DoD updates joint UAV-control doctrine - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

DoD updates joint UAV-control doctrine

Less than a month after news reports about Iraqi insurgents hacking into UAV video feeds, the Pentagon has published a doctrine calling for better protection of data links between such aircraft and their control stations.

Requested by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Michael Mullen, the Jan. 12 document, “Command and Control for Joint Air Operations,” lays out a framework for all aspects of military aircraft operations in combat zones.

In general, it says, drone operations “should be treated similarly to manned aircraft” with regard to established doctrine, but their communications links are especially critical and must be protected since they are what ensure the planes’ safe operation and return home.

The document makes no specific reference to enemies hacking into drone feeds to monitor or control the planes. But it says “communications security, and specifically bandwidth protection (from both friendly interference and adversary action) is imperative.”

Iraqi insurgents have hacked into unsecured, line-of-sight and possibly satellite video feeds for the drones and, in some cases, were able to use this to receive early warning of U.S. actions. In December, DoD officials downplayed the risks, said they had known about the problem for a decade, and said a fix was on the way.

The new document, which updates joint air operations doctrine published in 2003, says that when data links fail in combat it can be tough to get a UAV back to its base.

“Although [UAVs] can be programmed to return to base upon loss of communications, they rely on a nearly continuous stream of communications [for both flight control and payload] to successfully complete a mission,” it says.

UAV operators must ensure that aircraft are able to fly home without interfering with other aircraft, it says.

“Another emergency planning factor is the potential for recovery of armed UA into an emergency divert base,” it says. “Typically the divert base will incorporate a compatible launch and recovery elements to ensure safe UA recovery.”