By Geoff Fein
The planned consolidation of the Director of Naval Intelligence (N2) and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Communications Networks (N6) calls for the transfer of nearly all Navy unmanned air vehicles (UAV) as well as major intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities into the new N2/N6.
According to a July 27 document titled “CNO Approved Alignment of Resources,” the Deputy CNO Integration of Capabilities & Resources (N8) will give up platforms ranging from the manned EP-3 and the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye, to Global Hawk, Fire Scout, the Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS), the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) system, and the Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS).
In a recent interview with Defense Daily, CNO Adm. Gary Roughead said if the Navy continues to use unmanned systems as it has done with its manned systems, he isn’t sure the service will see that much of an operational gain (Defense Daily, July 24).
“But if you can come up with different ways of deploying networks and control structures that are different than what you had, then I think you can realize a quantity improvement,” Roughead said in the interview last month.
According to Roughead, merging N2 and N6 into a single entity will ensure the fleet is provided the right information in a timely manner so that it can be used effectively.
Additionally, exploring other ways to deploy networks and sensors will become important as the Navy continues to develop its unmanned systems programs, the CNO added.
In the June memo to Vice Adm. David Dorsett (N2), Roughead said the nature of operations today demands a whole-warfighting approach to how the service plans, resources, and assesses its operational and combat capabilities (Defense Daily, July 2).
“The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) must be organized to achieve the integration and innovation necessary for warfighting dominance across the full spectrum of operations at sea, under the sea, in the air, in the littorals, and in the cyberspace and information domain,” Roughead said in his memo.
A source said the proposed realignment of programs under the new N2/N6 is a working document and is not set in concrete. Roughead has yet to sign off on the document.
According to the document, in addition to aircraft systems, the new N2/N6 will also become the resource sponsor for the:
- Surveillance towed-array sensor system (SURTASS);
- Space systems and surveillance;
- Submarine Communications Equipment;
- Aerial Common Sensor;
- Tactical Control Sensor;
- Airborne Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Intelligence;
- Airborne Reconnaissance System;
- Tactical Airborne Reconnaissance;
- Space & Electronic Warfare Systems;
- AN/SLQ-32 electronic Warfare System;
- ALQ-99 Tactical Jamming System; and
- Next Generation Jammer.
Some of the systems proposed for transfer to N2/N6 might raise questions, including N-UCAS, Fire Scout and STUAS. Those systems don’t seem to fall into the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance category that many of the other systems do.