Projects: USMC Excalibur UAV

Client: Aurora Flight Sciences

Title: USMC Excalibur Armed Reconnaissance UAV

Summary: JHNA provides Concept Development, Requirements Definition, and System Architecture support to the Aurora Flight Sciences Excalibur Program. This program is a revolutionary new design in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) which features a unique vertical take-off capability complemented with superior dash speed. The Excalibur will expand the operating capability for UAS's with its unique flight profiles and its ability to act autonomously. JHNA associates have provided Concept of Operations (CONOPS) to show how Excalibur can improve the Marine Corps ship to shore capability in support of Over-the-Horizon operations. Associates have used these CONOPS to develop system requirements for the system.

The JHNA and Aurora team has worked with the US Army, Aviation Advanced Technology Directorate, to validate the usefulness of Excalibur for Army Aviation. This work included CONOPS Development, evaluating candidate sensor suites for the system, evaluating potential weapons and other payload options, defining shipboard compatibility requirements, and culminated in several lengthy and technical papers suitable for inclusion in an Initial Capabilities Document.

Deliverables: Eleven tactical vignettes describing various offensive and defensive concepts illustrating the proposed employment of the Excalibur system in support of operations. Detailed requirements assessment decomposed from the entire CONOPS. Proposed metrics to assess Excalibur in a tactical environment and an Initial Capabilities Document.

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