Security Levels

Unmanned Aircraft Systems

Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) consist of an aircraft, its mission payloads, and ground support equipment (e.g., transporters, storage containers, launchers, and control stations). Various types of UASs could contribute to Maritime Domain Awareness by providing persistent, wide area surveillance. Learn more>>

Status

The Coast Guard is studying several aspects of UAS acquisition and operations, including unmanned systems marketplace research; technological and safety constraints for operating UASs in non-special use airspace; modeling and simulation and field testing of the viable UAS platforms and payloads for NSC mission support. Historic and ongoing Coast Guard UAS project studies will inform technology demonstrations to mitigate acquisition risk and, where possible, leverage other organization’s UAS development and non-recurring engineering investments.

Latest News Releases

Coast Guard Partners with Government, Industry in Unmanned Aircraft System Evaluation

The Coast Guard is working with a number of government agencies and industry to analyze the potential for Unmanned Aircraft Systems to contribute to cutter and sector command center operations. The Coast Guard Research & Development Center, which leads the study group, is partnered with service technical authorities and other organizations from the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and Energy. Read more>>