Puma Goes to Sea (Again)

U.S. 5TH FLEET AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY (Sept. 25, 2012) U.S. Navy Senior Chief Engineman Bradley Williamson, left, and Engineman 1st Class Michael Lamb assigned to Riverine Squadron Two, Detachment Three, conducts pre-flight checks on the Puma AE (Pointer Upgraded Mission Ability – All Environment) aircraft aboard Royal Fleet Auxiliary amphibious landing dock vessel RFA Cardigan Bay (L3009), as Royal Navy minehunter HMS Shoreham (M112) operates nearby. The U.S. Navy is currently testing Puma AE for land and shipboard operations in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Responsibility (AOR). U.S. 5th Fleet's mission is to conduct maritime security operations, defeat violent extremism and strengthen partner nations' maritime capabilities in order to promote security and stability in the U.S. Central Command AOR. (Royal Navy photo/Released)

Continuing a recent string of articles on unmanned air vehicles, this month's US Naval Institute's Proceedings features an article (membership required) by CDR Rich Lebron, Commanding Officer of the destroyer USS Benfold (DDG-65) and two other officers in his wardroom.  The piece highlights recent at-sea testing of the Puma AE small tactical unmanned aerial system onboard Benfold last year.

The article discusses the utility that even a short-range, hand-launched UAV can bring to a surface combatant.  Benfold tested the Puma off the California Coast against simulated small boat attacks and to monitor a visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) exercise with similar results.

Lebron et al conclude that despite range limitations, the Puma is quite suitable for use by independent steaming surface combatants such as Benfold, which usually operates without external support on long duration ballistic-missile-defense missions.  It is affordable, requires no additional crew, little additional training, and provides a much-needed aerial surveillance capability for Flight I Arleigh Burke destroyers that normally don't embark helicopters.  Benfold's Puma testing follows additional at-sea demonstrations of the UAS in the Middle East and Western Pacific the past few years.  Given this amount of operational validation, it's time for the Navy to decide whether or not to make a minimal investment to provide its non-helicopter equipped ships an organic aerial intelligence, surveillance, and reconaissance capability.