Insitu ScanEagle assists US, NATO forces

Insitu Inc. announced today that its ScanEagle unmanned aircraft system (UAS) assisted US and NATO Forces in their mission to protect civilians and reduce the flow of arms to Libya.

During a 72-hour counter-terrorism surge supporting Operation Unified Protector (OUP), the ScanEagle UAS was operated organically aboard USS Mahan (DDG 72) to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support. In strong winds, ScanEagle performed cooperatively with a host of US and NATO participating forces.

"What happened over that period of time, no one expected," said ScanEagle Detachment Officer in Charge Lt. Nick Townsend. "ScanEagle was locating contacts of interest that no one else could find. After the dust settled, ScanEagle was credited with locating a host of contacts of interest due to its ability to capture superior image quality and to operate covertly at relatively low altitudes."

About a month earlier, a highly experienced team from Insitu operating aboard USS Mahan analyzed how ScanEagle was being used and how it might be operated more effectively. Based on the analysis, the team notified the command that if the opportunity arose, it was certain the ScanEagle UAS could successfully perform a variety of mission support tasks.

While the USS Mahan team waited to hear back from command about additional tasking orders, it continued to operate ScanEagle, performing routine ISR missions.

When the call came to support OUP, the USS Mahan team and ScanEagle were ready. Once on station, the team made an immediate impact, locating and classifying high value contacts of interest.

Imagery was delivered by secure networked channels from the ship to the task force through the Secure Video Injection system provided by Insitu parent The Boeing Company. This gave decision makers the rapid, near real-time video needed to make quick, tactical decisions.

Later coordinating with an AWACS team, the USS Mahan ScanEagle team drew on ScanEagle's 24-hour endurance to support additional phases of the mission, including battle damage assessment: ScanEagle delivered real-time, full-color imagery that was used to improve overall battlefield awareness and mission effectiveness. Townsend described ScanEagle as providing "shockingly effective combat support."

The three-day tasking demonstrated how easily and effectively ScanEagle can be integrated into highly complex operations. The USS Mahan team demonstrated the ability to employ ScanEagle to obtain precise imagery rapidly for actionable intelligence. "They (operational commanders) say 'put the camera here' and we put the camera there without going through layers of complex coordination. We get essential information directly to the decision makers fast," said Insitu ScanEagle Site Lead Samuel Young.

ScanEagle contract services through Insitu have a proven track record, maintaining a 99 percent mission-readiness rate and the ability to respond to time-sensitive, unplanned tasking within 30 minutes of notification. On this deployment, ScanEagle's second aboard USS Mahan, the team achieved a 100 percent mission-readiness rate, accruing 1,154 flight hours and 167 sorties.

"We go out on the ships and we integrate with the crew. Any success that we have is a reflection of them," said Young.

Source: Insitu