Have you heard of the Coast Guard’s short-range UAS (SR-UAS) program? Since its inception in 2023, the program has qualified nearly 500 Coast Guard pilots from various backgrounds and rates who have supported over 75 units.
With the help of the SR-UAS program, districts, programs, and mission sets have been able to become Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) qualified for drones, while connecting new users with resources and information about this great program. In recognition of their efforts, dedication, and widespread use, the SR-UAS team earned the Cmdr. Joel Magnussen Innovation Award.
You can view their dashboard showcasing the UAS services provided to the fleet over the past 18 months. 
Short range unmanned aircraft systems: What are they?
On the civilian market, SR-UAS are known as "drones." The Coast Guard provides units that can procure these UAS systems with the training and credentials to deploy them in a variety of missions. As of right now, the Coast Guard approves two drones: the Skydio X2D and the Parrot Anafi. With an acquisition cost of around $20,000, drones can be used in many ways, and their potential applications are nearly endless.
SR-UAS – The force multiplier
Across the fleet, UAS platforms are being used for all kinds of mission sets. As it stands today, this isn't an exhaustive list of missions the UAS could perform, just some of the most recognizable and developed use cases so far
- Ports & waterways security & safety
- Faster response times than traditional airborne assets and a reduction in manpower requirements is an obvious improvement provided by the SR-UAS assets. Mr. Chris Pisares spoke to the value the drones have provided for his work. “The Domestic Port Security Evaluation Division (CG-PSA-2) uses the Parrot Anafi for aerial photos and videos of critical infrastructure and key resource sites and waterways as part of the Port Security Resiliency Assessment (PSRA) Program. The drones allow us to conduct the flights independent of a government-owned manned aerial assets and can conduct multiple flights if needed.”
- Cutter operations
- GM3 Eric Lane thinks that the UAS program offers a clear path forward for a need to be filled in the cutter communities. “The ability to launch unmanned systems to get eyes on a vessel reduces safety hazards to the crew, lessens fatigue, and saves money and resources. For example, in December of 2023, CGC DIXON intercepted a suspected smuggling vessel. We were able to use the UAS as a set of eyes in the sky to locate jettisoned bails of cocaine.”
- Training personnel
- Mr. Tom Molloy a Training Specialist & SR-UAS Instructor said the SR-UAS program has a wide range of training uses. “UAS provide a view that can accelerate student comprehension of boat operations. I specialize in surf and heavy weather, but I have also served in Aton, icebreaking, diving, and tactics. Techniques and strategy are easier to understand with an aerial view, and an overhead view is a game changer for feedback after returning from high risk, high speed, high tempo training or operations.”
- Civil engineering
- LT Benjamin Folk thinks that the SR-UAS program will benefit more than just CE in the coming months and years. “I think there is the potential for this technology to have benefits for most of the mission areas covered by the Coast Guard. It has been a force multiplier within the civil engineering community, and many of the features we have found useful (maneuverability, rapid deployment, image quality) would directly benefit the other communities as well. As the technology continues to evolve, I think it will greatly enhance the Coast Guard’s ability to meet our mission requirements.”
- Disaster response
- Most recently drones were used in the Francis Scott Key Bridge disaster by the Atlantic Strike Team to support a slew of mission sets. MST1 Claudio Giugliano sang the SR-UAS praises during their response. “With the imagery I was able to capture daily progressions with the response whether it was buoys being dropped, first cuts, movements of large pieces, hull inspection, boom inspection, pollution inspection, and more. This imagery was also able to provide geographical referenced photos that were meticulously stitched together to update our common operating picture (COP) twice a week pending weather.”
In addition to its numerous uses, SR-UAS platforms also provide some valuable solutions to other Coast Guard pitfalls. To become more data-driven and forward-looking, the USCG is investing in various critical infrastructure updates and new technologies. SR-UAS can lead to significant advances in data and future applications.
If my unit does not have SR-UAS capabilities, how can I get them?
Interested to find out how to help your unit with faster response times, increased safety, aerial imagery flexibility, better data integration and faster response times? Please contact the SR-UAS team to learn more. SR-UAS has a SharePoint page with more information about their capabilities.
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