Dedicated MCM Force Issues: Force Structure

1
Dedicated MCM Force Issues Force Structure
Modernization
2
Outline

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

3
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
4
MCM Capabilities (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
5
Environment Drives Tactics(Hunt vs. Sweep)
Blue Water
Littoral (Brown Water)
6
HUNTING Level of Effort (How Bottom Conditions
Effect Mine Hunting a Port Channel)
7

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

8
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

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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
10

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

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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

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

13
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

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SMCM Modernization

• Re-Engining is required NOW is Behind schedule
• Both engine types I.F. Waukesha require
  replacement
• I.F. engine MTBF rate lt 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)

15
UMCM Modernization

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

16

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

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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

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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 todays
  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
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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 (gt 10 Yrs)
• Merge Dedicated and Organic Forces

20
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

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Questions?
22
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