from home for some trainees and some of the instructors. There is significant potential to deliver flexible and cost effective training.”

“Our comprehensive training approach delivers the theory, flight simulation and practical experience that our advanced UAS require.” Duggan said. “We’re embracing remote training methods in virtual classrooms to provide flexible options for the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to reduce costs and the need for ADF members to be away from their home locations for lengthy periods.”

All Insitu Pacific training is delivered by highly qualified instructors, many of whom are ADF veterans with operational experience abroad. The new remote learning course builds on a decade of training with over 600 defence customers, including from Australia and the Asia-Pacific region, gaining qualifications on Insitu Pacific UAS in land and maritime environments.

Media Contact:

Rebecca Kind, Insitu Pacific Media Relations
+61 481 005 298
rebecca.kind@insitupacific.com

Insitu completes ScanEagle installation on USCG national security cutters

Insitu has finished installing its ScanEagle Group 2 endurance mini-unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on the US Coast Guard’s (USCG’s) fleet of national security cutters (NSCs), according to a company official.

Ron Tremain, Insitu senior business executive for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) domestic and international maritime operations, told Janes on 6 January ahead of the annual Surface Navy trade show beginning on 11 January that the USCG’s nine NSCs are now fully equipped with the ScanEagle. The USCG accepted its ninth NSC, Stone, on 9 November 2020.

NSC Stone is scheduled for commissioning in February 2021. The USCG awarded a fixed-price contract option in December 2018 for production of the 10th and 11th NSCs.

Insitu was selected by the USCG in December 2018 following a bid protest to provide the ScanEagle for the Small Unmanned Aerial System for the National Security Cutter (SUAS for NSC) programme. Insitu was awarded a contract in June 2018 worth USD117 million, which covers installation and deployment of the aircraft for roughly 200 hours per 30-day operational patrol period.

Tremain said the USCG is building requirements for a competition to put unmanned aircraft on all relevant cutters and land sites. He expects the USCG to use this competition to place unmanned aircraft on board its first offshore patrol cutter (OPC), which is scheduled for delivery in 2022. The coastguard, Tremain said, expects to release a request for information (RFI) in 2021.

As the RFI has not been released, Tremain said Insitu is still determining which aircraft to offer. He said it would not be the ScanEagle in its current configuration.

Original Story on Janes

Schultz: Upcoming Coast Guard Budget Has ‘Dollars For People’ Focus

Likewise, Ecuador, through U.S. Southern Command, wanted Coast Guard assistance to check on the activities of 350 Chinese vessels fishing in the restricted waters off the Galapagos Marine Reserve, about 1,000 miles off the its coast. [USCG Cmdt Adm Karl Schultz] said the service’s ScanEagle, a small, long-range, low-altitude unmanned aerial vehicle, played a key role in inspecting suspicious activities.

Read the full article here.

Spanish Navy’s ScanEagle Flies Over the Mediterranean From the Reina Sofia Frigate

The 11th Squadron of the Spanish Navy has made the first flight of the UAS ScanEagle during transit through the Mediterranean aboard the frigate Reina Sofia on its way to join Operation Atalanta, which fights piracy in the waters of the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia.

The unit specializes in drones for the Navy, and operates 3 ScanEagle systems, consisting of four aircraft and a Ground Control Station.

Read the full article here.

The Colombian Navy Deploys its ScanEagle against the Clan del Golfo

In development of Operation Neptune, the Colombian Navy has deployed its Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAVs in an action that enabled the capture of 43 terrorists from the Gulf Clan…

Prior to the development of Neptune, ScanEagle UAV were also used in order to carry out ISR-type missions. Thanks to these aircraft, they could not only locate, but also follow and monitor the members (mainly the leaders) of the terrorist structure, which commits crimes in this area located in the north of the country and whose center is the town of El Carmen de Bolivar.

Read the full article here.

US Marines in remote corner of Australia are practicing to guide Air Force bombers to targets across the Pacific

At remote ranges in northern Australia this summer, US Marines and Australian troops trained to guide US bombers to targets on far-flung islands, illustrating the Corps’ increasing focus on a potential war in the Pacific.

COVID-19 affected the deployment of the Marine Rotational Force based in Darwin, on Australia’s northern coast, but didn’t keep it from using new assets and concepts.

In August, Marines flew RQ-21A Blackjack drones in Australia for the first time as part of the month-long Exercise Loobye.

The exercise, which involved Marines, the US Air Force, and the Australian Defense Force, “focused on a small naval expeditionary force’s ability to rapidly deploy, integrate with foreign partners, coordinate airstrikes and call for close air support on targets within contested environments,” according to a release.

Read the full article here.