Unmanned Air Systems (Intel)

Unmanned Air Systems is a Marine Corps initiative aimed at providing small unmanned aircraft systems (SUAS) for battalion, company, and detachment level units. The program's specific goals include scalable airborne reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition capabilities to aid in detecting, identifying, engaging, and avoiding enemy units. The program aims to minimize operational risk and improve operational flexibility in asset allocation across the conflict continuum. It meets the validated operational requirements delineated in the Operational Requirements Document and provides organic capabilities to battalion-level units to satisfy Ground Combat Element (GCE) RSTA needs.

The program also focuses on Force Design 2030 sensing strategy for the battalion level and below RSTA capability. It provides assets that are highly capable, low cost, and provide multi-domain capability to the Fleet Marine Force. The program's objectives include technology maturation at the speed of industry and commercial sectors through a family of systems approach that allows for technology maturation at the speed of industry and commercial sectors. Additionally, it aims to align with Intel Payloads delivery schedules as the SUAS LR/LE platform is the primary enabler to Organic Precision Fires and the deployment of those capabilities intended for integrated use in Indo-Pacific Command and other theaters of operation. This increase directly supports Distributed Maritime Operations as well as the related concepts of Littoral Operations in a Contested Environment and Expeditionary Advance Base Operations.