The
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) classifies
unmanned aerial systems (UAS) into "Groups" according to their size and capability, a joint system that replaced the service branches' separate categorization schemes in 2011.[1][2][3]
The "Group" system has five categories, whose capabilities increase with the number.[4]
From about 2004 to 2011,[4][5] U.S. military planners used various "Tier Systems" to designate the various individual aircraft elements in an overall plan for integrated operations.[6] The Tiers do not refer to specific models of aircraft, but rather roles the aircraft would fill. The
U.S. Air Force,
U.S. Marine Corps, and
U.S. Army each have their own tier system.
U.S. Air Force tiers
Tier N/A: Small/Micro UAV. Role filled by BATMAV (
Wasp Block III).[7]
Tier I: Low altitude, long endurance. Role filled by the
Gnat 750.[8]
Tier II+:
High altitude, long endurance conventional UAV (or HALE UAV). Altitude: 60,000 to 65,000 feet (19,800 m), less than 300 knots (560 km/h) airspeed, 3,000-nautical-mile (6,000 km) radius, 24‑hour time-on-station capability. Complementary to the Tier III- aircraft. Role currently filled by the
RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Tier III-: High altitude, long endurance low-observable UAV. Same parameters as, and complementary to, the Tier II+ aircraft. The
RQ-3 DarkStar was originally intended to fulfill this role before it was "terminated".[9][10] Role now filled by
RQ-170 Sentinel.
U.S. Marine Corps tiers
Tier N/A: Micro UAV.
Wasp III fills this role, driven largely by the desire for commonality with the USAF BATMAV.[11][12]
Tier I: Role currently filled by the
Dragon Eye but all ongoing and future procurement for the Dragon Eye program is going now to the
RQ-11B Raven B.
Tier III: For two decades, the role of medium range tactical UAV was filled by the Pioneer UAV. In July 2007, the Marine Corps announced its intention to retire the aging Pioneer fleet and transition to the
RQ-7 Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system by
AAI Corporation. The first Marine Shadow systems have already been delivered, and training for their respective Marine Corps units is underway.[5][13]
Role currently filled by the AAI RQ-7 Shadow, although USMC planners do not view this aircraft as meeting future Tier III requirements.[14]
Tier II: Short Range Tactical UAV. Role filled by the
RQ-7A/B Shadow 200.
Tier III: Medium Range Tactical UAV. Role formerly filled by the
MQ-5A/B Hunter and IGNAT/IGNAT-ER, but has transitioned to the Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP)
MQ-1C Gray Eagle.
^Office of the United States Secretary of Defense.
"UAV Roadmap 2005–2030"(PDF). Retrieved 2007-08-24. {{
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