[Seahawk]

Big problem is swarm tactics at night in confined sea lanes...think Straights of Hormuz.

It is one thing to detect, it is a whole other bad of tricks to classify and identify prior to engagement based on current ROE.

Again, that is one of the reasons the Navy has a program of record, called Small Tactics UAS (STUAS) that will be competed early next year. System will be ship or land based, 24 hour endurance and a great sensor package. It will replace the current system I posted earlier.

Quick sea story:

I was the Air Boss on the USS La Salle during the PGW I...we did a bunch of mine clearance work and were the first ship into Kuwait the day the war ended. I also got to do a lot of flying.

We stayed in Kuwait 5 days before returning to Bahrain. On the way back, late one night, we were attacked by pirates who mistook us for a commercial ship. Four small boats armed with machine guns engaged us, two on each side, one forward, one slightly aft. The Captain of the ship, still a good friend of mine first called general quarters and gave us permission to engage. He then called one of the carriers to provide air support.

The engagement was brief since each side of the the La Salle had multiple 50 cals and small grenade launchers. My guys (the Air Department) owned all the aft armament and did very well. Engagement lasted maybe five minutes.

One potato, two potato, three potato later (45 minutes) the F-18 checks on station to help.

Long story, short: can't always count on CAP.