FEASIBILITY OF INDIRECT FIRE FOR COUNTERING SWARMS OF SMALL UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS

Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) technology struggles to keep up with the evolving threat posed by drones. This threat is compounded by the advent of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) operating together to accomplish tasks as an autonomous entity known as a swarm. The miniaturization of these devices, coupled with rapid growth in their capabilities, presents a challenging problem that must be addressed. This work explores the design of a counter-swarm indirect fire capability within the existing Marine Corps ground-based air defense and fire support framework. In doing so, this thesis presents a novel solution by defining the parameters of an artillery shell with effects designed to disrupt SUAS operations. Such a shell would target the electromagnetic spectrum vulnerabilities of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) by utilizing expendable jammers delivered as a payload in a cargo-carrying projectile. This capability is likely to be effective against the swarm threat and can be used from the rear in support of units under SUAS attack anywhere within range of the artillery piece.

Department dc:contributor.department

Information Sciences (IS)

Grantor dc:publisher

Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Parsons, Matthew D.

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Buettner, Raymond R.
• Fisher, Edward L.

Statement dc:rights

• This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10945/65419

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:calhoun.nps.edu:10945/65419