We just recently saw that
the Navy declared initial operating capability for the LCS' Coastal Battlefield
Reconnaissance and Analysis (DVS-1 COBRA) system. We expressed severe doubt about that and
wondered about the rationale behind the plan to order 30 of the systems despite
only having 8 LCS MCM platforms (see, “COBRA Declared Operational”). That aside, COBRA is a rarely discussed
system and there is not a lot of information about it that is generally
available so let’s take a brief look at what we do know.
COBRA is intended to detect
and localize mines in the surf and beach zones as well as provide visual
reconnaissance of the zones. The system
is carried on an unmanned MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV deployed from an LCS and consists of the sensor
package and data collection station on the UAV plus a mission control and
planning package on the host LCS (3).
The current Block 1 version
can detect surface laid mines and obstacles in the beach zone and has a more
limited capability to do the same in the surf zone. It is limited to daytime use only due to the need
for illumination for the imager, much as a regular camera needs a light source. Data is collected and analyzed post-mission
after recovery.
A developmental Block 2
version is intended to enhance the surf zone capability and add a nighttime illuminator. The developmental Block 2 illuminator is a
new technology effort. It is,
essentially, a flashlight that is required to provide illumination for the
COBRA camera. The problem is that
current electro-optical illuminators cover only a single wavelength band and
cannot support the 6-band COBRA multi-spectral sensor (2).
COBRA
uses a passive, multi-spectral sensor which covers 6 wavelength bands from near
UV to near infrared. The sensor is capable of providing 4 frames per second (4
Hz) for the 6 bands with a 16M camera (4896x3264) yielding a Ground Sample
Distance (GSD) of 2.4" which translates into 6.1 Gigabits per second
(Gbps) of data (1).
Military and Aerospace website states that the COBRA payload includes stabilized step stare digital gimbal and high-resolution multispectral imaging digital camera with a spinning six-color filter wheel, a processing unit, and a solid-state data storage unit which collects six different color-band images across a large area using a step-stare pattern (4).
Military and Aerospace website states that the COBRA payload includes stabilized step stare digital gimbal and high-resolution multispectral imaging digital camera with a spinning six-color filter wheel, a processing unit, and a solid-state data storage unit which collects six different color-band images across a large area using a step-stare pattern (4).
The system appears to be
effective mainly in the beach zone with little water depth penetration in the
surf zone – not surprising given that it is, essentially, just a camera with a
wavelength expanded beyond just the visual.
 |
| COBRA Surf and Beach Zone Reconnaissance |
One of the weaknesses of the
system is that the data is not available in real time and requires post-mission
analysis which means the UAV must survive in order for the data to be available. Thus, a UAV could complete an entire
reconnaissance mission only to be shot down at the end and all the data would
be lost.
Another weakness is the operational concept. A good sized, low, slow flying, non-stealthy, non-maneuvering (has to remain reasonably steady during its recon run) helo passing back and forth across the shore line just can't have much of a life expectancy. This is the classic definition of a target drone! In combat, we're going to go through these like candy! As with so many of today's operational concepts, the success of the system depends on the enemy cooperating by not shooting down this sitting duck of a target and allowing us to recon the beach unimpeded. Does that seem like a reasonable assumption to base a combat operational concept on? Seriously, who comes up with these things?
Another weakness is the operational concept. A good sized, low, slow flying, non-stealthy, non-maneuvering (has to remain reasonably steady during its recon run) helo passing back and forth across the shore line just can't have much of a life expectancy. This is the classic definition of a target drone! In combat, we're going to go through these like candy! As with so many of today's operational concepts, the success of the system depends on the enemy cooperating by not shooting down this sitting duck of a target and allowing us to recon the beach unimpeded. Does that seem like a reasonable assumption to base a combat operational concept on? Seriously, who comes up with these things?
The coverage area of the
system depends on the sensor being raised above the beach/surf. This is the same as a regular camera being
able to “see” more of an image the further back it is held from the scene. Thus, COBRA is not applicable to, for
example, an unmanned surface vessel. It
could, presumably, be deployed from any aircraft large enough to carry the
system.
COBRA is intended to
complement the AES-1 Airborne Laser Mine Detection System (ALMDS) which is
operated from the MH-60 helo and provides laser detection of surface and
near-surface mines past the surf zone.
As stated, I have severe
doubts that the system is operational, reliable, and effective. I’ll wait to see a DOT&E assessment
before accepting the system as combat effective.
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