CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
(CONOPS)
As Of: 23 Jun 08
Joint Capability Technology Demonstration
(JCTD) FY08
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
AGENDA
• CONOP Background
• Operational Situation & Vignettes
• Terms and Definitions
• CONOP mission Outline
• CONOP Graphic Depictions
• Backup Slides
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
2
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
CONOP Background
• Global War on Terror has increased operational demand
on SOF
• Small ground teams or task forces are inserted into
austere, non & semi-permissive environments
• Task Forces are responsibility for large areas of terrain,
against larger forces with limited supply
• Acquired intelligence is time sensitive & requires
immediate targeting
• Ground force’s ability to command and control assets
over long distances for extended periods is limited by
supplies, sensors, weapons and specialized equipment
that can be carried organically
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
3
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Functional Impacts of CAMS
• Strategic: Increase the combat effectiveness of the
available SOF soldiers. Provide Task Force Commander
the ability to control more real estate with his assigned
manpower.
• Operational: Autonomous nature of CAMS will simplify
the task of coordinating assets within the assigned Area
of Responsibility. CAMS on-board processing allows
auto recon, screening of imagery, system alerts, &
apportionment of data throughout the local grid.
• Tactical: Limit exposure of SOF soldiers to direct hostile
fire and offload specific tactical tasks. Allows warfighter
to concentrate effort on most critical tasks as determined
by on-scene commander.
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
4
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Operational Situation
• Location: Middle East / Central Asia
• Hostile actions by insurgents are hampering attempts to stabilize
political environment in many rural areas
• Application of Unconventional Warfare tactics by SOF is seen as the
most appropriate response
• SOF is required to establish semi-permanent forward operating
locations from which to develop local intelligence, establish rapport
with friendly local forces and develop a plan for counter-insurgency
operations. These locations are outside major urban areas.
• Forward operating base (FOB) will normally house a Task Force
Command and multiple Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA) Team
Houses within a secure perimeter. Additional Team Houses are
dispersed throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR)
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
5
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Vignettes
Tactical Situation #1
• Intelligence reports indicate that insurgent groups
are mobilizing within the AOR with the intent of
disrupting SOF base camp operations. Possible
insurgent tactics include random indirect fire
against the FOB, the covert placement of
Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) inside or
near the FOB perimeter, and attacks on patrols
operating outside the perimeter. Outside patrols
could expect aimed direct fire (snipers and
ambushes) and attack by IED - either an isolated
attack or in conjunction with direct fire/ambush.
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
6
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Vignettes
Tactical Situation #2
• Insurgent groups have demonstrated tactics that
minimize their direct contact with SOF, while
simultaneously inflicting maximum casualties. As
a consequence, the frequency of IED attacks
against supply convoys servicing satellite team
houses has been increasing.
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
7
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Vignettes
Tactical Situation #3
• Insurgent groups have made a concerted effort to
take over specific neighborhoods and villages
within the AOR. Their presence is evidenced by
manned check points restricting the flow of
vehicular traffic, roving armed patrols, and sniper
activity. Their presence has resulted in
increased violent activity and an erosion of the
security of the local population.
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
8
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Terms and Definitions
Operational Detachment Alpha (ODA): Smallest SOF command level; 12 man team, may
operate within fixed operating base or from a satellite location; will have organic assets
to include TCU in a command post configuration and CAMS enabled vehicles
Special Operations Task Force (SOTF): SOF command level responsible for ?; will have
organic assets to include TCU in a command post configuration and CAMS enabled
vehicles
Tactical Control Unit (TCU): System providing the Soldier Machine interface to CAMS;
scalable: dismounted, vehicle mounted, or command post
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV): Raven or Surrogate system will be employed
CAMS-L: CAMS equipped vehicle configured for re-supply mission
CAMS-R: CAMS equipped vehicle configured for reconnaissance mission
CAMS-M: CAMS equipped vehicle configured for MEDEVAC mission
CAMS-CP: CAMS equipped vehicle configured for mobile CAMS command
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
9
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Terms and Definitions Contd.
Standard NGA Products: Terrain and geospatial intelligence products that
would normally be available to SOF; includes digital terrain elevation data,
overhead imagery, and digital maps
Updated World Model: Model of the CAMS operating environment where
Standard NGA products have been appended with data collected by CAMS
onboard sensors
Cooperative Traffic: All vehicles are assumed to follow rules of the road;
vehicles and dismounts are aware of and respect CAMS vehicles
Non-cooperative Traffic: Vehicles may not follow rules of the road; vehicles
or dismounts may impede CAMS vehicle progress
Permissive Environment: No hostile intent toward CAMS vehicles assumed
Semi-permissive Environment: Actions toward CAMS vehicles can not be
assumed as either hostile or friendly
Non-permissive Environment: Action toward CAMS vehicles is assumed to
be hostile
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
10
UNCLASSIFIED
// FOUO
CAMS CONOPS
I.
Base Camp Support
1.
Resupply within the perimeter (Cooperative traffic on and off road in permissive to semi-permissive environments)
a.
Move from point A to B and return to point A (spoke)
b.
Move from point A to B to C to D and return to A (circuit)
c.
Point to Point after Contact
2.
MEDEVAC (Cooperative traffic on and off road in permissive to semi-permissive environments)
3.
Perimeter Security (Cooperative traffic on and off road in permissive to semi-permissive environments)
a.
Fixed sector/position scan
b.
Mobile circuit sector scan
4.
Aerial UAV Operations
II. Extended Perimeter/Area Support
1.
Fixed LP-OP (Cooperative to non-cooperative traffic in semi-permissive to non-permissive environments)
a.
Close-in ~ 500 meters
b.
Far-out ~ 5-7 kilometers
2.
Area Recon (Cooperative to non-cooperative traffic in semi-permissive to non-permissive environments)
a.
Rural
b.
Urban
3.
Aerial UAV Operations
4.
Call for Fire
III. Convoy Ops
20 to 30 kilometer distance from start to finish
(Cooperative to non-cooperative traffic in semi-permissive to non-permissive environments)
1.
Resupply in Urban Environment
2.
Aerial UAV Operations
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
11
Mission Sets
1. Resupply within Perimeter
a. Point to Point Routine
b. Circuit (Multiple Points)
c. Point to Point after Contact
I. Base Camp Support
(Resupply within the Perimeter)
SATCOM to
Higher HQ
2. MEDEVAC
Levels of Apriori Data – Operating Modes
i. Std NGA Products – CAMS travels autonomously
to point not previously visited
ii. Std NGA Products - CAMS trails autonomously
behind manned vehicle
iii. Updated World Model – CAMS travels
autonomously to point previously visited.
TCU
CAMS-L
Threat
TCU
1b
CAMS-L
Terms
SOTF: Special Operations Task Force
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha
TCU: Tactical Control Unit
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
CAMS-L: CAMS equipped vehicle-Logistics
CAMS-M: CAMS equipped vehicle-MEDEVAC
SOTF
TCU
Base Camp Network
& Perimeter
Mission Sets
3.
4.
Security within the Perimeter
a.
Fixed
i.
Point Scan
ii.
Sector Scan
b.
Mobile Circuit Scan
UAV Aerial Scan
I. Base Camp Support
(Security within the Perimeter)
SATCOM to
Higher HQ
CAMS-R
Threat
3b
TCU
TCU
TCU
SOTF
CAMS-R
Terms
SOTF: Special Operations Task Force
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha
TCU: Tactical Control Unit
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
CAMS-R: CAMS equipped vehicle-Recon
Base Camp Network
& Perimeter
Mission Sets
1.
2.
3.
II. Extended Perimeter/Area Support
Fixed LP/OP
a.
Close ~500m
b.
Far 5-7 km
Area Recon
a.
Rural
Aerial UAV Scan
(Security outside the Perimeter)
UAV
SATCOM to
Higher HQ
Threat
Communication Relay
may be required
3
CAMS-R
1b
5-7 km
TCU
Threat
Terms
SOTF: Special Operations Task Force
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha
TCU: Tactical Control Unit
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
CAMS-R: CAMS equipped vehicle-Recon
SOTF
Base Camp Network
& Perimeter
Mission Sets
1.
2.
3.
4.
II. Extended Perimeter/Area Support
LP/OP
b.
Far 5-7 km
Area Recon
b.
Urban
UAV Aerial Scan
Call for Fire
(Security outside the Perimeter Continued)
SATCOM to
Higher HQ
UAV
Threat
Threat
CAMS-R
3
1b
5-7 km
2b
TCU
SOTF
Terms
SOTF: Special Operations Task Force
TCU: Tactical Control Unit
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
CAMS-R: CAMS equipped vehicle-Recon
Base Camp Network
& Perimeter
Mission Sets
1.
2.
III. Convoy Operations
External Resupply
UAV Aerial Scan
(Outside the Perimeter)
SATCOM to
Higher HQ
2
TM-Z
TM-X
2
TCU
SOTF
Terms
SOTF: Special Operations Task Force
ODA: Operational Detachment Alpha
TCU: Tactical Control Unit
UAV: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
CAMS-L: CAMS equipped vehicle-Logistics
CAMS-CP: CAMS equipped vehicle - Command
Base Camp Network
& Perimeter
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Resupply within Perimeter – Routine
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by SOTF – regularly scheduled resupply of
subordinate units
• Mission Plan Details - Define waypoints for path to desired resupply
points
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility to desired points unless
ANS conflicts encountered
• Assets Employed
– SOTF-controlled UGVs
– TCUs at both SOTF and ODA
• Major Actors
– SOTF: Plan mission, load vehicle, notify receiving units, initiate
mission execution, monitor vehicle, transfer/assume control when
appropriate, resolve ANS conflicts
– ODA(s): Monitor vehicle when notified, transfer/assume control
when appropriate, unload vehicle, re-initiate mission execution
Resupply
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
17
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Resupply within Perimeter – Urgent
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA – Result of contact or other immediate need
• Mission Plan Details - Define waypoints for path to desired resupply
points
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility to desired points unless ANS
conflicts encountered
• Assets Employed
– SOTF-controlled UGVs
– TCUs at both SOTF and ODA
• Major Actors
– SOTF: Plan mission, load vehicle, initiate mission execution, monitor
vehicle, transfer/assume control when appropriate, notify receiving
units, resolve ANS conflicts
– ODA(s): Monitor vehicle when notified, transfer/assume control when
appropriate, unload vehicle, re-initiate mission execution
Resupply
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
18
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
MEDEVAC
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA – Request for immediate MEDEVAC, troops
in contact
• Mission Plan Details - Define waypoints for path to desired pick up
point and return to casualty collection point
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility to desired points unless
ANS conflicts encountered
• Assets Employed
– SOTF-controlled UGV or ODA-controlled UGV
– TCUs at both SOTF and ODA
• Major Actors
– SOTF: Plan (or re-plan) mission, initiate mission execution,
monitor vehicle, transfer/assume control when appropriate, notify
receiving units, resolve ANS conflicts
– ODA(s): Monitor vehicle when notified, transfer/assume control
when appropriate, load vehicle, re-initiate mission execution
Resupply
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
19
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Fixed Point Recon
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA – to satisfy perimeter security or support
specific mission task, UGV moves to a fixed point to maintain over
watch of designated target area
• Mission Plan Details - Define waypoints for path to desired LP/OP;
define target area
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility to desired points unless
ANS conflicts encountered; automated recon with Aided Target
Recognition
• Assets Employed
– ODA-controlled UGV
– TCUs at ODA
• Major Actors
– ODA: Plan mission, initiate mission execution, monitor vehicle,
resolve ANS conflicts, monitor recon products, share recon
product/produce reports with other units within BOTNET
Perimeter
Recon
Close
Recon
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Far
Recon
20
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Mobile Recon
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA – to satisfy perimeter security or support
specific mission task, UGV moves into and traverses a designated
target area
• Mission Plan Details - Define waypoints for path to desired target
area; define search pattern within target area, define specific areas of
interest
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility along desired points and
within target area unless ANS conflicts encountered; automated
recon with Aided Target Recognition
• Assets Employed
– ODA-controlled UGV
– TCUs at ODA
• Major Actors
– ODA: Plan mission, initiate mission execution, monitor vehicle,
resolve ANS conflicts, monitor recon products, share recon
product/produce reports with other units within BOTNET
Perimeter
Security
Close
Recon
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Far
Recon
21
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
UAV Operations
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA or SOTF– to satisfy or support specific
mission task, UAV moves as necessary to maintain over watch of
designated target area
• Mission Plan Details – Define waypoints along flight path, identify
target area
• Level of Autonomy – autonomous mobility along designated flight
profile and over target area; manual modes available
• Assets Employed
– SOTF or ODA-controlled UAV
– TCUs at SOTF or ODA
• Major Actors
– SOTF or ODA: Plan mission, initiate mission execution, monitor
UAV, monitor recon products, share recon product/produce
reports with other units within BOTNET
Perimeter
Recon
Close
Recon
Far
Recon
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Convoy
Ops
22
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Call for Fire
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by ODA – to direct immediate fire on perishable
targets identified through other recon activities
• Mission Plan Details – Not Applicable
• Level of Autonomy – Automated recon with Aided Target Recognition
• Assets Employed
– ODA-controlled UGV
– TCUs at ODA
– SOTF-controlled organic indirect fire weapons
• Major Actors
– ODA: Monitor recon products, identify perishable targets, share
target info and fire re-direction to Fire Team
– Fire Team: Deliver fire based on targeting info provided by ODA
Far
Recon
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
23
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
Convoy Operations
Mission Details
• Mission initiated by SOTF – to satisfy routine resupply of satellite
units outside the perimeter
• Mission Plan Details – Define waypoints along route, ?
• Level of Autonomy – Vehicles within Convoy maintain track and
spacing as defined in mission plan
• Assets Employed
– SOTF-controlled CAMS-L
– SOTF-controlled CAMS-CP
– Mobile TCUs within Convoy
• Major Actors
– SOTF: Plan mission, load vehicles, monitor Convoy
– Convoy Commander: Execute mission, monitor individual vehicle
performance, resolve ANS or other mission conflicts
Convoy
Ops
UNCLASSIFIED // FOUO
24