Flightglobal.com is reporting the Israelis are seeking an Unmanned Air System (UAS) for their Dvora class patrol boats (here, here, and here) that range in length from 71 to 86 feet and 45 to 54 tons (smaller than a CG 87 foot Marine Protector Class WPBs). Steadicopter showed its Black Eagle 50, as a possible contender.
Perhaps it would not be unreasonable for the Coast Guard to start considering unmanned systems to complement the Webber Class that are six times as large.
Photo credit: http://www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/naval/super_dvora3/SuperDvora3.html, via Wikipedia
Chuck Hill's CG Blog 
There’s really no reason why we can’t make ScanEagle, a tested and proven light UAV work for 110s and 154s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_ScanEagle
If they can get them on MK5 Special Operation Craft, we can get them on a WPB. You would just need to make a custom fixed launch and retrievable system rather than the bulkier portable system.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogscript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A57f6982c-0bd0-4000-ae29-b7daf22c8c05
I don’t see why we can’t have a scan eagle for all cutters from the 110 on up. The helos can’t be every where.
Exactly correct, Chuck. ScanEagle has been launched and retrieved from the 85-foot Mk V Special Operations Carft. These little, tactical UAVs are great for operators wanting a “God’s eye view” of the immediate area. The nice thing is they broadcast what they are seeing with GPS coordinates. It makes it easy to get to the site. ScanEagles are relatively cheap and adaptable to many CG platforms.
Where are you going to put the two to three airdales? They would have to be ship’s company rather than TAD. That alone would be a clinker.
I’ve been a fan of the Scan Eagle: http://cgblog.org/2011/04/01/uavs-lets-try-this-one/
And apparently the CG is doing some experiments with it.
Despite their “response cutter” name, Webber class are going to be used for patrolling. This might give them an edge.
Bill, Maybe we could train one or two of the extra Ensigns airdale wantabes we are putting on the Webber Class.
“Bill, Maybe we could train one or two of the extra Ensigns airdale wantabes we are putting on the Webber Class”
The union will never let scabs in.
Perhaps a low cost alternative to the FireScout: http://www.aerovelco.com/Flexrotor.html
Very impressive, endurance as well as very unique flight characteristics. Apparently a Navy sponsored research project from the people who did ScanEagle.