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28-547: The MAARS platform was designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (RSTA) to increase security at forward locations. It can be configured for non-lethal, less-lethal, and lethal effects. The system weighs 369 lb (167 kg) fully loaded with sensors, weapons, and ammunition. Its battery can last 3–12 hours, with a sleep mode to last for up to one week. The MAARS can move at 7 mph (11.27 km/h) and travel 800–1000 meters from its controller. It has 7 cameras for driving, situational awareness , and for

56-495: A forward support company attached from the brigade support battalion. The SBCT cavalry squadron can cover a large area thanks to its three cavalry troops equipped with extremely mobile Stryker vehicles. The squadron is limited though in its ability to conduct dismounted reconnaissance or engage enemy armor units. The four-vehicle cavalry troops also face additional risks during route reconnaissance as individual Strykers are forced to reconnoiter lateral routes and terrain adjacent to

84-413: A military operation was successful in achieving its objectives, whether additional resources need to be directed to complete the objectives or if they can be redirected to another operation. Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory The United States Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) was established in 1995, at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia . The organization was originally known as

112-507: A threat to the United States or allied and/or coalition military, political, or economic interests or to US citizens abroad." On a strategic and operational level, RSTA operations may provide continuous surveillance or as-required reconnaissance, in order to provide warnings of impending threats or attacks, as well as to monitor compliance with international agreements. Strategically, RSTA planning and employment operations are used to support

140-613: A type of unit in the United States Army . These are cavalry squadrons (though in IBCTs they typically contain at least one dismounted infantry troop), and act at the squadron ( battalion ) level as a reconnaissance unit for their parent brigade combat teams . These RSTA squadrons continue on the Recondo legacy of the Vietnam era Long Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRP), however, compared to

168-443: A week. With a handheld controller, a MAARS operator can receive a surveillance feed from thermal and video cameras. The Marines found it to have limitations, such as being too small to ram through doors to enter a room and being too big to move smoothly through tight corridors. Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition (United States) Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition ( RSTA ) squadrons are

196-596: Is collateral damage, as 7.62 NATO bullets fired by the machine gun can travel further than sensors mounted on the robot. The Defense Department is in agreement that any lethal force applied by an unmanned system will be decided by an individual, not by the system autonomously. Ground combat commanders prefer to perfect autonomy for UGVs for supply purposes to lighten infantrymens' loads. Autonomous ground robots that could shoot have been compared to land mines , in that they can't be directly controlled. Although remote weapon systems have been successfully used on vehicles, there

224-484: Is loaded individually, allowing lethal and less-lethal capabilities to be available and selected when needed. Other features include an on-board loudspeaker to communicate, a siren, a laser dazzler , and a gunfire detection system . The weapons system can be replaced with a manipulator arm that can lift 120 lb (54 kg), making it able to pick up 155 mm artillery rounds, and can pull over 300 lb (140 kg). On 5 June 2008, QinetiQ announced it had shipped

252-469: Is question on how far a remote-controlled platform can be stretched, from a guard tower for perimeter defense or through a mobile platform. SWORDS robots deployed to Iraq were placed in fixed locations and behind sandbags, as senior officials were not comfortable using them to seek out and shoot enemy combatants. QinetiQ North America has said that despite press reports claiming that SWORDS was only there briefly, they were deployed for six years and performed

280-776: The BCT. Related to these units were reconnaissance and surveillance squadrons , which operated as part of battlefield surveillance brigades ; however since 2015 all BfSBs have been converted into expeditionary military intelligence brigades or inactivated. The primary task of the RSTA squadron is to carry out reconnaissance and security missions for its parent BCT or for higher commands, whether as part of offensive or defensive operations. Reconnaissance missions can include area , route , zone , and reconnaissance-in-force . Security missions can include screening (whether stationary or mobile), guard, cover, area security and local security. When necessary,

308-467: The Commandant's Warfighting Laboratory. The battle lab is part of Combat Development and Integration—under Headquarters, United States Marine Corps—and its stated purpose is to improve current and future naval expeditionary warfare capabilities across the spectrum of conflict for current and future operating forces. The organization is in charge of various aspects of advanced techniques and technology in

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336-592: The LRRPs they are often assigned additional non-reconnaissance responsibilities such as battlespace ownership. Additionally, RSTA is a doctrine that groups the tasks of reconnaissance , surveillance and target acquisition conducted by the Department of Defense (United States) . RSTA supports military operations at a strategic (national defense policy), operational (theater level), or tactical (individual unit) level, either by dedicated RSTA forces or those which possess

364-514: The MAARS provided overwatch as a different robot attached an explosive charge to a door for door breaching . After the door was blown open by that explosive charge, MAARS entered the doorway, encountered hostile fire, and returned fire with its machine gun. One obstacle to the deployment of MAARS, and armed unmanned ground vehicles in general, is the reluctance of military leaders to utilize remote-controlled weapon systems at ground level. One concern

392-442: The MAARS took part in testing, along with other systems, at Fort Benning as part of the U.S. Army's Armed Unmanned Ground Vehicle (AUGV) program. The program objective is to find an unmanned robotic platform to conduct reconnaissance missions and maneuver with infantry units to help engage and destroy the enemy. Tests included moving to a firing point, firing an M240 medium machine gun at targets up to 800 meters away, and then leaving

420-551: The RSTA soldiers are qualified paratroopers . The IBCT Cavalry squadron is able to support its parent unit through the combination of the firepower and mobility offered by its mounted forces and the ability to operate in complex and difficult terrain with its dismounted forces. However the mix of mounted and dismounted troops creates a mismatch in maneuvering ability and may require augmentation with additional transportation resources. In 2024, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) began prototype testing of

448-668: The area. Reliability of control at various distances was also looked at for safety reasons. The effect of the machine gun on the platforms was reviewed to observe how the size, weight, and stability of the platforms affect accuracy at range. The armed ground robots were not autonomous and always had a human controller. The MAARS was displayed at a U.S. Marine Corps defense expo on 28 January 2015. The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory hopes to have an armed UGV like MAARS to provide more firepower on foot patrols, since medium machine guns are usually not taken with them; it can also "stand post" for 12 hours or be left in sleep mode for more than

476-489: The capability. As part of its modernization and reorganization plan , the US Army has transitioned to the use of a modular brigade combat team (BCT) scheme. For each of its three main types of BCTs, whether an infantry brigade combat team (IBCT), armored brigade combat team (ABCT), or Stryker brigade combat team (SBCT), there is a reconnaissance squadron which is tasked with performing reconnaissance and security missions for

504-658: The collection of military intelligence , but ensuring that it is accurate, relevant, and distributed in a timely manner to the appropriate user. This includes maintaining operational security (OPSEC) so that critical information cannot be exploited by an opposing force. Likewise, RSTA can play a role in operational deception (OPDEC) operations to confuse opposing forces. Across the strategic, operational and tactical level, RSTA operations fall within three areas: Indications and warnings (I&W) are "intelligence activities intended to detect and report time-sensitive intelligence information on foreign developments that could involve

532-488: The combat role of serving the protection of a site. The Maneuver Center of Excellence at Fort Benning asked for a demonstration of MAARS in fall 2013, and the Marine Corps is continuing to investigate the possibility of employing it as well. Army officers hope to use armed ground robots as part of an infantry squad, rather than a substitute for them. They plan to have an armed system in use by 2018. From 7-10 October 2013,

560-495: The first MAARS robot to the U.S. Military under a contract from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal/Low-Intensity Conflict (EOD/LIC) Program. On 5 August 2008, the MAARS participated in a demonstration to showcase technology for the battlefield and urban environments. Its exercise was a traffic control point encounter with a suspected suicide bomber or vehicle-emplaced explosive. In another scenario,

588-529: The mobile brigade combat team (MBCT) concept; in which the RSTA squadron's dismounted reconnaissance troop was reflagged as a Multifunctional Reconnaissance Company (MFRC). In comparison to the DRT, the MFRC has fewer snipers but more UAS and cUAS assets, as well as an organic air-defense capability in the form of a Stinger team. The SBCT cavalry squadron includes a headquarters troop and three cavalry troops, along with

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616-567: The mortar section; and 11Bs, 25Cs ( Radio Operator-Maintainers ), 74Ds ( CBRN Specialists), and 92Ys ( Supply Specialists) in the headquarters section, led by 11A officers and an 11Z 1SG . Common training pipelines include the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leaders Course (RSLC), Cavalry Leader's Course, sniper school , Ranger school , pathfinder school , and in applicable IBCTs, air assault school and airborne school . According to JP 3-55, RSTA operations are concerned not only with

644-563: The planning of military operations, by monitoring foreign nations' centers of warmaking capability, and providing information on enemy system capabilities, locations, and installations for the National Target Base and other target lists. This information is used to assist in formulation of the U.S. military's Single Integrated Operational Plan , Limited Attack Option plan, Unified Command Plan , and Joint Strategic Capabilities Plans . Operationally, RSTA operations are similar to both

672-404: The route. RSTA line troops are a mix of 19D ( cavalry scout ) and 11B ( Infantryman ) MOS 's, which serve as scouts and snipers. Also included are 11C ( Indirect Fire Infantryman ), which operate a 60 mm M224 Mortar Section, as well as various intelligence and communications soldiers. The dismounted reconnaissance troops consist of 11Bs in the scout platoons and sniper section; 11Cs in

700-546: The squadron can be augmented with additional forces to help in carrying out its missions. The ABCT cavalry squadron is composed of a headquarters troop , two cavalry troops (transitioning to three cavalry troops), an armored company, and a forward support company attached from the brigade support battalion . The ABCT Cavalry squadron can fight against comparable armor forces, including tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, in order to conduct its missions. However it has significant logistical and maintenance requirements and

728-772: The strategic and tactical levels, in that they provide commanders with data on areas such as environment, organization, infrastructure, and enemy forces to assist in planning theater wide operations. Tactically, RSTA operations provide detailed information about enemy orders of battle , movement plans, offensive and defensive capabilities, terrain, and enemy disposition. RSTA units provide target detection and acquisition ( and in some cases, elimination), and real-time intelligence and surveillance. At all three levels of command, RSTA units provide combat assessment before, during and after military operations. This includes tasks such as bomb damage assessment or determining if an OPDEC mission has succeeded. RSTA assessment can help to decide if

756-481: The use of different vehicle types creates a mix in survivability between platforms. The limited number of scout platoons reduces the size of the area the troop can operate in. The IBCT cavalry squadron includes a headquarters troop, two mounted cavalry troops, and a dismounted reconnaissance troop . A forward support company will also be attached from the brigade support battalion for sustainment purposes. In squadrons supporting an airborne brigade combat team, 100% of

784-418: The weapon that can operate in daytime or thermal modes. MAARS is armed with an M240B machine gun and four M203 grenade launcher tubes on a 360 degree rotating turret. It carries 450 rounds of 7.62×51mm NATO bullets and four 40mm grenades in the 4 M203s. Grenades can include sponge , buckshot and tear gas for less-lethal purposes, while high explosive and airburst for lethal purposes. Each tube

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