Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Dedicated MCM Force Issues:

Force Structure Force Structure &&

ModernizationModernization

OutlineOutline

• Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces

• Dedicated Force Structure Requirements

• Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning

• Dedicated Force Modernization

• Future Transitions

• Conclusion

Organic and Dedicated MCM systems Today have separate roles

MCM RolesMCM Roles(Organic vs. Dedicated)(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

MCM CapabilitiesMCM Capabilities (Organic vs. Dedicated)(Organic vs. Dedicated)

Organic• Environment

– Blue Water

• Capabilities– High Area Coverage Rate for

Floating/Drifting Mines– Reconn for Moored/Bottom Mines– Limited Punch Through

• Supported Operations– Choke Point Egress– Limited CVBG/ESF OPAREAs

Dedicated• Environment

– Blue Water (Deep)– Littoral (High Burial/Clutter)

• 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

• Supported Operations– SPOD approaches/SLOCs– CVBG/ESF OPAREAs– Amphibious Assault– Strategic Sealift SPODs– C/J/MLOTs– TBMD/FSA Boxes– Harbors / Ports

Organic & Dedicated MCM Systems Have Separate

Capabilities in the Near Term

Environment Drives TacticsEnvironment Drives Tactics(Hunt vs. Sweep)(Hunt vs. Sweep)

(High Power)(High Power)

(Station Time/Combat Rad)(Station Time/Combat Rad)

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

(High Speed)(High Speed)

Bottom Conditions (Clutter, Roughness, Burial)Bottom Conditions (Clutter, Roughness, Burial)ExcellentExcellent PoorPoor

Cle

ara

nce

Le

vel (

%)

Cle

ara

nce

Le

vel (

%)

100100

00

5050

Blue WaterBlue Water Littoral (Brown Water)Littoral (Brown Water)

HUNTING Level of Effort(How Bottom Conditions Effect Mine Hunting a Port Channel)

Recon Recon ObjectiveObjective

64%64%

Clearance Clearance ObjectiveObjective

95%95%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Days Weeks Months

Time to Clear

Cle

aran

ce L

evel

(%

)

Type A1

Type B1

Type C1

Type D1

90

100

AMCMAMCMSweepingSweeping95%95%

• 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 OIFDedicated 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 OPLANsOIF 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 Current Dedicated Force Structure meets minimum requirements for DPG / OPLANsminimum 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 PlanningRecent 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 ModernizationAMCM 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 ModernizationSMCM 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 ModernizationUMCM 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 Near Term (Next 5 Yrs)(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 TermMid Term(5 – 10 Yrs)(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 RequirementDedicated 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

ConclusionConclusion

• 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

• Larger-scale maritime operations• Supports Joint/Combined operations

• 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– New environmental data indicates poorer mine hunting conditions in all AORs– Homeland Security / Defense requirement increasing

• Dedicated forces require continued modernization to ensure readinessCMWC Priorities:– AMCM SLEP– SMCM Re-Engining and Combat System Upgrades– UMCM full NSCT Capability

• Organic does NOT replace Dedicated in near or mid termOrganic does NOT replace Dedicated in near or mid term• Dedicated requires continued modernizationDedicated requires continued modernization

Questions?Questions?

Ship of OpportunityShip of Opportunity(Integrated USMC/MCM Force Package)(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