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Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Force Structure & Modernization Outline • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces • Dedicated Force Structure Requirements • Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning • Dedicated Force Modernization • Future Transitions • Conclusion MCM Roles (Organic vs. Dedicated) • Organic MCM Systems – CVBG/ARG defense • Locate & avoid potential threat areas • Punch-Through / Egress if mine threat is encountered • Dedicated MCM Forces – High level clearance of larger areas / multiple regions – Enable maritime force penetration and sustained operations in a mine threat environment – Follow-on Clearance for Joint & Strategic Objectives • Joint / Combined Force access, logistics and sustainment • Humanitarian Relief • Resuming Commerce Organic and Dedicated MCM systems Today have separate roles MCM Capabilities (Organic vs. Dedicated) Organic • Environment Dedicated • – Blue Water (Deep) – Littoral (High Burial/Clutter) – Blue Water • Capabilities • Supported Operations – Choke Point Egress – Limited CVBG/ESF OPAREAs Organic & Dedicated MCM Systems Have Separate Capabilities in the Near Term Capabilities – High Area Coverage Rate for Moored/Bottom Mine Reconn – Full Clearance of Large OPAREAs & Long Q-Routes – Rapid Sweep / High Clearance Levels for ALL Bottom Conditions – High Area Coverage Rate for Floating/Drifting Mines – Reconn for Moored/Bottom Mines – Limited Punch Through • Environment • Supported Operations – – – – – – – SPOD approaches/SLOCs CVBG/ESF OPAREAs Amphibious Assault Strategic Sealift SPODs C/J/MLOTs TBMD/FSA Boxes Harbors / Ports Environment Drives Tactics (Hunt vs. Sweep) Clearance Level (%) Large Combat Radius, High Power, High Speed Sweeping Platforms Offer the Best Advantage for Maximum Clearance & Minimum Time / Risk in a Less than Optimal Environment 100 (High Speed) (Station Time/Combat Rad) 50 (High Power) 0 Poor Excellent Bottom Conditions (Clutter, Roughness, Burial) Blue Water Littoral (Brown Water) HUNTING Level of Effort (How Bottom Conditions Effect Mine Hunting a Port Channel) 100 Clearance Level (%) 90 Clearance Objective 95% 80 70 60 50 Type A1 40 Recon Objective 64% Type B1 30 Type C1 AMCM Sweeping 95% 20 10 Type D1 0 Days Weeks Time to Clear Months • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces Dedicated Force Structure Requirements • Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning • Dedicated Force Modernization • Future Transitions • Conclusion Dedicated MCM Force Performance in OIF • Total Assets – – – – – – 2 MCMRONs CMWC OPDET 2 AMCM Squadrons 14 SMCM Ships (8 U.S. and 6 U.K.) 8 U.S. EOD dets (plus U.K. and AUS dets) NSCT ONE • Umm Qsar Q-Route Effort – MCM missions conducted during ongoing combat operations – MH-53Es towing MK-106 mine sweeping sleds completed clearance against the bottom Influence threat in less than 2 Days – Allied SMCM • Conducted Hunting Operations for Moored & Bottom Mines • Conducted Channel Conditioning to clear remaining Bottom Objects – UMCM cleared Umm Qsar harbor – Interdiction was key to success • Disrupted Iraqi Plan to lay hundreds of mines • Fewer than 10 mines total were found OIF vs. Other OPLANs • OIF required clearance of 1 Q-Route • Several OPLANs require over 5 times the Q-Route effort tasked in OIF • Other tasks in addition to Q-Routes include: – Large OPAREAs • CVOAs • AOAs – Multiple TBMD / FSA areas – C/J/MLOTS areas • CMWC force level analysis validates the need for the current level of AMCM, SMCM & UMCM Dedicated forces to execute a single OPLAN Current Dedicated Force Structure meets minimum requirements for DPG / OPLANs • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces • Dedicated Force Structure Requirements Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning • Dedicated Force Modernization • Future Transitions • Conclusion Recent Changes – Shifts in Planning • New Environmental Data – Collected during USS Inchon WESTPAC ’01 deployment and during white hull surveys – Indicates poorer mine hunting conditions than estimated in original OPLAN analysis – Result: • More sweeping is required than originally planned to achieve clearance objectives • Level of effort & clearance timelines may increase • Increasing Homeland Security/Defense Requirement – Operational planning now includes apportionment of dedicated for homeland defense • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces • Dedicated Force Structure Requirements • Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning Dedicated Force Modernization • Future Transitions • Conclusion AMCM Modernization • Recent system upgrades are Highly Successful – Upgrade of the MK-106 Mod 4 was Critical to Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): • System Availability significantly improved • Accounted for ALL of U.S. sweeping in OIF • Achieved the FULL clearance objective against the bottom threat in the Umm Qsar Q-Route in 2 days – AQS-14 Upgrade to AQS-24 provides I.D. capability, improved resolution and higher system reliability • MH-53E SLEP is required to continue Dedicated AMCM capability beyond 2008 SMCM Modernization • Re-Engining is required NOW & is Behind schedule – Both engine types I.F. & Waukesha require replacement • I.F. engine MTBF rate < 400 hrs • Waukesha parts no longer available • Sweep System upgrades – Acoustic Sweep – Mag Cables – Stern Hydraulics • Other Combat Systems – Com/Nav upgrades – SQQ-32 Software – OK-520 Winch • ILS Support – Too many parts are not carried by supply system (J-Coded) – Long lead time due to: • Not readily available in the commercial market • Required to be manufactured with special alloys (non-ferrous) UMCM Modernization • Continue to fund 8 MCM EOD Det & MMS Capability • Fully Field NSCT ONE Capability – Small Boats – UUVs • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces • Dedicated Force Structure Requirements • Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning • Dedicated Force Modernization Future Transitions • Conclusion Near Term (Next 5 Yrs) • Organic systems will have taken over 15 years to develop and deliver if they remain on schedule for fielding in FY06. • Organic systems will provide the Battle Group with a critical MCM capability that it does not have today. However: – Organic systems are hunt centric, designed/optimized for operations in an excellent hunting environment – Marginal to Poor environmental conditions exist in the majority of OPLAN littoral areas – in these areas Organic system performance will be degraded • Dedicated systems must be FULLY resourced in the near term to preclude capability gaps and increased risk to OPLANs Mid Term (5 – 10 Yrs) • It is envisioned that several years of additional development will be required before technology will enable MCM systems to operate on smaller Organic platforms and meet / exceed today’s Dedicated system capability. • During the Mid term: – Dedicated & Organic capability will be required – Technology advances envisioned to enable Far term shifts in roles (merge of systems, platforms) Near & Mid term capability must include both Dedicated & Organic systems Dedicated Force Requirement • Near / Mid Term (5 – 10 Yrs) – Maintain & Modernize Dedicated Forces in High Risk Areas • Prevent Gaps in Capability • Both Dedicated & Organic systems and platforms can leverage off of new technology – Field Organic capability to perform the Organic Role • Far Term (> 10 Yrs) – Merge Dedicated and Organic Forces Conclusion • Organic and Dedicated MCM systems have separate roles Today: – – Organic: CVBG/ARG defense in lower threat deep water (Reconn & Punch-Through) Dedicated: Full/Sustained Clearance in littoral & blue water environment • • • • • Significant technology advances must occur before Organic will be able to perform Dedicated force capabilities Dedicated MCM force structure is minimum required for DPG. Any reduction in Dedicated forces in the Near Term will result in increased risk to OPLAN execution Recent changes place increased demand on Dedicated forces – – • Larger-scale maritime operations Supports Joint/Combined operations New environmental data indicates poorer mine hunting conditions in all AORs Homeland Security / Defense requirement increasing Dedicated forces require continued modernization to ensure readiness CMWC Priorities: – – – AMCM SLEP SMCM Re-Engining and Combat System Upgrades UMCM full NSCT Capability • Organic does NOT replace Dedicated in near or mid term • Dedicated requires continued modernization Questions? Ship of Opportunity (Integrated USMC/MCM Force Package) • Integrated USMC / MCM Force Package is being developed / validated – CMWC working with MCCDC – Next validation during west coast JTFEX – Follow-on validation during east coast JTFEX with HSV and SoO • Structure – MCM triad • AMCM, SMCM, UMCM (Incl NSCT ONE) • Intel / Logistics / IMA support – ACE – – Infantry Battalion • Missions – MCS for MCM triad • C2 with Flag and/or MCMRON Staff(s) embarked • Force protection for MCM assets – – – – ISR Special Operations / Exploitation MIO (incl monitoring for re-seeding) Green/Blue Crown