44 Proceedings Spring 2025 months later in an operational environment aboard a Coast Guard asset in the field. At that time, the system was tested for operational suitability and demonstrated for the chief of naval research, who was impressed by the speed at which the team was moving to tackle this difficult problem. Further discussions between the RDC and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) led to the involvement of Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Virginia. The divi- sion was already working on the evaluation and OTM capability of a c-UAS air search radar for an effort funded by ONR. The Dahlgren team conducted a site survey in May 2018 to assess temporary installation options. The radar system’s capability was demonstrated on the move and afloat from aboard a Coast Guard patrol boat for the first time a month later. C-UAS Systems Integration To address the variety of threats in different areas of responsibility, a layered approach with various sensor modalities such as RF, radar, and electro-optical/infra- red (EO/IR) cameras is required. With multiple sensors, each having their own user interface, it was evident that a single C2 system would be required. In short order, these systems were then integrated into a layered defen- sive system prototype capable of executing the entire detect, identify, monitor, track, and mitigate process. In September 2018, the RDC and Dahlgren teams success- fully demonstrated the capability to place collocated radars on either side of the pilothouse using a temporary mounting solution. This setup provided comprehensive air domain coverage and was the first instance of such technology being implemented on a maritime vessel without impacting the space, weight, or power needed for its other missions. Over the course of one year, both systems, plus an additional RF system provided by the Navy and the cutter’s EO/IR system, were all integrated into a C2 application where the operator could control all subsystems in one user interface. The success and importance of this work led to follow-on work under the Advanced Maritime c-UAS Technologies project. Ongoing work at the RDC includes automating the object detection and classification of targets using EO/IR cameras to reduce false alarms of air search radars caused by significant clutter, such as birds, in coastal regions. Other ongoing efforts focus on exploring the applicability of data-fusion algorithms and machine learning to combine multiple data types into a single threat track to reduce operator workloads, uncertainty, and response times. Yet another line of effort follows new develop- ment and maturation of kinetic defeat solutions— systems that physically harm the UAS to remove it from the airspace—that are commercially available or being developed by other government agencies. The Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Armaments Center, with a focus on low collateral dam- age solutions for use domestically and abroad, is just one example. All of these research areas allow the RDC, as subject matter experts, to provide technical guidance on system employment for various mission sets based on legal authorities and tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Counter-UUV Research and Development In late 2018, the RDC began a c-UUV project aimed at delivering decision-support information regarding improved c-UUV capabilities for detecting, tracking, classifying, and deterring underwater threats build- ing on the RDC’s past work on anti-swimmer tech- nology.6 Anti-swimmer technologies are systems that detect swimmers in protected waters and alert security forces so they can intercept the individuals and remove them from the security zone. The RDC partnered with the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport in Rhode Island to evaluate the capabilities of their Argus Expeditionary Maritime Defense System.7 This project culminated with a limited user evaluation of the system with the RDC, NUWC Newport, and the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Cape Cod. During this event, Coast Guard personnel evalu- ated the system’s applicability for Coast Guard missions, This diagram shows the layered defensive system concept using radar, RF, EO/IR to Detect, Track, Identify, and Monitor UAS. Coast Guard graphic by Chris Davidson
