Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) Rapid Integration and fielding process (RAIN)

Abstract

The Department of the Navy (DoN) maintains an inventory of Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (STUAS). These systems are designed for payload modularity to support user selection of multiple mission configurations in order to meet any unique mission need. Numerous mission ready payloads have been developed for each system, and only need to be integrated in order to become part of the fielded unmanned aerial system (UAS) configuration. Unfortunately, the DoN does not have a method that maintains sufficient systems engineering (SE) discipline to rapidly integrate and field new mission configurations to the fleet in support of aggressive schedules and urgent user needs. The typical fielding time frame can range from 24 to 36 months, instead of the desired 6 to 18 months. Furthermore, without a sufficient SE approach, risk to mission success is not well understood. This paper captures all applicable requirements for fielding a new capability onto an existing UAS, and using an SE approach, outlines a process to rapidly integrate payloads DoN system. The process identified provides a comprehensive list of integration requirements; a cost, schedule, and performance trade-off analysis; technical risk associated with each tradeoff option; and recommendations on how to best support a rapid fielding timeline.