FCS/BCT unmanned aerial vehicles was a collection of
unmanned aerial vehicle
An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), commonly known as a drone, is an aircraft without any human pilot, crew, or passengers on board. UAVs are a component of an unmanned aircraft system (UAS), which includes adding a ground-based controller ...
s developed under the jurisdiction of the
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unpr ...
(FCS) program until it was dissolved and succeeded by the
BCT Modernization
The Brigade combat team Modernization was the United States Army's principal modernization program for Brigade combat teams (BCTs) from 2009–10. The program is the successor to Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United S ...
program.
The Class II and Class III UAVs were canceled in May 2007. The XM157 UAV was canceled when FCS was dissolved in June 2009. The final aircraft, the XM156, was canceled in February 2010, when the E-IBCT component of the BCT Modernization program was dissolved.
Vehicles
XM156 Class I
The XM156 Class I was a platoon level asset that provided the dismounted soldier with Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (
RSTA
Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) refers to a joint doctrine of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the United States Armed Forces. RSTA operations are designed to support military operation ...
) and laser designation. Total system weight, which included the air vehicle, a control device, and ground support equipment is less than and was light enough to be carried by an individual soldier.
This
micro air vehicle
A micro air vehicle (MAV), or micro aerial vehicle, is a class of miniature UAVs that has a size restriction and may be autonomous. Modern craft can be as small as 5 centimeters. Development is driven by commercial, research, government, and mil ...
operated in open, rolling, complex and urban terrains with a
vertical take-off and landing
A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft is one that can take off and land vertically without relying on a runway. This classification can include a variety of types of aircraft including helicopters as well as thrust-vectoring fixed-win ...
capability. It was interoperable with select ground and air platforms and controlled by mounted or dismounted soldiers. The Class I used autonomous flight and navigation, but could interact with the network and Soldier to dynamically update routes and target information. It provides dedicated reconnaissance support and early warning to the smallest echelons of the
Brigade Combat Team
The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its assigned support and fire units. A brigade is normally commanded by a ...
(BCT) in environments not suited to larger assets.
The Class I system provided a hover and stare capability that is not currently available in the Army UAV inventory for urban and route surveillance. The Class I system also filled known gaps that exist in force operations, such as: Protect Force in Counterinsurgency (
COIN
A coin is a small, flat (usually depending on the country or value), round piece of metal or plastic used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order t ...
) Operations, Soldier Protection in COIN environment, Ability to Conduct Joint Urban Operations, Enhanced
ISR/RSTA Capabilities, Hover and Stare operations.
The Class I UAS was part of Spin Out 1 and entered evaluation by Soldiers at the Army Evaluation Task Force (AETF). It would have been be fielded to
Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) starting in 2011.
Class II and Class III
In a December 2006 memo assistant acquisition secretary Claude Bolton directed FCS to end work on the Class II and III UAVs.
;Class II
The Class II UAV would have supported the Infantry and Mounted Combat System Company Commanders with reconnaissance, security/early warning, target and designation.
The Class II had twice the endurance and a wider range of capabilities than the Class I. It was a multifunctional aerial system possessing a Vertical Take-Off and Landing capability. The Class II Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) would be a vehicle-mounted system that provided Line-of-Sight enhanced dedicated imagery. The distinguishing capability of this UAV is target designation in all conditions. This provides the ability to direct Line-of-Sight (LOS), Beyond-Line-of-Sight (
BLOS
Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) radio propagation occurs outside of the typical Line-of-sight propagation, line-of-sight (LOS) between the transmitter and receiver, such as in ground reflections.
Near-line-of-sight (also NLOS) conditions refer to partia ...
), and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) fires. It could team with selected ground and air platforms, and provides limited communications relay. The Class II could be carried by two Soldiers. It had a 16 km radius of action, and can remain aloft for two hours.
''This section incorporates work from https://web.archive.org/web/20070314013051/http://www.army.mil/fcs/factfiles/uav2.html, which is in the
public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work
A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...
as it is a work of the United States Military.''
;Class III
The Class III UAV was a fixed-wing multifunction aerial system that has the range and endurance to support battalion level RSTA within the Modular Force's (UA) battle space.
It provides the capabilities of the Class I and Class II, but also provides communications relay, mine detection, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) detection, and meteorological survey. The Class III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has a six-hour endurance and a 40 km radius of action. It allows the Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) battalion to deliver precision fires within the UA area of interest. The Class III must be able to take-off and land without a dedicated air field.
''This section incorporates work from https://web.archive.org/web/20070314012900/http://www.army.mil/fcs/factfiles/uav3.html, which is in the
public domain
The public domain (PD) consists of all the creative work
A creative work is a manifestation of creative effort including fine artwork (sculpture, paintings, drawing, sketching, performance art), dance, writing (literature), filmmaking, ...
as it is a work of the United States Military.''
XM157 Class IV
![XM157 Class IV UAV](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/XM157_Class_IV_UAV.jpg)
The XM157 Class IV UAV, was intended to provide reconnaissance, aerial communications extension capability at the brigade level for the
United States Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cla ...
's
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unpr ...
program. Other missions were to include
land mine
A land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it. Such a device is typically detonated automati ...
and
improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device (IED) is a bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action. It may be constructed of conventional military explosives, such as an artillery shell, attached to a detonating mechan ...
detection, standoff chemical, biological and radiological detection, and
electronic intelligence
Signals intelligence (SIGINT) is intelligence-gathering by interception of ''signals'', whether communications between people (communications intelligence—abbreviated to COMINT) or from electronic signals not directly used in communication ( ...
collection. It was to be organic to the
Reconnaissance Surveillance Target Acquisition Squadron within the FCS
brigade combat team
The brigade combat team (BCT) is the basic deployable unit of maneuver in the U.S. Army. A brigade combat team consists of one combat arms branch maneuver brigade, and its assigned support and fire units. A brigade is normally commanded by a ...
, which will consist of troops of manned armed reconnaissance helicopters (
ARH) and a separate troop of Class IV UAVs. The FCS Class IV UAV Program was cancelled in January 2010.
Development
The XM157 is derived from the Navy-Marine
MQ-8 Fire Scout
The Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout is an unmanned autonomous helicopter developed by Northrop Grumman for use by the United States Armed Forces. The Fire Scout is designed to provide reconnaissance, situational awareness, aerial fire support a ...
which was derived from the manned
Schweizer S-333
The Schweizer 330 and S333 are turbine-powered developments of the Schweizer 300 light piston-powered helicopter. As of 2007, only the Schweizer 333 remains in production. In February 2009, the 333 was rebranded as the Sikorsky S-333. In 2018 the ...
. The Army was evaluating a land-based version of the system for fielding of the aircraft to brigade combat teams. The XM157 was produced, in developmental stages, by Northrop Grumman. After cancellation of
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unpr ...
in early 2009, the aircraft was transferred to
BCT Modernization
The Brigade combat team Modernization was the United States Army's principal modernization program for Brigade combat teams (BCTs) from 2009–10. The program is the successor to Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United S ...
. The aircraft was supposed to be fielded in 2014. In December 2010, The U.S. Army suspended its version of the Class IV UAV. The army believes that the fixed-wing and unmanned
RQ-7 Shadow
The AAI RQ-7 Shadow is an American unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) used by the United States Army, Australian Army, Swedish Army, Turkish Air Force and Italian Army for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and battle damage assessment ...
can meet future Army requirements with product improvements.
Design
The
Block III AH-64D Apache attack helicopter
An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their heavy armament they ...
would have had the capability to control Class IV UAVs from the cockpit, receive their imagery products, and exploit their remote
laser designation
A laser designator is a laser light source which is used to designate a target. Laser designators provide targeting for laser-guided bombs, missiles, or precision artillery munitions, such as the Paveway series of bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire, o ...
capability. This manned-unmanned teaming capability will also be available on later models of the ARH.
The system (composed of 4 air vehicles and associated
Humvee
The High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV; colloquial: Humvee) is a family of light, four-wheel drive, military trucks and utility vehicles produced by AM General. It has largely supplanted the roles previously performed by the ori ...
-based ground control and automated launch and recovery systems), was required to operate continuously for 18–24 hours over a radius. Each is capable of 8 hours continuous flight and a payload of .
History
The Class II and Class III UAVs were canceled in May 2007. The XM157 UAV was canceled when
Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United States Army's principal modernization program from 2003 to early 2009. Formally launched in 2003, FCS was envisioned to create new brigades equipped with new manned and unmanned vehicles linked by an unpr ...
was dissolved in June 2009. The final aircraft, the XM156, was canceled in February 2010 when the E-IBCT component of the
BCT Modernization
The Brigade combat team Modernization was the United States Army's principal modernization program for Brigade combat teams (BCTs) from 2009–10. The program is the successor to Future Combat Systems
Future Combat Systems (FCS) was the United S ...
program was dissolved.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:FCS BCT unmanned aerial vehicles
United States Army equipment
Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States
Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States