Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Force Structure & Modernization

Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Force Structure &Modernization

Outline • Role of Dedicated & Organic MCM Forces • Dedicated Force Structure Requirements • Recent Changes - Shifts in Planning • Dedicated Force Modernization • Future Transitions • Conclusion

MCM Roles(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 Organic and Dedicated MCM systems Today have separate roles

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 MCM Capabilities(Organic vs. Dedicated) Organic & Dedicated MCM Systems Have Separate Capabilities in the Near Term

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 100 (High Speed) (Station Time/Combat Rad) Clearance Level (%) 50 (High Power) 0 Poor Excellent Bottom Conditions (Clutter, Roughness, Burial) Environment Drives Tactics(Hunt vs. Sweep) Blue Water Littoral (Brown Water)

100 90 80 70 60 Clearance Level (%) Clearance Objective 95% Recon Objective 64% 50 Type A1 40 Type B1 30 Type C1 AMCM Sweeping 95% 20 Type D1 10 0 Days Months Weeks Time to Clear HUNTING Level of Effort (How Bottom Conditions Effect Mine Hunting a Port Channel)

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 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 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 minimum requirements for DPG / OPLANs

Recent 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

AMCM 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 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 Modernization • Continue to fund 8 MCM EOD Det & MMS Capability • Fully Field NSCT ONE Capability • Small Boats • UUVs

Near Term (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 Term(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 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

Conclusion • 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 readiness CMWC Priorities: • AMCM SLEP • SMCM Re-Engining and Combat System Upgrades • UMCM full NSCT Capability • Organic does NOT replace Dedicated in near or mid term • Dedicated requires continued modernization

Questions?

Ship of Opportunity(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

Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Force Structure & Modernization