Being Mum on MUM

MUM. MUMT. MUMO. 

It’s not a word. Words have meaning. Manned-unmanned, manned-unmanned teaming, manned-unmanned operations: phrases that have been invented and lack meaning. In all truth, there is little difference between the application of rotary wing helicopters and unmanned aircraft systems to missions that Aviation does, especially in the attack and reconnaissance roles. Regardless of what launches the weapon or what designates the target, all of it takes good planning. It all requires good targeting development. It all needs detailed air ground integration throughout the whole targeting process.

So, when a helicopter goes out and laser designates for an MQ-1C, it’s called a remote hellfire engagement.

When a UAS launches a missile for a ground based laser designator and a COLT, it’s a remote.

When a Kiowa becomes the designator for an Apache, it’s a remote.

When a Shadow designates for an MQ-1C, who is launching a AGM-114P+ hellfire, it’s a remote.

When a UAS is designating some bad dudes in the Korengal Valley for an Apache, it’s a remote.

When a Kiowa designates for another Kiowa, that’s still a remote.

When an MQ-1C is the launching platform for that same COLT in the Tangi Valley, that’s also still a remote.

When an Apache’s laser beshats itself in the middle of an engagement, and it can’t designate for the launching platform, and the launching platform decides to designate for itself… caught ya. That’s actually an autonomous engagement. Sneaky. 

Words already have meaning. 

The Tadpole and The Snake
by: John DelVecchio
circa 1971
"There once was a snake who daily made his wayy...
... With his friend the tadpole in search of their prey.
Together to the jungle they would go,
The snake up high and the Tadpole down low.
And when the Tadpole's eyes the enemy did spy;
Fangs ready, his partner would fly on by,
Spitting his deadly venom from the sky."