The Raven Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV), investigating potential dichotomies between doctrine and practice
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Authors
Jenkins, Glenn E.
Snodgrass, William J., Jr.
Subjects
Raven
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
SUAV
Raven SUAV
Dragon eye
Future Combat Systems (FCS) Class I/II UAV
Shadow
Predator
AeroVironment
Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
SUAV
Raven SUAV
Dragon eye
Future Combat Systems (FCS) Class I/II UAV
Shadow
Predator
AeroVironment
Advisors
Matthews, David F.
Franck, Raymond
Date of Issue
2005-06
Date
Publisher
Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The goal of this MBA Project is to investigate possible disconnects between doctrine and practice in the employment of the Raven Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV). The Army's current Small UAV requirements are based upon the Future Combat System's Operations Requirements Document and has not been validated at the platoon or company level. The Raven SUAV is a Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) item that swiftly became the Army's Small UAV of choice for operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Doctrine and Techniques, Tactics, and Procedures (TTP) have been written for the Raven SUAV; however, it is not standard practice for all units operating the system abroad. The last review of the SUAV operational requirements was conducted in 2003 but did not specifically address its usage on the battlefield. In an attempt to fill that gap, this project focuses on real-world usage of the Raven SUAV system. We compare doctrine versus practice using the Department of Defense's (DOD) Doctrine, Organization, Training, Material, Leadership, Personnel, Facilities (DOTML-PF) model as the primary logic construct. The report begins by providing a background of the Raven SUAV, to include its evolution from a COTS item to the Army's SUAV of choice, and how it has impacted the warfighter. Next, the authors provide an overview of DOTML-PF in order to provide a basis for comparing doctrine and practice. The study then looks in-depth at doctrine and practice using DOTML-PF as the model for revealing differences between the two. Finally, the authors analyze these differences and recommend solutions to mitigate shortfalls in actual Raven SUAV usage on the battlefield.
Type
Thesis
Description
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NPS Report Number
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Funding
Format
xvi, 57 p. :|bill. (some col.) ;|c28 cm.
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.