Pentagon's jet transition struggles risk surveillance gap
American reconnaissance aircraft such as the RC-12X, MC-12, and EO-5 are turboprop-powered machines. The Pentagon plans to replace them with jets. The problem is that the new aircraft are being delivered too slowly, and the retirement of the old machines will create a gap in the capabilities of the American army.
The Pentagon is retiring dozens of turbopropeller machines designed for AISR missions (airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance). These missions have been conducted for years by older propeller-powered aircraft, such as the RC-12X, MC-12, and EO-5.
These machines, along with the MQ-9 Reaper and RQ-4 Global Hawk drones, have provided reconnaissance for the American army, performing tasks alongside the RC-135V/W Rivet Joint and U-2 Dragon Lady aircraft that serve in the Air Force, as well as the P-8A Poseidon in the Navy's inventory.
Design limitations related to payload, range, and speed have led to the phasing out of the reconnaissance fleet since 2022. These aircraft are to be replaced by a new generation of reconnaissance machines, based on fast, civilian Bombardier jets, Global 6000/6500.
New reconnaissance systems of the American army
The plans include the deployment of reconnaissance systems named HADES (High Accuracy Detection and Exploitation System), ARTEMIS (Airborne Reconnaissance and Targeting Exploitation Multi-Mission Intelligence System), ARES (Airborne Reconnaissance and Electronic Warfare System), and ATHENA (Army Theatre Level High-Altitude Expeditionary Next-Generation Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance).
The new jet aircraft not only provide greater flight speed, reducing travel time to patrol areas, but also offer increased range and the ability to stay airborne longer.
Their advantage also lies in the ability to be more easily and quickly repositioned to distant operational areas, which can be especially significant during conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
Gap in capabilities
The issue is that the ambitious modernisation plan is not aligned with the retirement of the older machines. Although the first jet with the ARTEMIS system was delivered in 2020, a serious gap will emerge in the army's capabilities before the new aircraft can be delivered in the required numbers.
One approach to addressing this issue is to outsource reconnaissance to external contractors until the new reconnaissance systems are fully operational.
