Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Unmanned Aerial Systems Initiatives

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Department of Homeland Security (DHS)Unmanned
Aerial Systems Initiatives
Building Capability to Support Departmental
Missions
December 13-14, 2006 U.S. Geological
Survey Unmanned Aerial Systems Workshop
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Status of UAS Programs at DHS
Building Capability to Support Current and Future
Departmental Missions

• Two important near-term objectives
• Develop and deploy a UAS capability to support
  the Secure Border Initiative (SBI)
• Customs and Border Protection Air Marine Office
  (CBP/AM)
• Conduct outreach and integration with Department
  of Defense (DoD) UAS programs to ensure
  interoperability and information-sharing
• DHS Operations Directorate (DHS/Ops), Office of
  Intelligence Analysis (IA) interaction with
  U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) , U.S. Strategic
  Command (STRATCOM), and DoD force providers
• Focus on domestic crisis/disaster support vice
  day-to-day operations
• Long-term Goal
• Within DHS, implement UAS programs and
  capabilities to support the wide range of
  Homeland Security missions
• CBP/AM
• U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Deepwater Program
  Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned
  Aerial Vehicle (VUAV)
• Other departmental programs?
• DHS Operations

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U.S. Coast Guard UAS Efforts
Building Capability to Support Current and Future
Departmental Missions

• Eagle Eye Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV)
• USCGs VUAV program is under development within
  the Deepwater Program
• Based on Bell Helicopter TR918 experimental
  platform
• Deepwater is working to field the VUAV onboard
  the USCG National Security Cutter (NSC) in the
  2013 timeframe
• VUAV will support maritime homeland security,
  search and rescue missions, enforcement of laws
  and treaties including illegal drug interdiction,
  marine environmental protection, and military
  preparedness
• Possible concept of operations involving
  ship-based Over the Horizon (OTH) reconnaissance
• Initial operational employment in support of NSC
  operations greater than 50 NM off-shore
• Construction of the first USCG VUAV will begin
  summer 2007

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USCG Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (VUAV)

• Bell Eagle Eye HV-911
• Number Planned 45
• Maximum Airspeed 220 KTS
• Cruise Speed 185 KTS
• Endurance 3.0 hours _at_ 100 NM
• Dimensions Height 5.7 ft
• Length 17 ft
• Wing Span 15.2 ft

Notional/Proposed specs
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(CBP/AM Placeholder)
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Considerations for Domestic UAS Use
Saving Lives on the Ground Requires Ensuring
Safety of Flight in the Skies

• Airspace De-confliction
• Under any circumstances, UAS use in domestic
  airspace must be carefully managed to ensure
  de-confliction with manned flights
• Requires clear understanding of whos in charge
  of enforced airspace restrictions
• Requires clear understanding of the operating
  capabilities, limiting factors, of UAS platforms
• In disaster response situations, USCG, state,
  local, other agencies conduct extensive
  helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) missions
• 48-96 hours after a significant incident
• Local airspace management for low-level flights
• DHS Science Technology (ST) will investigate
  sense avoid technology for UAS use in domestic
  airspace
• Other considerations
• Ensure information-sharing architectures, imagery
  libraries, and UAS geospatial products and/or
  data are made accessible to all interested, and
  authorized, users
• Define specific circumstances/authorities for UAS
  operation in the National Airspace

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Comments and Questions

• DHS ISR Branch
• Michael Clements
• michael.clements_at_dhs.gov
• 202.282.8118

U.S. Coast Guard CDR Todd Schmidt todd.a.schmidt_at_u
scg.dhs.gov 202.372.2215
CBP Air Marine Office Shawn McLemore shawn.mclem
ore_at_dhs.gov 202.344.3649