Subject: Small -Unmanned Aerial Systems (Group 1-2) – Dismounted Mitigation Shortfalls
For:
Senate XXXXXXXXX Committee:
Senate XXXXXXXXX Committee:
House XXXXXXXXX Subcommittee:
Secretary of Defense:
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment:
Executive Summary:
The United States is missing a comprehensive man portable Counter Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) weapon. The United States has been incredibly focused on Counter Unmanned Aerial System activities. To date the most effective results have been focused on protecting strategic assets and high value systems. What is lacking is a modular, flexible, upgradable, low-cost, man-portable solution.
The rise of Small UAS as weapons is reshaping military strategy in profound ways. It is forcing a rethinking of everything from combat operations to procurement priorities. Plumb Precision Products sees Small UAS influencing the future of warfare in the following ways:
Shift Toward Layered, Adaptive Defense
Traditional air defense systems were designed to counter large, high-speed threats. Small-UAS systems are forcing the implementation of multi-layered defense architectures that integrate radar, RF sensors, AI, and directed energy weapons to handle both singular UAS and coordinated Small UAS swarms. This shift demands more agile command structures, decentralized decision-making, and more Counter UAS capability at the small unit level.
Emphasis on Cost-Effective Engagement
The economics of drone warfare are brutal: a $1,000 drone can force a $3 million missile launch. As a result, there is a need for low-cost, scalable Counter UAS systems. This rebalancing is influencing defense budgets and acquisition strategies. Cost effective C-UAS strategies is Plumb Precision Products focus.
Integration of AI in Target Engagement
AI is becoming central to Counter UAS efforts. AI is used for real-time threat analysis, target prioritization, and autonomous response. Plumb Precision Products is utilizing AI in its Individual Drone Detection System. This is accelerating the automation of battlefield decision-making, especially in high-speed engagements where human reaction time is the limiting factor.
Doctrinal and Training Overhaul
Counter-drone operations are prompting updates to military doctrine, rules of engagement, and training programs. U.S. forces must train to treat the lower airspace as contested territory, with new training regimens for drone detection, identification, and interdiction. Plumb Precision Products will highlight the effects Small UAS has on operations elsewhere in this document.
Strategic Reassessment of Air Superiority
Small UAS is blurring the lines between air and ground dominance. Maintaining air superiority now includes defending against threats that fly below radar and strike with little warning. This is influencing how militaries plan for base defense, convoy protection, and urban operations.
To date, this man portable capability, with the needed attributes, has been largely ignored by DoD developmental efforts for the small unit and individual combatant.
Plumb Precision Products (P3) has been developing exactly this type of system. Multiple submissions into SBIR, X tech, AEWE, and other DoD experimentation programs have yet to yield results. Support is strong when P3 has been able to present solutions to decision makers. The lack of a comprehensive solution for Small UAS is directly related to a lack of awareness to the solutions available. There are also various parts of the Department of Defense, U.S. Government, and our allies that see the threat from their own perspectives.
Plumb Precision Products seeks to illuminate decision makers to the treats posed by Small UAS and our efforts to mitigate them for the last 3 years. This will help drive requirements and capability documents. All with the goal of providing our forces the best defense against this new and transformative threat.
Francis M. Plumb
Plumb Precision Products
Founder
CW2, SF (R)
The remainder of the document (15 pages) is available on request
