Integrated Employment of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) in a Common Operational Environment

Ary Kiselstein Director Naval Systems - Elbit Systems of America

Naval Postgraduate School The 9th International Symposium on Technology and the Mine Problem
18 May 2010
Elbit Systems of America

Elbit Systems of America - ESA

We are a US defense company with headquarters in Fort Worth TX:
Main divisions in Texas, New Hampshire, Florida, Alabama, Virginia 2000 employees; sales of about $800M.

We are a subsidiary of Elbit Systems Ltd. , with headquarters in Haifa, Israel.

With a Special Security Agreement SSA

We build on the systems and capabilities of our parent company and adapt them to the needs and applications of the US. The current presentation introduces systems and operational concepts developed entirely at Elbit Systems Ltd. Our US naval programs are extensions of the systems and capabilities described in this presentation.
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Elbit Systems of America

Elbit Naval Systems Core Capabilities

7.62mm

UAV and Payloads

Submarine ESM/COMINT Systems

.50 cal
Stabilized Remote Controlled Weapon Stations Electro-Optic Decoy Control Payloads Systems

Naval COMINT / COMJAM Systems

Integrated Naval Navigation System

Combat Management Systems and Combat System Integration

Frigates Modernization Program

Unmanned Surface Vehicle (USV)

EW Systems for Combat Ships & Submarines

Naval ELINT and SIGINT Systems

Elbit Systems of America

Elbit Unmanned Systems Air, Sea, Land

Skylark I-LE Watchkeeper

Design Guiding Principles

Skylark II Hermes 450 Stingray Hermes 900

Beagle

VIPeR

Commonality of functional architecture Commonality of building blocks Commonality of monitoring and control (HMI) Commonality of communications (data links and SATCOM) Commonality of operational methodology

Silver Marlin Avant Guardium Archer

Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin USV

Fast maneuverable 11m USV with primary missions applicable to Expeditionary Warfare:
Anti/Terrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) Coastal Security protection of coastal/maritime strategic facilities Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Riverine Warfare Search and Rescue Targeting and field of sight extension ASW MIW Battle Damage Assessment Contamination Control Chemical Agents Detection

Secondary missions:

Elbit Systems of America

Integrated USV-UAV Operational Concept

SATCOM

ISR

Relay

Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin - High Level Functional Block Diagram

APS Application Server RTC Real time Computer BCC Boat Control Computer ACNS Advanced Control and Navigation System MCS Mission Control System

Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin USV Main Characteristics

Mission Range:
For Line of Sight (LOS) Communication: Range at Wide Open throttle: 60 km 500 NM

Vessel length: Vessel endurance: Max. payload (payload vs. fuel trade-off) Vessel overall weight: Max. speed: Propulsion: Engines: Dual use:

10.6 m 24-36 hours 2,000 kg 6,500 kg 45 knots Propellers 2 x 315 HP (Diesel) Manned-Unmanned Operation

Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin USV Main Characteristics Sea Keeping:

Sea State 3 full mission capabilities Sea State 5 reduced mission capabilities

Safety Systems:
Maritime Radar Navigation Lights AIS Automatic Identification System 360 deg. Panoramic Vision System Obstacle Avoidance / Collision Avoidance System EO/IR Payload (including Laser Range Finder, Laser Illuminator and/or Laser Designator) Remotely Controlled Search Light Redundant architecture at each level: vessel, mission control station, data links Automatic emergency logic in case of communication loss
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Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin USV Functional Diagram

BCC Boat Control Computer AIS Automatic Identification System Platform sensors: Compass, IMU, GPS

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Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin USV Typical Payloads

Radar Electro-Optical Director

Data Links ESM

.50cal Stabilized Remotely Controlled Weapon Station

360 Degree Camera Array

Obstacle Avoidance

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Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin Alternative EO payloads - examples

Micro-COMPASS EO/IR Payload
Night Camera FLIR Cooled 3-5m PFA FOV Zoom x 7 2.5x2 to 17.5x14 EZoom x3 Day Camera CCD FOV Zoom x 26 1.6x1.2 to 42x32 EZoom x12 Laser Pointer

COMPASS III EO/IR Payload

TV

FLIR

LRF

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Elbit Systems of America

Stabilized Gun Mount with 7.62 Machine Gun

7.62 mm ORCWS
Ammunition Type: [mm] Capacity: [Bullets] Protection: Firing, Loading: Viewing, Day Sight Weight Azimuth travel Elevation travel

Maximum speed Stabilization Accuracy Max Height In station integrated electronics No deck penetration Suitable for operation from manned and unmanned craft
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690 (upgradeable to 1150) Light Fully electric CCD, ICCD, Un-cooled Less than 95 Kg n x 360 deg. -20 deg. to + 60 deg. (controlled by SW; with mechanical stops back-up) > 50 deg/sec 1 mrad (1 ) 520 mm

Elbit Systems of America

ERCWS - Stabilized Gun Mount ERCWS-M Stabilized Remotely Controlled Weapon Station
Armament : Capacity: Azimuth travel Elevation travel Optical pod: Weight: Max Height Maximum speed Stabilization Accuracy Lead angle compensation Firing, Loading: 12.7 mm Browning FN M2HB HMG (or equivalent) 40 mm K2 or MK19 H&K AGL 7.62 mm FN M240 MG 12.7 mm magazine for 300 rounds; 40 mm magazine with 32 grenades n x 360 deg. -20 deg. to + 60 deg. (mechanical and software angle limitations) CCD, LRF, Un-cooled IR 195 kg (including separate electronic unit, but without ammunition and weapon) 635 mm 60 deg/sec 0.5 mrad (1 ) Engage moving targets Fully electric
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Elbit Systems of America

Mission Control Station (MCS)

Installed at fixed locations or deployable in shelters Ruggedized COTS Hardware Full Console Redundancy Mission Planning possibility to perform mission planning concurrent with mission execution Launch and Recovery Mission Management and Control Data Exploitation and Dissemination Integrated Record, Replay and Mission Debriefing Training/Simulation High-level C4I integration

MCS for common USV-UAV Operation

Mini-MCS for single USV Operation

Boat side Launch and Recovery Unit (Optional) 15

Portable Operator Control Unit (Optional)

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Autonomous Navigation System

Sensors Radar (ARPA) AIS Electro-Optical Director (EOD) Laser Gated Imaging (under testing and evaluation) Other inputs External Situation Awareness Picture External C4I data Mission Control Station Obstacles Avoidance Complies with the COLREGS rules Sea State Estimates Wave height, direction, frequency Wind direction, speed
ACNS Advanced Control and Navigation System APS Application Server (at the Mission Control Station) ENTCS Elbits Combat Management System (Master Track File only)

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Elbit Systems of America

Autonomous Control and Navigation System

High Performance multi-mode weather dependent system Supported Navigation Modes Navigate to Coordinate (NTC) Sail in pre-planned route Several pre-planned routes; join at waypoints Waypoints Regular, reverse and cyclic mode Hold location No Communication mode (follow-preplanned route or return to base) Route and coordinate up-date during mission Obstacle avoidance Adjusting autonomous navigation to Sea-state conditions
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Manual Commands Program definition

Operator Interface

Obstacle Avoidance Algorithm

GPS measurements Inertial measurements Magnetic measurements Sensor Bus

Sea state estimation

Thrust estimation

Mission execution module

Actuators status

Servo module

ACNS Architecture

Actuators commands

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Obstacle Avoidance Optimization Algorithm

The optimization algorithm simulates the human common-sense:

Multi-objective optimization process; the algorithm finds the optimal solution for several concurrent objectives
Allows for solutions that may be sub-optimal for one platform; but are the best global solution Solutions with low computational complexity

Obstacle avoidance in compliance with the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS)

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Elbit Systems of America

Communication System Architecture

Data Link GDT Ground Data Terminal SDT Ship Data Terminal

Note: Alternative Data Links operating in the L and C bands are available.
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Communication System
Backup satellite communication
Automatic link initiation in case of Non LOS situation High level control of USV 2400 bps

Fully Automatic switch between data-links Transmitted Video options

Video source selection via Video Matrix Optional two video sources in a single Data-link

Options:
Relay Wide-band SATCOM

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Elbit Systems of America

Joint Integrated Operation USV-UAV-MCS

Various UAVs provided by Elbit Systems
Within the US - Elbit UAVs are available through UAS Dynamics a joint venture between Elbit Systems of America and General Dynamics AIS Operation with the Silver Marlin Hermes 450 and Skylark II UAVs Elbit UAVs and USVs share compatible Mission Control Systems and Communication Systems Enables integrated operation in a common operational environment

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Elbit Systems of America

Elbit Systems Family of UAVs

kft 30 25 MALE

15 TACTICAL LE 10 TACTICAL CR

Skylark I & II Mini UAVs 100

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500

1500

kg
Elbit Systems of America

Silver Marlin Video UC_Silver_Marlin.mpg

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Elbit Systems of America

Summary USV and UAV combined operations are a proven reality USVs offer flexibility and are a real force multiplier But this works both ways:
Small navies can use them very effectively against our conventional naval forces Need to include them in war games and operational studies on both sides We must not ignore them because we do not like the consequences

Large USVs are coming, for offense and ISR

Analogous to where UAVs were 10 years ago

This is the way of the future!

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Elbit Systems of America

Thank you !
For further information on the Silver Marlin and other Elbit USV Programs please contact:
US Programs Ary Kiselstein Director Naval Systems Elbit Systems of America 4700 Marine Creek Parkway Fort Worth TX 76179 Tel: 817-234-6757 Ary.Kiselstein@elbitsystems-us.com International Programs

Inon Ben Zur Program Manager Elbit Systems Ltd. Advanced Technology Center P. O. Box 539 Haifa, Israel Tel: 817-234-6757 Inon.Benzur@elbitsystems.com

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Elbit Systems of America