The HAE UAV and Dynamic Retasking by Tactical Commanders

Advancing technology and the changing nature and tempo of modern warfare has created many challenges. Desert Storm reiterated the need for Near- Real Time (NRT) imagery of the battlefield. History shows that Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have the capability to meet some of these challenges. The Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) is directing a program to develop a family of UAVs that will meet the future NRT imagery needs of operational commanders. The High Altitude Endurance (HAE) UAV is part of this family of UAVs that will serve to provide sustained, broad area coverage for those commanders with time critical needs. The thrust of this thesis is to define a process by which the time-critical Reconnaissance Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA) imagery needs of the tactical commander on the battlefield can be met through effective dynamic retasking of the HAE UAV. This thesis examines HAE UAV capabilities, the intelligence cycle, and collection management procedures. Prohibitors of timely intelligence are highlighted. A process is described through which the HAE UAV may be dynamically retasked to meet the ground force commander's real-time collection requirements. The appropriateness of the HAE UAV to be used to satisfy the ground force commander's dynamic requirements is discussed.