U.S
Representative Randy Forbes (R-VA) wants the U.S. Navy to build an unmanned
carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike aircraft (UCLASS) with more
emphasis on the “strike” than the “surveillance.” According to his official website:
“History is filled with militaries being caught flat-footed by changes to
modern warfare, or actually resisting the adoption of new technologies needed
to succeed on the battlefield,” Congressman Forbes said. “The U.S. Congress has
often played a critical role in military innovation, whether the dawn of the
aircraft carrier or the introduction of unmanned aerial
vehicles.
America’s future security requires a vigorous Congressional role in military
innovation, encouraging the utilization of new technologies and asking the
tough questions of our military leaders to ensure a military prepared for the
challenges of the 21
st century.”
Furthermore:
“Like Secretary [of the Navy] Mabus, I strongly believe
that the UCLASS program represents the future of our Navy’s carrier air wing
and American power projection capabilities. To achieve that goal, UCLASS must
include a requirement for aerial refueling, survivability, lethality, and
payload to have enduring utility in tomorrow's threat environment. In short,
this platform must have the ability to operate and survive in contested
environments," Congressman Forbes said. “Getting this program right today
is essential to cementing our Navy’s advantages in the decades to come.”
Then there’s
this:
Document: House Seapower and Projection Forces Mark on
the Fiscal Year 2015 Defense Budget
Section 2XX
—
Limitation on Availability of Funds for Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne
Surveillance and Strike System This section would prohibit the Secretary of the
Navy from awarding a contract for the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne
Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) system air vehicle segment until the Secretary
of Defense completes a UCLASS requirements review and provides the results of
that review to the congressional defense committees
And this:
House
Committee Seeks to Stall UCLASS Program Pending New Pentagon Unmanned Aviation
Study
"According to Congressional sources, the many HASC [House Armed Services
Committee] Congressmen — including sea power chairman Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.)
— were not pleased with the requirements the Navy set forth for the program.
"Instead of a stealthy deep penetrating strike aircraft that many in the
national security establishment had called for, the Navy had instead tailored
the requirements for the UCLASS to conduct intelligence, surveillance and
reconnaissance (ISR) missions over uncontested airspace with only a light
secondary strike capability."
The Senate
is concerned as well:
Senate
Panel Wants Pentagon to Craft ‘Stable Requirements’ for UCLASS
“The
Committee is concerned that the Navy is proceeding with UCLASS development
prior to the formal establishment of stable requirements,” reads the SAC
[Senate Appropriations Committee]-D mark.
To watch a
discussion of the choices faced by the Navy in developing the UCLASS system,
see this footage:
