Seeing the Enemy
lent handling qualities at low altitude,
Report on a continuous overhead presence limited
Ideas & Issues (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM)
objective experiment.
oalition units in Iraq and
C Afghanistan continue to discov-
er the enemy the old-fashioned
way—by bumping into him. This is, in
part, because commanders of small
units (e.g., police or military squads
and platoons) often conduct opera-
tions without the benefit of manned
aircraft in direct support to help
observe and orient beyond ground-
level obstructions. Due to the increas-
ingly high cost of modern combat air-
craft, these scarce and valuable
resources are centrally managed at
high command levels, leaving large
numbers of small units without dedi-
cated air support. The means exist,
however, to provide continuous over-
head presence in needed numbers
within fiscal and support constraints.
The Possibilities
Continuous overhead human
presence for small units offers signif-
icant enhancement to a variety of
missions, including urban, pipeline,
and border patrol. Large numbers of
inexpensive aircraft equipped with
appropriate sensors and communica-
tions are essential; however, direct
human presence is the key element.
The abilities of a human airborne
observer to flex with realtime
changes in battlefield conditions and
respond immediately to events on
the ground are, at present, not avail-
able from uninhabited systems.
A limited objective experiment
(LOE)1 recently conducted in Jordan
suggests the possibility of significant-
ly increased operational effectiveness
in the face of current battlefield chal-
Convoy operations exercise team included personnel for KADDB, Jordanian Special Forces, and Seabird Aviation Jordan. (Photo courtesy of Dr. A. Rex Rivolo.)
16 www.mca-marines.org/gazette
loiter time, slow loiter speed, excel-
by Clark C. Chang & Drew Lewis
lenges for only a minor investment.
For our purposes, an LOE is a small-
scale, rapid turnaround learning
event. The goal of this particular
experiment was to rediscover the tac-
tics, techniques, and procedures
developed for small unit support
during past wars. The LOE focused
on the capability shortfall for small
Two types of experi-
ments were conduct-
ed; one focused on
convoy escort opera-
tions and the other on
border patrols.
ground units to see and orient
beyond obstructions—a contributor
to the effectiveness of current enemy
ambush tactics. Aerial observation
can also contribute to the protection
of linear structures like borders,
pipelines, and roads by providing
persistent surveillance. In particular,
the air support examined here is con-
tinuous overhead human presence.
A search for an aircraft suitable for
this mission space resulted in identifi-
cation of the SB7L–360 Seeker air-
craft manufactured by Seabird
Aviation Jordan. It is a high-wing
design with engine and propeller
behind the cockpit. The aircrew’s
vision is thus virtually unobstructed,
making the Seeker an excellent obser-
vation platform. In addition to the
extraordinary visibility for both
crewmembers, the Seeker claims long
mechanical robustness, and the ability
to take off and land in austere envi-
ronments. The aircraft is of sufficient-
ly low cost that it can be procured in
significant numbers.2 Finally, the air-
craft is designed to be piloted by gen-
eral aviation-qualified pilots. It would
be far simpler to qualify someone to
fly the Seeker than to fly contempo-
rary U.S. combat aircraft (e.g., heli-
copters, fixed-wing attack aircraft,
etc.). Therefore, trained noncommis-
sioned officers could provide the
large number of flight crews required.
What We Did
Two types of experiments were
conducted; one focused on convoy
escort operations and the other on
border patrols.
Convoy operations were conduct-
ed by an exercise team of personnel
and equipment provided by the King
Abdullah II Design and Development
Bureau (KADDB), Jordanian Special
Forces, Jordanian Armed Forces, and
Seabird Aviation Jordan. Ten scenar-
ios were executed using Jordanian
Special Forces to play the parts of
both friendly and opposing forces
(OpFor). Friendly forces attempted
to move the convoy with support
from the Seeker while a free-playing
OpFor tried to engage the convoy.
An exercise area near the Marka
Airport outside Amman offered vari-
ous terrain and building features. For
each scenario an acceptable level of
risk was set for the convoy and a gen-
eral goal laid out for the OpFor.
Mission start and end points, time
allowed, rules of engagement, avail-
able equipment, day/night were all
varied from one scenario to the next.
A three-man exercise control cell
monitored the events using hand-
held radios and cellular telephones as
well as live video feed from the air-
craft. After-action reviews (AARs)
were conducted after each event.
Marine Corps Gazette I April 2006
Ideas & Issues (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM)
The Seeker is refueled at night—on a blacktop road—using gasoline from a local gas station. (Photo courtesy of CAPT Daniel E. Moore, Jr., USN.)
For border patrols, KADDB and
Seabird Aviation elements were host-
ed near Aqaba by the Jordanian
Southern Command, which provid-
ed facilities and resources including
a desert border patrol base and a
100-foot patrol boat. The aircraft was
used in three long-duration night
patrols along the Jordanian/Saudi
border in support of border patrol
forces. Additionally, a dusk patrol
over the Gulf of Aqaba supported
Jordanian maritime operations. The
assessment team monitored Seeker’s
status from a downlink station
installed at various locations, to
include a border patrol base, a
“Think big; start small; act now.”
—His Majesty King Abdullah II,
King of Jordan
ground vehicle in the desert, and
aboard a warship. The information
gathered by the aircrew was relayed
to Jordanian forces in realtime and
elaborated in debriefs.
What We Found
In the convoy escort events,
Seeker improved the situational
18 www.mca-marines.org/gazette
awareness of the blue force com-
mander on the ground. Ground and
air components quickly developed
confidence in each other and
learned to coordinate through live
video, radio communications, and
recommendations.
In AAR it became clear to the
assessment team that the mission
commander’s options before, dur-
ing, and after engagement improved
because of the added situational
awareness. As importantly, it was
clear that the OpFor felt their
options were quickly foreclosed as
air-ground coordination matured.
The OpFor commander described
his feeling that his plans became
“brittle.” Once he had chosen an ini-
tial ambush position, the presence of
an aerial element foreclosed his
option to relocate if conditions
changed.
One convoy escort mission struc-
tured as a meeting engagement high-
lighted the enhanced options available
to the mission commander due to the
Seeker capability. At mission start,
both sides began moving down the
main supply route toward each other
mounted in their vehicles. OpFor
stopped to deploy dismounts in a cul-
vert beneath the road. The OpFor
vehicles then split; one headed toward
the convoy, the other toward an obser-
vation point. Seeker observed and
reported the OpFor vehicles’ activi-
ties. Blue force stopped and dis-
mounted to investigate the first
OpFor vehicle, which fled at the first
sight of the blue force dismounts. The
OpFor element at the observation
point engaged the Seeker aircraft with
small arms fire. Both of these events
convinced the blue force commander
that there was an ambush ahead of
him. At his request, Seeker provided a
divert route north of the planned
route. The convoy avoided the am-
bush. Knowing that Seeker would
observe any movement, the red force
commander chose not to attempt to
intercept the convoy’s new route. A
key point here is not that Seeker iden-
tified the exact location of the OpFor
ambush; rather, Seeker was able to
provide additional assessment (OpFor
vehicle on the road in front and hos-
Marine Corps Gazette I April 2006
 tile fire from a nearby location) for the
mission commander to use in making
a battlefield decision.
In the border patrol events, the
Ideas & Issues (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM)
assessment team found that the excep-
tional cockpit visibility of the Seeker
aircraft allowed the pilot, wearing
night vision devices (NVDs), to make
broad visual sweeps of terrain while
the observer conducted a more struc-
tured search with the forward looking
infrared sensor. This teamwork
proved remarkably successful in
detecting objects of interest on all mis-
sions flown. Initial detection was often
made by crewmembers using NVDs to
pick up transient events, such as vehi-
cle lights going on and off or ciga-
rettes being lit. On one occasion a
camel caravan crossing the border was
detected. Vehicles behaving in a suspi-
cious manner or operating in prohib-
ited areas were also repeatedly detect-
ed. During the maritime mission, no
targets were present, so the focus of
the event was the realtime downlink of
overhead imaging to a ship at sea. This
downlink provided observers with a
glimpse of an integrated team com-
prising an observation platform in the
air, surface craft at sea, and mobile
forces on land.
Other characteristics of the Seek-
er were observed during both phases
The Seeker in a landing approach to a road temporarily secured by Jordanian forces as a field expedient airstrip. (Photo courtesy of Drew Lewis.)
20 www.mca-marines.org/gazette
of experimentation. The Seeker
operated from austere locations in
both day and night, including night
operations from a remote blacktop
road secured by military vehicles.
After landing, the aircraft was refu-
During the 2-week
period of the LOE, the
single available air-
craft (and crew) log-
ged 52 flight hours
and made 36 takeoffs
and landings.
eled by hand using gasoline3
obtained from a local gas station.
Landing, taxi, refueling, and take off
were completed safely in almost
complete darkness using NVDs,
flashlights, and hand-held radios.
Daylight flight operations were con-
ducted with surface temperatures
exceeding 105 degrees Fahrenheit at
altitudes above 2,700 feet above
mean sea level with winds blowing
dirt and sand onto the aircraft. In
less than 45 minutes the Seeker con-
ducted nine takeoffs and landings on
a blacktop road less than 23 feet
wide with Jordanian forces holding
tourist traffic temporarily at bay.
Throughout these hot weather oper-
ations the Seeker’s engine operating
temperatures remained well within
normal limits. During the 2-week
period of the LOE, the single avail-
able aircraft (and crew) logged 52
flight hours and made 36 takeoffs
and landings. Despite this demand-
ing schedule and austere operating
conditions, only one mechanical fail-
ure occurred. This failure was
resolved on scene in minutes by a
single ground crewmember using a
wire brush. In all other aspects, the
aircraft performed flawlessly.
Conclusions
The experience of this small team
demonstrates what can be achieved
by rapid, focused experimentation
where the requisite support and
technical expertise are available.
Jordanian cooperation and compe-
tence were central to the visiting
team’s success.
This short period of operational
assessment showed Seeker to be well
suited to provide continuous over-
head human presence for small units
conducting patrols in built-up areas,
convoy escort, and patrol of linear
structures (e.g., pipelines, power
lines, roads, and borders). Much of
Marine Corps Gazette I April 2006
 this suitability derives from the air-
craft’s simplicity and robustness.
Seeker’s ability to operate in austere
environments, combined with its low
Ideas & Issues (Operation IRAQI FREEDOM)

support footprint, could provide the

small unit commander with the
organic capability to conduct air-
borne surveillance or personal
reconnaissance as the mission
requires. While the Seeker aircraft is
not the right solution for all of these
applications, the capability of contin-
uous overhead human presence it
represents seems useful enough to
justify further experimentation and
exploration.
The air-surface teams assembled
for this assessment were modest.
Further experimentation could
widen the force mix to include other
airborne surveillance and attack plat-
forms as well as diverse military or
police ground forces. Squadron 70, Preparation for takeoff number six of nine. The “airstrip” is 23 feet wide and 2,700 feet above mean
currently operating two Seekers in sea level, with a surface temperature of 105 degrees Fahrenheit. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Clark Chang.)
Iraq, provides the opportunity to
continue to observe real-world per- commanders of ground operations. The team
was composed of civilian analysts from the
formance and challenges. Notes Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) and led
1. In July 2005 a team traveled to Jordan to by a serving U.S. Navy aviator (captain). The
conduct an LOE evaluating the use of rugged, Jordanian Government provided broad sup-
inexpensive manned fixed-wing aircraft to port through various organizations that sup-
provide situational awareness to small unit plied equipment, technical support, facilities,
and personnel.

BOOKSTORE
MARINE CORPS ASSOCIATION 2. The Seeker aircraft alone costs approxi-
mately $200,000. The Seeker used in this LOE
represents a cost of approximately $600,000

CUSTOM COINS
including sensors and communications. A
Seeker with advanced sensor systems and a
variety of possible survivability enhancements
CUSTOMIZED UNIT COIN PRICING INFORMATION would cost approximately $850,000 according
to Seabird Aviation Jordan.

3. The Seeker’s engine is intentionally derated

STANDARD PRICING ADDITIONAL PRICING to allow normal operation on low-octane auto
Quantity 11/2” Antique Color (unlimited) Epoxy gasoline rather than specialized aviation fuel
(motor gasoline versus aviation gasoline).
Brass Finish 1 side $0.65 each $0.40 per side
Coin 2 sides $0.80 each >Editor’s Note: This article is derived from
the forthcoming IDA paper, “Integrated Air-
100-299 $3.55 each Edging Cutouts Ground Operations at the Platoon Level: An
300-499 $3.40 each 1 side $0.50 each Each cutout, per coin, Operational Assessment Using Rugged, Low-
500-999 $3.20 each 2 sides $0.80 each is $1.00 Cost, Fixed-Wing, Manned Aircraft,”
authored by CAPT Daniel E. Moore, Jr.,
1000 + $2.95 each USN (project lead), Dr. Clark C. Chang,
*All prices subject to change. Shipping & handling additional. Robert C. Holcomb, Drew Lewis, Dr. A. Rex
Rivolo, and Dr. D. Robert Worley.
Notes:
• Minimum order of 100 custom coins per • All orders are made in 18-22 days from
design approval of artwork
• One time die charge of $80.00 per side if • A proof will be provided for approval
less than 1000 coins • For more details, please call
• Artwork will be needed for custom designs 800-336-0291, ext. 349, or send an email
>>Dr. Chang is a researcher at the IDA,
in JPEG format to: specialservices@mca-marines.org
Alexandria, VA.

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT US ONLINE: >>>Mr. Lewis is also a researcher at the IDA.
SC3CCG46

www.mca-marines.org
(CLICK ON THE BOOKSTORE LOGO, THEN CUSTOM PRODUCTS AND SERVICES)

22 www.mca-marines.org/gazette Marine Corps Gazette I April 2006