What are the Military Mission Areas of UAV Systems?

Tactical Field Reconnaissance/Surveillance (TFS)

It is intended to meet the instant image intelligence needs of the units in the battlefield. The characteristics of UAV systems that will fulfil this mission may vary depending on the size of the unit whose reconnaissance/surveillance needs are met and its distance to the forward line. In general, it is expected to have forward line portability and deployability features, and to undertake artillery fire control tasks. 

When the existing products used for this purpose are analysed, it is seen that they can be divided into three main groups depending on the payload capacity and flight time. 

The first group, called TKG-1, consists of UAVs that are launched manually and landed on the fuselage or by parachute. The second group, called TKG-2, consists of UAVs that take off and land from relatively short runways. Fixed-wing UAVs, which are launched by ramp and landed by parachute, are referred to as the TKG-3 group.

When the existing systems are analysed, studies are being carried out to meet the features such as portability, deployability and ease of use required by tactical field reconnaissance and surveillance missions with rotary wing (helicopter/VTOL) UAV systems in addition to fixed wing systems.

Strategic Reconnaissance/Surveillance (SCS)

This mission is intended to meet high-resolution imagery intelligence requirements over a wide area from higher altitudes than tactical field missions. 

The characteristics of UAV systems that will fulfil this mission may vary depending on the scale of the operation and the size of the area covered. In general, they have all-weather mission capability and high flight time in the mission area. The payloads they carry are mostly capable of marking and distance measurement, and they can also undertake functions such as providing direct intelligence to forward units. 

When the existing products used for this purpose are analysed, it is seen that fixed-wing structures are generally used and are basically divided into two main groups depending on the payload capacity and mission altitude.

Strategic Reconnaissance/Surveillance UAV Systems

Strategic Offence

Strategic offensive is an air operation against strategic resources that will reduce the enemy's strategic capabilities and the ability and determination to wage war. The most prominent targets of this type of operation are the enemy's leadership, communication, transportation, energy and production facilities. 

By using strategic UAV systems, these targets will be detected and destroyed by manned combat aircraft and combat UAVs. Combat UAV systems can be used instead of manned aircraft in these missions, which are carried out in areas where the enemy air defence threat is at a high level. Of course, the UAVs that will perform this mission must have the capability and capability to protect themselves. 

Attack - Internal Security (IS)

It is aimed at eliminating time-critical targets (targets of opportunity) that appear instantaneously in the area determined as a target with image intelligence. Aircrafts are required to carry light weapons suitable for the mission and payloads suitable for the guidance of these weapons. In the existing examples, it is seen that this mission requirement is mostly met by fixed wing aircraft due to their longer time in the air.

Attack - Close Air Support (Close Air Support)

In this mission, it is the process of suppressing pre-determined or instantaneous targets with effective firepower. It is carried out in parallel with the reconnaissance/surveillance mission, as in the Internal Security operation. Air systems should be capable of carrying different types and calibres of weapons for armoured or unarmoured ground targets at the same time. 

Assault - Air Defence Systems Destruction (ASD)

Very high survivability is expected as they have to fly in close proximity to high-threat enemy air defence systems. This requires stealth aircraft that are difficult to be detected by radar. These aircraft are required to be able to detect enemy radars with Radar Electronic Support systems and to carry missiles and/or laser guided bombs internally.

The aim is to neutralise enemy air defence elements and fighter aircraft and destroy enemy elements at their source as much as possible in order to ensure air superiority. With combat UAV systems, it is aimed to perform air-ground attack, interception, protection and Suppression/Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD/DEAD) missions.

With the use of UAVs in these dangerous missions, the loss of trained qualified personnel is prevented. In addition, human-induced limitations are prevented in high G manoeuvres, which are greatly needed in these missions. Efforts to develop UAV systems in line with these objectives are ongoing.

UAV Systems for IG, YHD, HSI

Attack - Airspace Defence (ASD)

In the operational environment of the future, manned and unmanned air, land, sea, submarine and air-space systems will carry out their joint operations in an environment where information and data from different sources are processed and managed from a single command and control centre, in constant communication with each other through Internet-like networks to be established in the air and space.

In addition to command and control, the radar, IFF and radio systems to be placed on these UAVs will be able to fulfil the tasks performed by Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft today. In this way, blind spots of land-based radars due to terrain unevenness will be prevented. In addition, due to the high number of personnel serving in such aircraft, the loss of qualified personnel in the event of aircraft loss is prevented, and missions can be carried out without the risk of personnel loss, especially in areas with high enemy air defence.

In the world, experimental air vehicle studies such as X-47A Pegasus, Phantom Ray, Taranis, nEUROn, etc. are currently being carried out for combat unmanned aerial vehicles (UCAV) with high altitude, high speed, high acceleration and high autonomy.

Target Simulation - Target Aircraft (HU)

It is a task for the use of UAVs in anti-aircraft and/or missile training of air defence units. It is preferred that the UAV used in the Target Simulation task has dynamics close to the flight performance of the simulated aircraft and/or missile. At the same time, since low cost and easy use are also aimed, this simulation may not be achieved exactly. In order to support training with different weapons, radar, thermal or visual signature enhancers and systems that measure firing success in anti-aircraft training are used in UAV systems to be developed for this task.

Unmanned Target Aircraft Systems 

Unmanned False Aircraft Systems

Target Simulation - Fake Aircraft (SU)

In this mission, enemy air defence systems are deceived and activated by decoy aircraft, so that they are either occupied, expend air defence ammunition or are located and destroyed by aircraft carrying ammunition. In this way, the security of attacking manned or unmanned aircraft is ensured. Depending on the concept of operation, dummy aircraft can be carried in multiples by attacking aircraft or launched from the ground with the help of buster rockets. The ability to create radar signatures of different types of aircraft is desirable. 

False aircraft concepts:

For ‘detection’ purposes, a false target with a high radar cross-sectional area is used to cause the target tracking radars of the enemy air defence system to switch to active mode. The ultimate goal is to detect the SAM positions where the target tracking radars are switched to active mode and to destroy these positions with HARM missiles or similar anti-radiation weapons. 

- In the use of ‘diversion’, the aim is to create confusion in enemy search radars by using a large number of false targets and to make it difficult to detect the real target among a large number of false targets. In addition, within the scope of different applications, the flight profiles of the false target systems dropped by the air platform can be programmed, and a false attack arm perception can be created in enemy air defence radar systems with multiple use. 

- ‘Deception’ aims to mislead a threatening surface-to-air or air-to-air guided missile system by preventing it from locking onto the real target with a large number of false targets in the air. 

- In the ‘deflection’ use, it is aimed to divert the guided missile system tracking cycle, which is in the finalisation phase, from the real target by creating a high level signal. In this use, false target and platform manoeuvre is the final application for platform self-protection. 

Electronic Warfare - Signal Intelligence (SI)

Basically, it is aimed to obtain intelligence information by listening to radar and/or communication broadcasts and analysing the received signals. It is preferred to perform the mission at high altitude and for a long time in order to facilitate receiving broadcasts from more sources. Payload capacity may vary depending on the scope of radar and/or communication missions. In the existing examples, it is seen that this mission requirement is met with systems of various sizes depending on the scope.

Radar Electronic Warfare - Jamming (REHK)

By broadcasting against the radars of enemy air defence systems, the aim is to cause the radar to lose one or more of its functions of detecting, tracking and guiding targets. The mission can be performed by broadcasting at high power (Stand-off Jamming/REHK-1) in a safer area within a certain range of the radar, or by using more limited power (Stand-In Jamming/REHK-2) at points close to the radar (in a high threat environment). The REHK-3 mission requires stealth aircraft that are difficult to be detected by radar. 

Communication Electronic Warfare - Jamming (MEHK)

These include neutralising all kinds of enemy communication systems, jamming GPS receivers, jamming the data links used by remotely controlled enemy systems. The use of these systems in UAVs is considered to have many advantages in terms of effectiveness. GPS jammers are used to mislead missile, weapon and aircraft systems using GPS, and to prevent the location of friendly weapon systems, ammunition and important people. Data Link Jammers are used to intercept information transmitted via data link from air platforms such as aircraft and helicopters, UAVs, Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems, and land and naval platforms.

Signal Intelligence UAV Systems, Radar Electronic Warfare / Jamming UAV Systems, Communication Electronic Warfare / Jamming UAV Systems 

Preventive Electronic Warfare (EW)

RCIED RF Jammers / Detonators are used to neutralise remote controlled explosives (RCIED). Application types are convoy protection, team protection, bomb disposal teams, anti-terror teams, high importance military/civilian buildings, VIP protection.