Insitu Scan Eagle in Coast Guard colors

Military+Aerospace Electronics reports,

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., announced a $32 million order late last month to Boeing Insitu Inc. in Bingen, Wash., for four RQ-21A Blackjacks, 20 ScanEagles, 62 ScanEagle payloads and turrets, as well as support equipment and spare parts.

Could some of these systems be going to the Coast Guard? And, if not, why not? The Coast Guard regularly buys equipment, including aircraft, by adding on to DOD contracts.

The Coast Guard is, I believe, still contracting for vendor operated Scan Eagles. It’s about time they were integrated into the service and operated by enlisted Coast Guardsmen.

I suggested the Coast Guard should take a look at this system in 2011. Probably not because of my suggestion, but the Coast Guard started testing the systems at least as early as 2014. Scan Eagle was flown from USCGC Bertholf and made its “first bust” in 2014, nine years ago. The decision to put Scan Eagle on the National Security Cutters was made in 2020. Presumably Scan Eagle or something similar will be on the Offshore Patrol Cutters as well. The Coast Guard still needs long range shore based UAS, and I think there is a good case for small shore based UAS at the group level.

Point being, we are passed the initial research stage. We know there will be UAS operated by the Coast Guard for the foreseeable future. The number of unmanned systems in the Coast Guard should grow rapidly.

Scan Eagle was developed to be operated by commercial fishermen from Tuna boats. It’s not rocket science. It should be obvious the Coast Guard needs to own the equipment and develop in house unmanned system expertise.

Buy the equipment. Make unmanned operation and maintenance a rating or a special qualification and career path. At least follow the Navy/Marine Corps lead.