Page 36 - Williams Foundation Future of Electronic Warfare Seminar

A New Approach and Attitude to Electronic Warfare in Australia

In the current situation, I would deploy a Prowler to work with my legacy fighters.

The Prowler would have to be sortied and would operate only for a period of time and in a specific operational
area.

With the low observability of the F-35 combined with the organic EW capability of the aircraft, the aircraft
expands my capabilities for both air-to-air and CAS.

Clearly, unmanned aircraft or remotely piloted vehicles will be added to the mix as well.

Currently, the USMC Blackjacks carry payloads to contribute to EW and over time the UAV element will
enhance its role as well.

The Next Phase in the Evolution of USMC UAS Capabilities: An Interview

with Colonel Barranco
Interview Conducted June 2017

In my recent interview with Lt. General (Retired) Trautman, the former Deputy Commandant of Aviation
highlighted how he saw the way ahead for unmanned air systems in the MAGTF:

The current Deputy Commandant for Aviation has been very prescient in laying out a requirement for a program
called MUX (MAGTF Unmanned eXpeditionary UAS) which the current aviation plan says will be ready for initial
operations in the 2025 time frame.

That platform, whatever it becomes, should have the capability to take off and land from the sea base, to take
off and land from an expeditionary operating location ashore and deliver long range relatively high speed
service to the fleet so that you can use that range and speed to your advantage.

It should also come in with adequate power and non-proprietary “hooks” so that future users can employ whatever
payloads make the best sense for the force as it evolves.

This is a very exciting time for the development of unmanned systems in support of the amphibious task force and
the Marine Corps.
http://www.sldinfo.com/the-role-of-unmanned-aerial-systems-in-the-remaking-of-the-amphibious-task-force-
the-perspective-of-lt-general-retired-trautman/

I had a chance to follow up on these thoughts with the current senior Marine involved in working the evolving
UAS issues, namely, Col. J.B. “Buss” Barranco.

Col. Barranco is an experienced Marine Corps aviator with significant combat experience. He has been an
instructor at MAWTS, and has had eight deployments. He was the escort flight leader for the Afghan
operation for the Marines in 2001, and then was involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and then back to Iraq
in 2005 and 2007 as well. He worked the H-1 transition task force for Lt. General Trautman when he was
DCA in 2008. He then deployed to Afghanistan again in 2010, 2011, and 2012.

When the Col. discusses platforms he does so from the standpoint of what they bring to the Marine Corps and
how they integrated into the evolving capabilities of the MEU or MAGTF.

Question: Clearly, you are looking at unmanned air systems from the standpoint of how they work to
enhance USMC capabilities.
Second Line of Defense

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