PREPARE FOR LAUNCH: U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment launched the Puma unmanned aircraft system at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on March 17, 2023. (Photos by Spc. Orion Magnuson, U.S. Army)
Project Management Uncrewed Aircraft Systems answers the call for Ukraine urgent requirements.
by Eric Mehaffey
Supporting the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the United States Army security assistance initiatives, the Project Manager Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (PM UAS), within the Program Executive Office for Aviation, identified key focus areas that contributed to deliberate and efficient delivery of capability. For example, PM UAS secured approximately $300 million across multiple foreign military sales cases in support of the delivery of over 500 Puma Uncrewed Aircraft, associated ground equipment and support services to enable the national defense of Ukraine. Not an easy task, the project office overcame barriers to rapidly field a critical capability to our partner nation. To deliver capability quickly to Ukraine, the key areas of emphasis for PM UAS were streamlining contracting processes, identifying innovative solutions with industry partners and harnessing synergy across the Army security assistance enterprise.
STREAMLINING PROCESSES
Security assistance efforts supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces demonstrated that project management activities are not limited to consecutive activities for delivery of capabilities. Instead, execution of a variety of tasks in parallel is imperative to field capability as quickly as possible. For example, the successful staging of documents to execute actions concurrently accelerated delivery of capabilities to our foreign partners. Specifically, PM UAS met Ukraine’s urgent requirements by executing case and contract development activities in parallel to the security assistance process for executing solutions and delivering services to foreign partners.
Additionally, the aviation materiel enterprise utilized technical expertise to coordinate with the original equipment manufacturer for system interoperability requirements, production priorities, throughput capacities, field service representative (FSR) support services and delivery schedules and overcame training site challenges. The result of these efforts was the delivery of urgent capability in the fastest way possible.
RELATIONSHIP WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS
Collaboration across the defense enterprise enabled development of innovative solutions and mitigated challenges fielding the urgent requirements. Fostering effective relationships with industry partners was essential to deliver capabilities to the government of Ukraine as it defends its homeland. These aggressive timelines reminded us that industry partners offer unique insights for leveraging new weapon systems, technologies and innovations. It is crucial that our partners and allies are fielded the latest capabilities at the speed of innovation to stay ahead of the enemy threats.
PUMA TAKES FLIGHT: A Puma lifts off at Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany on March 17, 2023. PM UAS supported the delivery of 500 Puma unmanned aircraft systems to the government of Ukraine by streamlining contracting processes, identifying innovative solutions with industry partners and harnessing synergy across the Army security assistance enterprise.
SYNERGY
Continuous communication with the Army security assistance enterprise was essential for ensuring program success and meeting the urgent requirements of Ukraine’s armed forces. For the new weapons systems, the team provided a total package approach consisting of spare parts, contractor logistics support, new equipment training, and FSR support services. The total package approach satisfied Ukraine’s urgent requirements to train, employ and sustain its weapon systems.
In short, PM UAS established a stakeholder working group comprised of the Security Assistance Management Directorate, U.S. Army Security Assistance Command, the Joint Consolidation Point, industry partners and the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Kiev to respond quickly to emerging requirements. This team’s actions facilitated the rapid delivery of critical capabilities through streamlining both acquisition and contracting processes. Again, the security assistance process greatly benefited from our industry partners who offered unique insights that effectively leveraged new weapon systems, technologies and innovations addressing the dynamics of emerging threats on the modern battlefield.
CONCLUSION
PM UAS successfully expedited an extensive process that delivered Uncrewed Aircraft Systems to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As demonstrated through the streamlining of processes, relationships with industry partners, and the deliberate synergy across the enterprise, the Army will deliver capability quickly and reliably in support of our partners and allies.
For more information, go to www.state.gov/u-s-security-cooperation-with-ukraine.
ERIC MEHAFFEY is the PM UAS International Program Office assistant program manager, supporting U.S. Army security assistance initiatives for the Program Executive Office for Aviation. He holds a B.S. with a technical management focus from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and an Associate of Science with a focus in uncrewed aircraft systems from Cochise College.
