UAV First Aboard a Destroyer

UAV First Aboard a Destroyer
Navy News | PO3 Kenneth Hendrix | November 26, 2007

USS Oscar Austin, At Sea -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), completed a robust testing phase of the ScanEagle, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), Nov. 17, en route to the Central Command area of operations as part of the ongoing rotation to support Maritime Security Operations.

This is an unprecedented employment of a UAV aboard a multi-mission (anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface warfare) surface combatant.

Oscar Austin is an element of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group (HSTCSG).

"The particular UAV we are flying here is known as the ScanEagle," said John Nicholson, ScanEagle team leader, and The Boeing Company field representative. "In the past and still today, we have operated ScanEagle on various ship platforms like the LHAs and LHDs (amphibious assault ships), LPDs (amphibious transport dock ships), LSDs (amphibious dock landing ships), and high speed vessel ships."

The primary mission of the ScanEagle UAV is to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support to the Oscar Austin and HSTCSG.

"ScanEagle is an incredible asset not only for this ship, but the Navy too," said Oscar Austin's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Eric Weilenman. "It gives me great on what's around the ship and allows me to keep my visit, board, search, and seizure teams aware of their environment because the UAV provides positive identification on vessels of interest, which allows me to pass accurate security information to my Sailors as they prepare to board."


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,156968,00.html



uhc comment: Meet the ScanEagle produced by Boeing

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/scaneagle/index.html



http://www.defense-update.com/products/s/scaneagle.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ScanEagle

The ScanEagle was also created for the Department of Homeland Security --> http://www.insitu.com/scaneagle

A 2005 article sez these things cost only $100,000 a pop, but Avoinics magazine Sez:

Another touted advantage is ScanEagle's low cost. The air vehicle itself carries a price tag of $72,000, but the cost of the complete system, including launcher, sky hook vehicle, and ground support package, rises to $420,000.

To get some small unmanned blimps, and add a bunch of decoys with it? Maybe even fit a few with sonar? But no, that requires logic, and we know the defense budget has no room for that.