Page 37 - Williams Foundation Future of Electronic Warfare Seminar

A New Approach and Attitude to Electronic Warfare in Australia

How do you view the evolution to date?

Col. Barranco: "I think we've done a pretty good job of trying to fully integrate our unmanned into our
manned aviation in the aircraft wings. And we are in the process of going back to sea after a long period of
being focused on the land wars. We want to get back to sea.

"We want expeditionary.

"We want VTOL.

"Although Reaper is a tremendous capability is is limited to runways, and runways are going to be targeted
by peer competitors. And we want to be independent of the need to use allied runways as well. Sovereignty
needs to be exercised independent of absolutely needing to use allied airfields.

"These are the drawbacks of land-based systems."

Question: How then are you looking to build that VTOL capability?

Col. Barranco: "We are looking to build airborne early warning capability, and air to air capability into
MUX, something that you don't find in Reaper.

"We want an expeditionary, shipboard capability.

"We are building a digital interoperable network and we want the MUX to be a node in that digital network.

"We want air to ground capability but we also want air-to-air capability as well. By being able to operate
shipboard, we can free up our manned aircraft in some cases for other missions. We'd also like to have a
cargo capability to avoid having to use trucks on the road when we wish to avoid that.

"The Osprey has raised the bar with regard to range and speed.

"We need range and speed that's comparable to the Osprey in the new UAS, the MUX. MUX will be a key
element in our execution of distributed operations.

"We will operate our forces further from the ship and the assembly area and need to operate with smaller
distributed forces that are network prior to any massing of our forces.

"The MUX will need to fit into that template.

"Classic helicopters are not going to get it done in terms of range and speed to deliver a distributed strike
force.

"The MUX by being VTOL will be heavier and give up some time on station.
"We need to operate it shipboard and have it protected against corrosion, which will add to the weight.

"But because it is expeditionary, able to take off virtually anywhere, we can give up that slight loss of time on
station and range of current UASs."

Question: How does your current experience with Blackjack fit into your learning curve with regard
UASs?
Col. Barranco: "Blackjacks currently operate from LPDs and are deployed with our MEUs.

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