US ARMY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM OPERATIONS

ARMY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT
SYSTEM OPERATIONS

FMI 3-04.155
Field Manual Interim Headquarters
No. 3-04.155 Department of the Army
Washington, DC, 4 April 2006
Expires 4 April 2008
ARMY UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEM
OPERATIONS
Contents
Page
PREFACE ..............................................................................................................v
Chapter 1 ORGANIZATION, MISSIONS, AND FUNDAMENTALS..................................... 1-1
Section I General ............................................................................................ 1-1
Unmanned aircraft system Types....................................................................... 1-1
Organization ....................................................................................................... 1-1
Mission ............................................................................................................... 1-2
Capabilities ......................................................................................................... 1-2
Limitations .......................................................................................................... 1-2
Fundamentals..................................................................................................... 1-3
Echelons of Support ........................................................................................... 1-4
Section IIUnmanned Aircraft System Organizations................................... 1-6
RQ-1L I-Gnat Organization ................................................................................ 1-6
RQ-5/MQ-5 Hunter Aerial Reconnaissance Company ...................................... 1-7
RQ-7 Shadow Aerial Reconnaissance Platoon ................................................. 1-8
RQ-11 Raven Team ........................................................................................... 1-9
Section IIIDuty Descriptions and Responsibilities ................................... 1-10
Company Commander ..................................................................................... 1-10
Platoon Leader ................................................................................................. 1-10
Unmanned aircraft system Operations Officer (150U)..................................... 1-11
First Sergeant ................................................................................................... 1-11
Platoon Sergeant.............................................................................................. 1-11
Air Mission Commander ................................................................................... 1-12
Unmanned aircraft system Operator (15W) ..................................................... 1-12
External Pilot (RQ-5/MQ-5 Hunter Only).......................................................... 1-12
Unmanned Aerial System Operator (RQ-11 Raven)........................................ 1-12
Distribution Restriction: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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Contents
Chapter 2 ARMY UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS...........................................................2-1
RQ-1L I-Gnat.......................................................................................................2-1
RQ-5/MQ-5 Hunter..............................................................................................2-3
RQ-7 Shadow......................................................................................................2-6
RQ-11 Raven ....................................................................................................2-10
Chapter 3 JOINT UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS...........................................................3-1
Section IJoint UAS Request Procedures......................................................3-1
Joint Command Architecture...............................................................................3-1
Unmanned aircraft system Support ....................................................................3-2
Section IIAir Force ..........................................................................................3-4
RQ-4 Global Hawk..............................................................................................3-4
RQ/MQ-1 Predator..............................................................................................3-6
MQ-9 Predator B.................................................................................................3-8
Force Protection Aerial Surveillance SystemDesert Hawk.............................3-10
Section IIINavy...............................................................................................3-12
RQ-2 Pioneer ....................................................................................................3-12
RQ-8B Fire Scout..............................................................................................3-13
Section IVMarine Corps................................................................................3-14
FQM-151 Pointer ..............................................................................................3-14
Dragon Eye .......................................................................................................3-15
Silver Fox ..........................................................................................................3-16
Scan Eagle........................................................................................................3-17
Section VCoast Guard..................................................................................3-19
Eagle Eye..........................................................................................................3-19
Section VISpecial Operations Command ...................................................3-20
CQ-10 SnowGoose...........................................................................................3-20
FQM-151 Pointer ..............................................................................................3-21
RQ-11 Raven ....................................................................................................3-22
Dragon Eye .......................................................................................................3-23
Chapter 4 UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS MISSION PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS 4-1
Section IOverview ...........................................................................................4-1
Section IIEmployment Considerations .........................................................4-2
Location of Unmanned aircraft systems .............................................................4-2
Sustained Operations .........................................................................................4-4
Terrain and Weather ...........................................................................................4-4
Sensor Considerations........................................................................................4-5
Threat Considerations.........................................................................................4-6
Time/Resources Available ..................................................................................4-7
Dynamic Retasking .............................................................................................4-8
Civil Considerations (Combat Operations) .........................................................4-9
Section IIIMission Planning Process ............................................................4-9
Mission Supported Unit.......................................................................................4-9
Echelons Above Brigade Combat Team Tasking and Planning.......................4-10
Brigade and Below Planning Responsibilities ..................................................4-11
Brigade and Below Tasking/Planning...............................................................4-11
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Contents
Unmanned aircraft system Unit Planning Process........................................... 4-13
Post Mission Actions ........................................................................................ 4-17
Section IVArmy Airspace Command and Control..................................... 4-17
Section VCommand and Control ................................................................ 4-19
Levels of Interoperability .................................................................................. 4-19
Communications............................................................................................... 4-21
Using a Remote Video Terminal ...................................................................... 4-22
Section VIRisk Mitigation ............................................................................ 4-23
Safety................................................................................................................ 4-23
Risk Management............................................................................................. 4-24
Unmanned aircraft system Safety Considerations........................................... 4-25
Chapter 5 UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS EMPLOYMENT ........................................... 5-1
Section IReconnaissance and Surveillance ................................................ 5-1
Reconnaissance................................................................................................. 5-1
Unmanned aircraft system Reconnaissance Fundamentals ............................. 5-2
Actions on the Objective..................................................................................... 5-4
Data Exfiltration .................................................................................................. 5-4
Surveillance ........................................................................................................ 5-5
Section IISecurity Operations ....................................................................... 5-6
Screen ................................................................................................................ 5-6
Guard and Cover Operations ........................................................................... 5-10
Section IIIUnmanned Aircraft System Targeting........................................ 5-12
Facilitate Targeting ........................................................................................... 5-12
Precision of Target Locations........................................................................... 5-13
Facilitate Command and Control...................................................................... 5-14
Facilitate Movement ......................................................................................... 5-14
Section IVManned-Unmanned Team Operations...................................... 5-15
Manned-Unmanned Team Missions ................................................................ 5-15
Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition Missions.................... 5-18
Screen Missions ............................................................................................... 5-19
Movement to Contact ....................................................................................... 5-23
Aerial Target Designation................................................................................. 5-23
Artillery Fire Support......................................................................................... 5-25
Close Air Support ............................................................................................. 5-26
Kill Box.............................................................................................................. 5-27
Section VPersonnel Recovery .................................................................... 5-29
Mission Execution............................................................................................. 5-30
Chapter 6 SUSTAINMENT OPERATIONS......................................................................... 6-1
Section IGeneral ............................................................................................. 6-1
Logistics.............................................................................................................. 6-1
Maintenance ....................................................................................................... 6-2
Section IIUnmanned Aircraft System Organizations.................................. 6-3
RQ-1L I-Gnat ...................................................................................................... 6-3
RQ-5/MQ-5 Hunter ............................................................................................. 6-3
RQ-7 Shadow..................................................................................................... 6-4
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Contents
RQ-11 Raven ......................................................................................................6-4
Appendix A ARMY UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS MISSION PLANNING AND FLIGHT
CHECKLISTS ........................................................................................................................... A-1
Appendix B EXTRACT FROM LEADERS GUIDE TO ARMY AIRSPACE COMMAND AND
CONTROL AT BRIGADE AND BELOW ....................................................................................... B-1
Appendix C TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS........................................................................ C-1
Appendix D ARMY UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM CONTRIBUTIONS TO
JOINT OPERATIONS.................................................................................................................. D-1
Appendix E RECOVERY OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES .......................................... E-1
GLOSSARY.......................................................................................... Glossary-1
REFERENCES.................................................................................. References-1
INDEX ......................................................................................................... Index-1
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