Expanded kill chain analysis of manned-unmanned teaming for future strike operations

Abstract

This study explores the concept of manned-unmanned teaming in the context of the joint capability areas and investigates the expanded kill chain for a manned and unmanned team for future strike operations. The study first elucidated capabilities that can be realized by manned-unmanned teams. A design reference mission for a manned-unmanned team (strike) operation was developed, enabling operational activity and functional analysis of the expanded kill chain. Simulation models were built to examine the time-efficiencies of the manned-unmanned teaming concept. This research used insights from the results of the models to explore alternatives in asset generation and systems link-up tactics. The analysis of strike operations cycle times that include total mission operations time, airborne time, and time to complete systems link-up provided data to generate recommendations. Besides identifying areas on which to focus efficiency improvement efforts, this study also proposes tactics and concept of operations to enhance the effectiveness of strike operations by manned-unmanned teams. This study reveals that fighter endurance is a limiting factor in manned-unmanned operations and proposes a synchronized launch or pre-launch establishment of communications and datalink as possible ways to mitigate these limiting factors.