UAV Compendium - Armada June-July 2015

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UAVs

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Will the European multiple-nation male finally make it this time? Well that’s what Angela Merkel and François Hollande have confirmed in April. We shall see… At any rate, that’s what the Male 2020 partners Dassault, Alenia and Airbus are hoping for.

Time To Get Real Contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan raised the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to a new level, though in an environment that was unique in several important respects (as were previous air operations in Korea and Vietnam). The withdrawal of most Coalition forces from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 has provided an opportunity to reflect on the present and future use of uninhabited aircraft.

A

Eric H. Biass and Roy Braybrook

mong other aspects, defence forces may consider what services UAVs can best provide in a more general conflict scenario, what they really cost to acquire and operate, how UAVs can survive in the presence of hostile aircraft and modern air defence systems, and how they can be integrated into home-based peacetime operations.

The Afghanistan experience undoubtedly provided a massive boost for the UAV market. In its aftermath, nobody wants to go to war without (at least) airborne unmanned ISR assets, any more than they would go to war without precision-guided munitions.

“One of the factors limiting UAV sales is the knowledge that most recent UAV operations have enjoyed a permissive air environment, and thus do not necessarily provide accurate guidance on future needs.”

Nonetheless, UAV sales still represent only a small percentage of the military aircraft market. In the Pentagon’s FY16 request, they amount to only 5.94% of spending on “aircraft and related systems”.

One of the factors limiting UAV sales is the knowledge that most recent UAV operations have enjoyed a permissive air environment, and thus do not necessarily provide accurate guidance on future needs.

In contrast, during the 78-day Operation Allied Force over Kosovo in 1999 some 47 Nato UAVs were lost, of which 35 were claimed to have been shot down by Serbian air defences. If a UAV is large enough to be seen from a distance, it is an easy daytime target. Three Georgian armada

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The US Air Force fact sheet says that the RQ-170 is operated by the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at the Tonopah Test Range and the 432nd Expeditionary Air Wing, based at Creech AFB, likewise in Nevada.

To give credit where due, the very limited public knowledge of the US Air Force Northrop Grumman RQ-180 advanced signature-control ISR UAV (another subsonic flying wing in the company’s B-2 tradition) appears to be entirely due to research by Aviation Week (AW&ST). It is believed that the development contract was awarded in 2008, that the first delivery took place in 2013 and that the RQ-180 could be operational this year.

There has been speculation that an explosion over the Kola Peninsula on April 19, 2014 may have marked the destruction

Intercepting hypersonic UAVs requires impossibly short reaction times by air defence systems. The Mach 6 penetrator is exemplified by the Lockheed Martin SR-72 project.

(Lockheed Martin)

UAVs (including at least one Elbit Hermes 450) were shot down over Abkhazia by Russian fighters in the run-up to the Russo-Georgian War of 2008.

For the short-term, the larger UAVs need defensive aids to dispense flares or jam the guidance systems of the incoming missiles.

If cost is no problem, then the way to penetrate modern air defence systems is to go fast or go invisible. Hypersonic missiles are being developed, so hypersonic ISR UAVs must be on the cards, although air-breathing examples seem likely to be either very large or very limited in range.

Some indication of the magnitude of the development problems is provided by the fact that, although Lockheed Martin has been discussing its Mach 6.0 SR-72 project with propulsion experts at Aerojet Rocketdyne for several years, the company claims only that the penetrating ISR endproduct could be operational by 2030. All that has been revealed is that off-the-shelf turbine engines would accelerate the SR-72

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to around Mach 3.0 (the speed reached by the SR-71 Blackbird), and that scramjets would then take it to twice that speed.

In endoatmospheric operation, hypersonic ISR assets may come as spinoffs from Darpa’s XS-1 experimental spaceplane, on which Boeing and Northrop Grumman (among others) are working. The XS-1 is intended to place a payload of 1,360-2,270 kg into low earth orbit. Boeing is responsible for the much larger X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV), which has remained up to 674 days in orbit.

Turning to stealth, the Lockheed Martin RQ-170 Sentinel was evidently designed to be fairly survivable over a country such as Iran, but of no great consequence if lost, making it the first attritable reduced-signature UAV. It is believed to have entered US Air Force service in 2007, and to have been deployed to bases in Afghanistan and South Korea, probably to monitor nuclear developments in neighbouring states. One was lost over Iran in December 2011.

Hypersonic ISR UAVs may spin off from Darpa’s XS-1 experimental spaceplane programme, as illustrated by the Boeing project. The alternative to the Boeing XS-1 design is this Northrop Grumman concept, using a similar configuration. (Northrop Grumman)

The Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle has flown missions of up to 674 days, but its purpose has not been disclosed. (Boeing)

by Russian air defences of an RQ-180 that had taken off from Stavanger in southern Norway (which seems highly unlikely) to photograph Russian naval bases.

I High Costs

Even relatively low-tech UAVs are costly and provide little operational flexibility in comparison with a normally piloted aircraft. The sale to the United Arab Emirates of eight unarmed General Atomics Predator XP UAVs with EO/IR sensors and maritime radars is worth $ 220 million. At first sight this appears expensive for relatively simple airframeengine combinations with advanced communications and surveillance and targeting packages. It may be noted that, although these UAVs are unarmed, the State Department was prepared to licence separately the sale of laser designators to

“However well intentioned, American efforts to slow the proliferation of armed UAVs are encouraging other nations to develop aircraft to exploit the resulting demand.� mark targets for attack by other means.

The US Government banned the sale of unarmed Predator XPs to Jordan, but has more recently cleared marketing to India.

The relatively high cost of the UAE sale is partly explained by the fact that this was the launch order for a new model, the Predator XP having first flown on June 27, 2014. For comparison, the US

Army budgeted $ 357.9 million for 15 weaponised General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagles in its FY16 budget request, around $ 23.9 million per aircraft.

One of the latest UAV sales for which data are available is that of four General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers to the Netherlands. As detailed by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, four MQ-9 Block 5s with six Honeywell TPE331-10T turboprops, four General Atomics Lynx radars, the usual bells and whistles, and a spares package to support 3,400 flying hours over a three-year period were estimated to cost $ 339 million, or $ 84.75 million per aircraft.

On the subject of exports of unarmed UAVs, although the MQ-9 Reaper has been purchased by France (16), Italy (six), the Netherlands (four) and the UK (ten), so far only the British version has armament provisions. Italy has requested this upgrade, and Turkey has asked the US for armed UAVs. Spain (where General Atomics is teamed with Sener) and Germany have expressed interest in acquiring MQ-9s, and will probably request the weaponised version. Australia has requested pricing and availability information, and RAAF personnel are being trained in America on the MQ-9 in anticipation of an order.

In February 2015 the US Administration announced that it had established a

The various appendices on this 1:10 scale model of the Male 2020 unveiled by Dassault at Eurosatory clearly indicate that the various roles of the UAVs will also cover ground or maritime monitoring (belly radar), electronic warfare and signals intelligence. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

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“The champions in terms of export in this domain undoubtedly are the Israelis, if one combines the types marketed just by Israel Aircraft Industries and Elbit.”

I New Developments?

Sea-based trials were launched in 2012 with the US Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on board the destroyer USS Dewey, DDG-105. (US Navy)

marginally more relaxed policy, allowing sales of lethal UAVs through governmentto-government deals to (unspecified) approved nations and subject to end-use assurances. The implication was that the previous (unannounced) policy was of absolutely no sales of American armed UAVs, with Britain as the absolutely sole (unexplained) exception.

However well intentioned, American efforts to slow the proliferation of armed UAVs are encouraging other nations to develop aircraft to exploit the resulting demand.

Photographs published earlier this year of a crashed CASC Caihong CH-3, on its back in a Nigerian field with two airground missiles attached, show that China is one respondent. Reports indicate that the 630-kg CH-3 has been exported to at least four countries, including Pakistan.

The larger (1150 kg) Chengdu Wing Loong or Pterodactyl, which is also armed, has been delivered to three countries, thought to be Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan.

The IAI Harpy anti-radiation loiterattack UAV was exported in 1994 to China (and subsequently to Chile, India, South Korea and Turkey), but further Israeli sales of armed UAVs may be subject to pressure from the United States (as was upgrading of Harpy).

However, countries such as Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa (with China, members of the Brics group) are all capable of developing UAVs and lightweight guided missiles. For the more

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complex types, the easy stepping stone is to first build one under licence, and this is what Brazil has recently embarked on-the home production of the IAI Heron male. It is known as the Caçador (hunter).

Japan, South Korea and the various European countries with these capabilities may want to respect America’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (Itar), the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) and the Wassenaar Arrangement, but can they do so in a time of relatively high unemployment?

In the Western World, the UAV industry is probably reaching an apex in terms of sales and is likely to experience a situation already witnessed by the armoured vehicle industry. The scenario was very clearly exposed at this year’s Idex exhibition in Abu Dhabi with a plethora of perfectly adequate vehicles produced by those emerging countries that hitherto imported them. Not only do they make them, but as proved by their presence at defence exhibitions they are now exporting them.

As far as UAVs are concerned, several examples have already been pinpointed in the above paragraphs, although as far as China’s real capabilities, these are only partly revealed when a mishap occurs.

Like anything it develops, China keeps data close to its chest.

We shall leave the lighter UAVs aside for the time being, as very often their development boils down to militarising relatively advanced radio-controlled

The MQ-9 is still known to General Atomics as the Predator-B. This Nasa trials example, named Ikhana, will be used to test the General Atomics Due Regard Radar. (Nasa)

Future battlefields will see mobile laser weapons used against targets such as UAVs, mortar bombs and tactical missiles. This 10-kW truck-mounted laser weapon demonstrator was developed by Boeing under US Army funding. (Boeing)

aircraft (or part of them) and have them type approved by one’s own certification offices at a comparatively frightening cost-indeed a very juicy activity for the so-called consultant agencies involved.

Eyes are currently focused on the male UAV types and perhaps their immediate sub-category. The champions in terms of export in this domain undoubtedly are the Israelis, if one combines the types marketed by Israel Aircraft Industries and Elbit. Emerging countries are however trying to find ways of moving away from dependency, particularly when airlaunched weapons are involved.

In Europe, the development of a jointnation UAV has become a comedy or a drama depending on the way it is looked at. For the time being, this disaster makes the fortune of General Atomics whose customers for the Reaper include France, Italy, the Netherlands and Britain. Three of these, in particular, never managed to agree on a single basic European design, but all eventually agreed to go out and buy the same one from abroad, displaying a great sense of unity.

So what will now happen to the umpteenth European project “confirmed”

“Missiles-and particularly the fire-and-forget variety-are strictly speaking the only true man-made unmanned aerial vehicles in use so far.”

by Angela Merkel and François Hollande during the first week of April is really matter for conjecture, as the German Chancellor actually mentioned the possibility of an armed version, which is rather surprising given the German population’s current aversion to weapons.

The project has been in the air for a while now; it remains to be seen when the actual aircraft will make to the air. As a matter of fact, this particular (and latest) project finds its origins in the industry, as is often the case, and is the result of a plea made in June 2013 by Dassault, Alenia and Cassidian (now Airbus), but which hitherto went unheeded—the norm when politicians must get involved.

Now of course, two years later, it becomes their own idea. The photo of the model

presented herewith was photographed by Armada last year by Dassault. The project is known as the Male 2020.

In total contrast, Europe has been the cradle of several military rotary-wing UAVs, but none, it is true, are multiplenation products. But, to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s, the European developments largely find their roots in a Swedish firm called Cyb-Aero, whose Apid models have often been a starting point for a number of projects. The subject of rotary wing UAVs is examined further down this survey.

I Manpower and Mishaps

Returning to the matter of UAV costs, there is concern that “unmanned” aircraft actually require considerable manpower.

For example, the US Air Force reportedly plans to allocate ten pilots to each MQ-1/MQ-9 Cap (combat air patrol) during normal operations. The service is required by the Pentagon to provide 65 Caps, each with four UAVs. Add in the sensor operators, maintenance crews and intelligence analysts, and every “unmanned” flight-hour requires hundreds of human-hours. armada

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“The FAA is not expected to clear the use of UAVs for trivial missions such as pizza delivery.”

During a demonstration staged by Rheinmetall in Ochsenboden in 2013 and witnessed by Armada, a high-energy laser successfully knocked three high-speed jet-powered UAVs out of the sky within a few seconds. The Hel laser was installed on top of a Revolver Gun turret.

(Armada/Eric H. Biass)

Another US Air Force concern is that it is currently not rewarding for its personnel to learn to fly only UAVs, which the service (like Nato) refers to as RPAs (unlike the US Army and Navy, which call them UAVs, and the US Congress, Coast Guard and FAA, which call them UAS). One new effort to incentivise US Air Force RPA-only pilots to stay beyond their six-year active-duty commitment is an increase in “flight” pay from $ 650 to $ 1500 per month.

One piece of good news in regard to UAV costs is that accident rates for the more expensive types are coming down to acceptable levels. This is important, since the US Air Force has over 300 large UAVs, currently listed as 164 MQ-1s, 194 MQ-9s and 33 Northrop Grumman RQ-4s.

Class A mishaps are defined as those resulting in damage costing $ 2.0 million or more, and rates are calculated per 100,000 flight hours. Benefiting from improvements in pilot training and aircraft modifications, the Class A rates for the MQ-1 and MQ-9 are now approaching that for the (manned) Lockheed Martin F-16, and the rates for the RQ-4 (which

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has more redundant systems) is actually lower than that of the F-16.

The point can be made by reference to US Air Force data for the last five years (FY10-FY14). During this period the service’s F-16 fleet flew an average of 195,623 hr/yr, and had a Class A mishap rate of 1.79. Meanwhile its piston-engined MQ-1s flew 209,233 hr/yr and had a mishap rate of 4.30. The turboprop MQ9s flew 119,205 hr/yr and had a mishap rate of 2.35. The largest of the US Air Force UAVs, the RQ-4s flew only 15,356 hr/yr, but had a mishap rate of only 1.30.

I Compare Apples with Apples, not Pears

The cost battle on remote control aircraft versus traditional aircraft is actually absurd.

A UAV devoid of all the systems required by an on-board pilot (avionics, ejection seat, canopy, Obogs, pressurisation, air conditioning, etc.) is necessarily cheapernot to mention the weight and volume penalty that is thus saved and that would otherwise have other costs in terms of size and therefore added weight. One tends to forget an essential point in

such calculations. A fighter aircraft, for instance, is a system, just like a UAV, and requires its own complex infrastructure.

Very often, that cost factor is not drawn into the equation. UAVs, on the other hand, are sold as systems and when a first buy is involved the entire operational environment has to be created.

Then, a major part that cannot be measured as part of the operational cost per hour is efficiency. Whatever people may say, a Global Hawk can stay aloft a lot longer than a U-2, its crew can take 8-hour shifts, whereas the U-2 pilot can’t.

In the U-2 versus Global Hawk controversy, the real question is “is a Global Hawk needed to do a time-limited U-2 job?” In other words, “would one use a Rolls-Royce to plough a field?” On the other hand, would one take the risk of a Gary Powers Mk2 adventure, or rather send out a Global Hawk if it is known that the environment is unsafe, but the mission a necessity? Certain things are not measurable, and there’s a word for this. It is incommensurable.

In principle, the cost of some military UAVs (especially the small air vehicles used by front-line forces) should benefit from civil developments. While armed forces buy around 1,000 UAVs per year, hobbyists were estimated to have bought around 500,000 in 2014 and to be heading for one million in 2015. Aside from benefiting from the large scale of civil production, the military may exploit some low-cost civil developments. Examples include sonar obstacle-avoidance, the video tracking of manoeuvring targets, and waterproof quadrotors that can float and stare underwater.

The leader in the civil sector is China’s Shenshen-based Da-Jiang Innovations (DJI), which has 2,800 employees and in 2013 recorded sales of $ 130 million (followed by around $400 million in 2014).

Its products sell for $ 500 to $ 3,000. Two other principals are America’s 3D Robotics, based in Berkeley, California, and France’s Parrot, based in Paris. Parrot sold 218,000 AR UAVs in 2012 alone.

To illustrate the value-for-money of consumer UAVs, in April 2014 DJI launched the Phantom 2 Vision+, a GPS-guided UAV

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information to the UAV operator so that appropriate avoidance action can be taken.

Meanwhile General Atomics (GA) is developing the UAV-mounted Due Regard Radar (DRR), which is proposed as an element of the FAA Airborne CollisionAvoidance System for Unmanned aircraft (ACAS-Xu). The DRR has been tested as part of GA’s Sense-And-Avoid (SAA) system, which includes automatic collision-avoidance and sensor fusion to provide the UAV pilot with a display of the traffic around his aircraft. The company is working with Nasa to integrate its SAA system on the latter’s Predator-B test UAV, named Ikhana.

I CUAS

In 2014 Darpa issued an RFI regarding transports and bombers to act as “aircraft carriers in the sky”, launching and recovering small multi-role UAVs to penetrate hostile airspace and attack heavily defended targets. (Darpa)

with a stabilised camera that shoots 1080p HD video at 30 frames/sec and takes 14 megapixel stills. It cost only $ 1,299.

The commercial UAV sector is relatively small, but over 2300 are already used in agriculture in Asia, and the American market should take off when the Federal Aviation Agency finally finalises its rules for the operation of small UAVs. It is currently expected that UAVs weighing less than 25 kg (but more than 2.0 kg) will be allowed to carry out aerial photography and mapping, crop monitoring, and the inspection of oil and natural gas pipelines, cellphone towers, bridges and tall buildings. The FAA predicts that 7500 US commercial UAVs will be operating by 2020.

However, it is anticipated that commercial UAVs (“Small UAS”) will be restricted to daylight operation with at least 4.8 km visibility, a maximum altitude of 500 ft (which is clearly inadequate for some of these tasks) and in visual line-ofsight (Vlos) with an operator who carries the FAA’s UAS Operator Certificate. It must display identification markings of

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the largest practical size. The FAA is not expected to clear the use of UAVs for trivial missions such as pizza delivery.

The return of military UAVs to the continental US (Conus) has highlighted the need for measures to ensure that they do not collide with other flying objects using the National Airspace System (Nas).

So far this has been accomplished by the use of a manned chase plane or a ground observer, which restricts operations to daytime.

The US Army has now begun installing SRC’s ground-based sense-and-avoid (Gbsaa) system at its key Conus airbases, starting with Fort Hood, Texas in December 2014. This will be followed by Fort Drum in New York, Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia, Fort Campbell in Kentucky, and Fort Riley in Kansas.

The Gbsaa system takes data over fibre optic cables or microwave links from a number of airspace sensors (three SRC Lstar radars in the first application) and computes the risks of UAV-collisions associated with other aircraft tracks.

The Gbsaa operator (GBO) passes this

There is growing awareness that in future conflicts UAVs may pose a threat to any ground and surface forces. The obvious way to deal with a Predator-size UAV is a shoulder-launched infrared-homing missile.

To protect the UAV against this type of threat, Elbit Systems has developed the mini-Music directional infrared countermeasure (Dircm) system. The attacking weapon is initially detected by a missile approach warning system, then acquired by a thermal tracker, which allows a laser beam to be fired accurately at the incoming weapon, disrupting its guidance.

It is conceivable that large UAVs might in future have some form of defensive micro-missiles, analogous to the ALE47-dispensed Orbital ATK Helicopter Active Protective System (Haps), which was developed to defend against RPGs. Forward ground units are likely to have air defence weapons to engage manned aircraft and medium/large UAVs, but they currently do not have the means to deal with small UAVs, which may be used in swarms. Counter Unmanned Air Systems (Cuas) studies therefore emphasise the detection of multiple small airborne targets and the development of low-cost means to defeat them.

Radar detection is effective, but not feasible at small unit level, hence the use of passive infrared and other wavebands is being investigated. In regard to UAVdefeat mechanisms, mini-missiles (such as the US Navy’s 2.5-kg Spike) would in series production have a unit cost measured in tens of thousands of dollars, making them too expensive a means to counter a swarm of micro-UAVs.

Tern is a joint programme by Darpa and the US Navy’s Office of Naval Research to give forward deployed small ships the ability to serve as bases for Male ISR UAVs. (Darpa Concept Image)

However, ground- or surface-based directed energy weapons using lasers or microwaves offer the prospect of low cost per target, and less collateral casualties and damage than (for example) fragmentation warheads. The targeted UAV does not necessarily have to be destroyed. Damage to its radome or sensor window would probably render it aerodynamically unstable and negate its mission.

Laser weapons provide not only low cost (less than one dollar) per kill, but also virtually unlimited magazine capacity, fast engagement and the ability to deal with manoeuvring targets. On the other hand they are subject to atmospheric attenuation, especially due to water vapour and smoke, and can only engage one target at a time. They clearly cannot attack over-the-horizon targets.

Boeing has demonstrated a 10-kW truck-mounted laser weapon developed under the US Army’s High Energy Laser Mobile Demonstrator (HEL-MD) programme. UAVs and mortar bombs were successfully engaged at ranges of up to 5.0 km and 2.0 km respectively.

In a recent field test, Lockheed Martin’s 30-kW Athena (Advanced Test High Energy Asset) fibre laser weapon disabled the engine of a small truck at a distance of more than 1.6 km.

Boeing has been contracted to develop a prototype High Power Beam-Control Subsystem (HP-BCSS). This is to provide

the extreme accuracy required by laser weapons being developed for use on US Navy ships by BAE Systems, Northrop Grumman and Raytheon under the ONR’s Solid State Laser - Technology Maturation (SSL-TM) programme.

Sea trials began in 2012 with the US Navy’s Laser Weapon System (LaWS) on board the USS Dewey (DDG-105).

Developed under the leadership of Naval Sea Systems Command (Navsea),

LaWS is a 30-kW SSL designated AN/ SEQ-3(XN-1). In 2014 it was deployed as an SSL-Quick Reaction Capability (QRC) on board the USS Ponce, an interim Afloat Forward Staging Base (AFSB[I]) based at Manama, Bahrain as part of the US Navy’s 5th Fleet.

The SSL-QRC and –TM programmes are intended to lead to a 100-150 kW Advanced Development Model by 2016, to guide the integration of HEL on

The five-tonne Boeing Swift Phantom demonstrator will be powered by two CT-7 turboshaft engines. Darpa imposes a forward speed of 400 knots at 40% load and the possibility for the 15-metre span (over ducted fans) aircraft to be inhabited. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

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Following termination of the US Army’s Northrop Grumman Lemv programme in 2013, Hybrid Air Vehicles bought back the HAV304 prototype to serve as the basis for the manned Airlander illustrated. A future drone derivative is possible. (HAV)

ships such as the Arleigh Burke (DDG51) class of destroyers and LCS frigates.

The US Navy plans a shipboard laser weapon programme of record “in the FY2018 time-frame”, leading to IOC in FY2020/21. These more powerful lasers are expected to be effective against various surface and airborne targets at ranges up to 15-20 km.

In 2014 the US Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded Raytheon a $ 11.0 million contract to integrate a shortrange laser weapon system on a Hummer vehicle. This line of development is expected to lead to a 30-kW laser weapon and a compact phased-array radar being installed on the future Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV).

Germany’s Rheinmetall has recently acquired comprehensive experience with the use of commercially available high energy lasers and with their adaptation as weapon systems, particularly in the field of air defence. In 2013 it successfully demonstrated a 50-kW weapon, and a 30kW version with an optical tracking system,

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integrated into an Oerlikon Revolver Gun air defence turret, and linked to an Oerlikon Skyguard radar fire control unit.

The 30-kW weapon shot down three jetpowered UAVs flying at 50 metres/sec at a range of around two kilometres.

I Novel Concepts

Airborne laser weapons may be applicable not only to sixth-generation manned fighters but also to medium-size UAVs. America’s Missile Defense Agency (MDA) plans to spend $ 286 million in FY16-20 in developing weapons technology that will “build the foundation for the next generation UAV-borne laser system, capable of tracking and eventually destroying the enemy at a much lower cost than the existing missile defense system”.

General Atomics has been carrying out laboratory tests on a “third-generation laser system” that will be able to fire ten 150-kW bursts of energy between recharges, which will take only three minutes. The company is designing a 1360-kg package to house this laser and

fit inside the weapon bay of its Avenger.

If funded by DoD, this package could be ready for airborne tests within two years.

It may be noted that Afsoc has voiced interest in the concept of a pallet-mounted laser weapon that could be mounted in a Lockheed Martin C-130.

In another move to exploit the potential of UAVs, the US Army is developing the concept of Manned-Unmanned Teaming (Mum-T, or simply Mut), in which pilots of the Boeing AH-64 Apache and Bell OH-58D are able to control UAVs such as the General Atomics MQ-1C Gray Eagle, Northrop Grumman MQ-5B Hunter, Textron Systems RQ-7B Shadow, AeroVironment RQ-11B Raven and Puma AE, to specify their flight paths, direct their sensors and view their imagery.

This is being achieved through progressively more capable levels of equipment. For example, the AH-64D Block II has Level Two, allowing it to receive video from a UAV in flight and direct its sensor. The AH-64E Guardian (formerly AH-64D Block III) has Level

In July 2010 the solar-powered Zephyr Seven established the absolute aircraft endurance record of 336 hours and 22 minutes. (Airbus Defence and Space)

Four, allowing the pilot also to control the flight path of the UAV. In essence, Mut allows sensors to be taken close to hostile targets without risk to the controlling aircraft, providing the helicopter crew with high quality live imagery of the target about to be attacked.

In the longer term, through its use of UAVs the AH-64E will absorb the role of the OH-58D armed aerial scout.

In a game-changing concept, Darpa’s Gremlin programme envisions transports and bombers serving as “aircraft carriers in the sky”, launching from a safe distance volleys of small multi-role UAVs that would fly into contested airspace, and later recover to the launch aircraft. Darpa issued the RFI (request for information) in late 2014, aiming for full system demonstrations within four years. The Agency has requested an initial $ 8.0 million for Gremlin in FY16.

Darpa’s Team-US (Technology for Enriching and Augmenting MannedUnmanned Systems) is another radical approach to future anti-access, area-denial scenarios. Since the number of sixthgeneration manned combat aircraft will be

very limited, fourth- and fifth-generation US fighters will have to remain viable.

They can do so by directing swarms of attritable “unmanned wingmen”, which would perform surveillance, electronic attack and weapon delivery missions against network-integrated air defence systems. Darpa has requested $ 12.0 million for Team-US in FY16.

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is also working on the concept of an “affordable, attritable” air-launched UAV, aiming for a unit cost of no more than $ 3.0 million.

One of the building blocks for the use of swarms of UAVs is Darpa’s Collaborative Operation in Denied Environments (Code) programme. This is aimed at one person controlling six or more UAVs, equipped for “collaborative autonomy” in finding targets and engaging them.

I Males at Sea

Another mould-breaking programme originated by Darpa is Tern, which explores concepts that would allow Male (medium-altitude, long-endurance) UAVs with ISR and strike capability to

be operated (even in elevated sea states) from forward-deployed US Navy ships that do not have a carrier-type deck.

In May 2014 Darpa teamed with the Office of Naval Research (ONR) on Tern (formerly TERN for Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node), aiming for a full-scale at-sea demonstration from a ship with the same deck size as an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. The US Navy is also interested in operating Tern from its Littoral Combat Ships (LCS), amphibious transport docks (LPDs), dock landing ships (LSDs) and Military Sealift Command cargo ships.

In production form, the Tern UAV is intended to remain on station at 925 km radius for over ten hours, and to deliver a 270-kg payload to a radius of 1700 km, which (if attainable) would allow 98% of the world’s land area to be reached from the sea. It is envisioned that Tern would be used in deep overland ISR and strike missions without use of a forward base or help from a host nation. Since stealth is not mentioned, the concept appears to assume a military undeveloped region, a surprise attack, or standoff jamming support. armada

Compendium UAVs

2015

13

The US Navy’s second Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton, BuNo 168458, made its first flight on October 15, 2014. (Northrop Grumman/Alan Radecki)

The key to Tern is clearly the launch and recovery system, but Darpa is also interested in developing compact stowage arrangements, robotic deck handling and automated maintenance and preflight checkout. The objective is to achieve prototype flight demonstration in 2017.

For Tern Phase One, Darpa concept definition study contracts were awarded in September 2013 to Aurora Flight Sciences, Carter Aviation Technologies, Maritime Applied Physics Corporation, Northrop Grumman and AeroVironment.

Twelve-month Tern Phase Two preliminary design contracts were awarded

by Darpa to Northrop Grumman and AeroVironment in October 2014, to lead to a subscale flight demonstration prior to the Phase Three contract award.

There are rumours that vertical operation is used by both contractors, but Aurora has received a Darpa contract to develop its patented SideArm UAV launch and recovery system. This evidently uses a rig that mounts a launch rail and a recovery loop which is engaged by a hook extended from the top of the UAV. I Vtolx-Plane

Discussion of Darpa-led work on future UAVs would be incomplete without reference to the 52-month, $ 130 million Vtol X-Plane programme, although this is aimed at technology that will be equally applicable to manned aircraft.

14

armada

Compendium UAVs

2015

The Agency plans to develop a demonstrator that can achieve a speed of 550-750 km/hr, a hover efficiency of over 60%, a cruise lift/drag ratio of at least ten, and a useful load equal to at least 40% of its 4500-5500 kg gross weight.

Phase One 22-month X-Plane contracts were awarded in October 2013 to Aurora Flight Sciences, Boeing, Karem Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft (teamed with Lockheed Martin Skunk Works). Nothing appears to have been revealed about the Aurora project, aside from its LightningStrike name. The Boeing Phantom Swift has two lift fans buried in the fuselage and two wingtip-mounted vectorable ducted fans.

The Sikorsky Rotor Blown Wing is a tailsitter. Karem’s design has optimum-speed tilt rotors at mid semi-span, the outer wings tilting with the rotors.

The four contenders are to submit preliminary designs in late 2015, and Darpa is to select one contractor to build an X-Plane technology demonstrator to fly in February 2018.

I Persistent Surveillance

The security situation in Afghanistan from 2003 onwards led to a desire for full-time aerial surveillance, in such detail that the emplacement of roadside bombs could be detected. There were various proposals for the use of lighter-than-air (LTA) vehicles, but-aside from tethered aerostats—none has entered service. The US Air Force’s

Mav6 Blue Devil Two project was cancelled in June 2012 and the US Army’s Northrop Grumman Lemv (Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle) was halted in February 2013.

The Lemv was to be based on the HAV304 hybrid airship developed by the UK-based Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV).

The first of three prototypes planned for the programme flew in August 2012 at Lakehurst, New Jersey. After Lemv was cancelled, HAV bought back the prototype from the Pentagon for $ 301,000, export from the US being allowed on the assurance that it would be operated only in manned form.

The HAV304 is now to be used as a technology demonstrator, while the company develops (with some British Government funding) the much larger, manned Airlander 50, designed to carry a 50-tonne load for 4800 km. First flight is planned for 2018-19. Although not (yet) promoted, in unmanned form the Airlander 10 production version of the HAV304 is estimated to have-as was required for Lemv-an endurance of 21 days, flying at 20,000 ft with a 1150-kg payload.

The only high-tech ISR-LTA is the Raytheon Jlens, in which surveillance and tracking radars carried by two tethered unmanned balloons are positioned at 10,000 ft altitude for up to 30 days at a time. The Jlens can detect and track lowflying manned aircraft and cruise missiles

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Compendium UAVs

2015

15

The third Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton, financed by the manufacturer, had its maiden flight on November 18, 2014.

The three development aircraft are shown reunited at the Naval Air Warfare Center at Patuxent River, Maryland. (US Navy)

at ranges of up to 550 km. It also has a limited capability against short-range ballistic missiles.

Plans for Jlens production have been cancelled, but two systems have been completed. One is the subject of a threeyear US Army evaluation, to see how well it integrates with the existing Norad Eastern Air Defense Sector, and the other is in strategic reserve, available for worldwide deployment, if required.

The hybrid airship combination of helium gas, modern envelope materials, aerodynamic lift from body shaping, and vectored thrust offers the prospect of extremely long endurance, coupled with easier ground handling than traditional airships. As stol devices, they provide independence from conventional airfields, although they will need a flat, clear area perhaps 300 metres across.

cruise for 120 hours with a 450-kg payload, but at only 20,000 ft, with correspondingly reduced coverage.

In December 2014, the Orion prototype with 450 kg of ballast performed a flight lasting 80 hours, and landed back at China Lake, California with 770 kg of fuel remaining. The flight, conducted at altitudes up to 10,000 ft, was terminated early due to range availability.

The Orion is estimated to be capable of 114 hours (4.75 days) endurance at 800 km radius, reducing to 51 hours at 4800 km. It could be modified to carry a 450-kg load under either wing, giving

it strike potential. Ferry range is 24,000 km. It cruises at 125-160 km/hr, and has a dash speed of 220 km/hr. The Orion may represent a cost-effective alternative to an unarmed Predator.

Two US hydrogen-powered projects are aimed at the holy grail of extended endurance at 65,000 ft, an altitude that would provide realistic optimum of area coverage for a wingborne aircraft.

The 4450-kg Boeing Phantom Eye subscale demonstrator has a 45.7-metre wingspan and two 2.3-litre tripleturbocharged 112-kW Ford engines that burn liquid hydrogen, contained in two

I Fixed-Wing Extremes

However, refinements in relatively conventional fixed-wing aircraft are leading to endurances measured in days. Their continuing role in extreme endurance operations is thus assured.

Aurora Flight Sciences was selected in 2007 to perform the AFRL Ultra Long Endurance study, to establish whether a fixed-wing design could offer an alternative to the LTA concepts then being promoted. This led to the 3175-kg Orion, at that stage a single-engined, hydrogenfuelled aircraft, designed to cruise at 65,000 ft for more than one day with a 180-kg payload. The Orion programme is AFRL-managed, but mainly funded by the US Army’s SMDC (Space & Missiles Defense Command).

As work on the Orion design continued, it evolved into the twin-Austro diesel engined, 5080-kg Male aircraft with a 40.2-metre wingspan. Orion was now to

16

armada

Compendium UAVs

2015

The turboprop-powered General Atomics MQ-9B Reaper has proved highly successful in the hunter-killer role. This trials aircraft is shown armed with four MBDA Brimstone air-ground missiles. (MBDA)

The Piaggio Aero P.1HH Hammerhead is a UAV version of the high-speed P.180 Avanti business aircraft. The Italian Air Force is to be the launch customer, planning to order six Hammerheads and three control stations. (Piaggio Aero)

2.44-metre diameter spherical tanks. It in this case the engine powers an was designed to remain for four days at electrical generator, running four up to 65,000 ft with a 200-kg payload. motors that turn propellers distributed The Phantom Eye demonstrator had along the wing leading edge. The its maiden flight in June 2012, sustained GO-1 was designed to stay aloft for five some damage on landing, and resumed days at up to 65,000 ft with a 170-kg flight trials in February 2013. In June payload.

Funded by six US Government agencies, 2013 Boeing was awarded a $ 6.8 million the GO-1 began flight trials in January 2011, contract by the US Missile Defense but crashed after 18 hours into its ninth Agency to install an unidentified payload flight three months later. In December in the demonstrator. Subsequent flights 2012 the Pentagon terminated funding. reached 28,000 ft and endurances of up to five hours. Boeing is continuing trials, However, AeroVironment completed a aiming to increase endurance and achieve second prototype, and in February 2014 an altitude of at least 60,000 ft. teamed with Lockheed Martin to market If successful, this demonstrator internationally the Global Observer as an programme could lead to construction “atmospheric satellite system”.

Fixed-wing aircraft with hydrogenof the full-scale Phantom Eye with a burning reciprocating engines evidently 64-metre wingspan, designed to stay at extreme altitude for ten days with a 450- have potential for extreme endurance kg payload. Four such aircraft are claimed at high altitude, but the endurance and to be capable of providing continuous sustained altitude records for UAVs are communications coverage. held by a solar-powered aircraft.

Originally developed by the UK-based In the same class as the Phantom Qinetiq, the Zephyr Seven established Eye subscale demonstrator, the Aero the official endurance record for manned/ Vironment Global Observer GO-1 has a unmanned aircraft of 336 hours and 40-metre wingspan and a single engine burning hydrogen. However, 22 minutes in July 2010. It also established

a UAV record for sustained altitude of 70,740 ft.

The Zephyr Seven has a wingspan of 22.5 metres and a take-off weight of 53 kg, with a payload of ten kg. It cruises at around 55 km/hr and has a dash speed of 100 km/ hr. The project has now been acquired

by Airbus Defence & Space, and a larger Zephyr Eight is planned, to be marketed as a “high altitude pseudo-satellite” (Haps).

In late 2013 South Korea’s Dapa (Defense Acquisition Program Adminis-tration) announced a plan to develop an ultra-light solar-powered UAV by 2017 to perform such missions as communications relay. The UAV is to remain on station for three days at a height of 10-50 km (33,000-164,000 ft). The budget of $ 42.5 million is to be provided by various government ministries.

America’s Darpa has meanwhile expressed interest in developing unmanned aircraft that could monitor military and commercial activities north of the Arctic Circle for more than 30 days at a time, keeping track of air, surface and subsurface targets. Operating year-round at such high latitudes would clearly be a difficult challenge for solar-powered UAVs. armada

Compendium UAVs

2015

17

Aerolight

Payload:

2.56 4.00

8 kg

Hi-resolution CCD or night camera

Aerosky

Arrow Lite

40

Israel Aerospace Industries

t-o/recove: cat-para

10 4.00

Payload: ~0.220 kg

1.10 2.47

(manufacturer

day + infrared

Asio

n/a t-o/recove: conv-conv

70.31 15 5.00

Payload: 1.5 kg

n/a 0.62

+laser illum

Low-level day or uncooled infrared 1x electric

Stark Aerospace Desert Hawk III

~3 ~15 2.75

Lockheed Martin Fire Scout MQ-8C

Payload:

Hermes 90

K-Max

Dragon Eye RQ-14A

7.5 10+ 1.5

Payload: 136 kg Flir Brite Star II Telephonics sar Cobra ASW

Fire Shadow

Predator A MQ-1

Payload:

25 kg

Elbit Enhanced Micro Composs 14 hp 2-stroke

110 15 15+

MBDA Hermes 450

Scaneagle

Elbit Systems KZO

Shahpar

Payload:

Spy Arrow

Payload: 204 kg MST-A EO/IR, Lynx sar, singint, esm, GPS, INS, Hellfire

Wasp III

Patroller

Payload:

n/a

Stabilised day or IR

Predator B, Reaper MQ-9

449 20 20

Scout

480 17 7

Payload:

50

electro-optica Pakistani Origin

0.2 kg

Day or IR. auto pilot.

Siva

4763 50 30+

Switchblade

Payload:

n/a

Video, IR

300 12 6.50

0.61 ~1

Aerovironment

t-o/recove: hand-belly

1.30 1500 0.33

4.02 5.81

Inta

XM300/ 400ES

0.28 0.40

1050 25 30+

n/a

Dcompass + 1x UEL AR-801 52 hp

Amps (Elbit), Sar, satcom

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

n/a

Flir Rheinmetall 1x 30 hp Defrence Schrick Electronics SF2-350S

t-o/recove: rato-para

Payload:

n/a

Euroflir 410, Thales sar 1x 115 hp Rotax t-o/recove: conv-conv 914F Payload: 363 kg Lynx sar, L-3 Wescom EO/IR, sigint, ESM, Hellfire, 1x Ase GBU-12, GBU-38 TPE33 1-10T (export. ISR only) tp

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

0.80 0.80

Datron

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

<1.00 low 0.50

Payload:

n/a

Gimballe EO/IR 4x

t-o/recove: cat-cable

4-cyl Rotax 912 ULS100 hp

161 11.50 3.50

10.36 20.12

General Atomics

1x 1.5 hp 2-stroke

18 16 15

t-o/recove: boost

200 15 6

8.50 18

Sagem

1x Rotax 914 115 hp t-o/recove: conv-conv

0.60 0.66

Thales

1.2 kg

t-o/recove: cat-para

6.50 18 3.00

1157 25 40

Rheinmetall

Hight-resolution stabilised CCD (typically Controp brushless M-Stamp)

4.2 6.6

Gids

n/a

Day/Night electro optical Explosive

2.26 3.41

t-o/recove: vtol

5200 23 12+

1.19 3.05

Boeing

Payload:

6.10 10.52

t-o/recove: conv/cat conv

Payload: 2700 kg

8.23 17

General Atomics

t-o/recove: hand-belly

2.04 1.00 1.00

UEL

1.00 2.20

Aeronautics

n/a

Day TV 2xAveax 1005/6Y

1500 hp T5317A1

Orbiter

Payload:

4 ~4

t-o/recove: vert-vert

2731 16 12

15.8 15.8

Lockeed Martin-Kaman

t-o/recove: vtol

8.00 6 0.50

1.73 1.16

Aerovironment

t-o/recove: hand-belly

4.00 5.00

Elbit Systems

1.0 kg

day/IR, sigint

12.7 ~36

Northrop Grumman

Selex Galileo

t-o/recove: hand-belly

0.9 1.5

18 kg

Cats EO not determined)

8 hp

Aeronautics

Payload:

n/a 4.48

Wasp AE

2.7 n/a 0.6

0.76 1.02

t-o/recove: auto vtol

Payload:

40 kg

CCD, IR stabilised turret Rotax 503 UL-2V 49.6 hp t-o/recove: conv/cat-

conv/para

Payload:

n/a

Day camera + GPS Explosive grenade pin-point anti personnel t-o/recove: tuve launch

Payload:

n/a

Stab. day + infrared camera

n/a

18

armada

Aerovironment Compendium UAVs

2015

0.32 10 1.00

t-o/recove: land-belly

armada Compendium UAVs 2015

Aerovironment

1.3 0.5 0.5

t-o/recove: hand-belly

Armada International’s Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 G

Payload:

2.10 3.6

AAI-Aerosonde Bat 12

Payload:

1.90 3.6

Northrop Grumman Eagle 1/Harfang

100 20 14

Fury

1150 25 24

Hermes 900

Elbit Systems Luna

EMT Pchela 1

Predator C Avenger

130 8.20 2.00

13.4 20.11

General Atomics Searcher Mk III

IAI Malat Skeldar V-200

T-20

Payload:

Watchkeeper

Cyberflight Global Hawk RQ-4B Bk 20-40

n/a

Day or IR

Payload:

n/a

TV or LLTV or elint

Heron

*internal 2948kg tot, Lynx sar, EO/IR 4,800lbt turret, wide PW54B rang of GBUs

IAI Malat Manta IA-17 Extended

Stab day+infrared (Tamam), satcom Much quieter engine 1x 80hp than Searcher II Limbach

40 kg

EO/IR

t-o/recove: hand-belly

2.20 4.00 1.00

Payload: 1360 kg

14,628 65

Block 20: sar, EO+IR wide area search/spot.

36

1x R-R Block 40: MR-RTIP AE3007 H sar/MTI radar tf

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

Indra Predator XP

1100 30 50

1x Rotax 914 115 hp

Seeker II

Skylark I-LE

7.5 kg

Stab zoom day + infrared Retractable gimbal assy

12.5 18 >20

t-o/recove: cat-para

Payload: max 40 kg EO/IR, soon Sar, sigint Hirth 2-str 58 hp t-o/recove: auto vtol

200 11+ 6+

Payload: 204 kg Lynx sar, Sigin, ESM, EO/IR, satcom, GPS, Rotax 914 INS turbo t-o/recove: conv-conv

2300 25 40

Payload:

n/a 7.00

Denel

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

8 17

General Atomics

n/a

TV & IR, custom (IAI Tamam)

4.00 3.30

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

1x electric

3 hp

Pelicano

8 kg

Infrared, Mpeg recorder

1.27 2.8

IDS

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload: 120 kg

Payload:

8.60 16.61

Samana/ Trud P-032 32 hp t-o/recove: cat-conv Payload: 1588 kg*

t-o/recove: hand or

cat belly

5.60 n/a 1.00

14.53 39.90

Northrop Grumman

t-o/recove: cat-net/

para

n/a

Colour camera, multi-sensor, electronic survey

280 18 10

1x 4-cyl 2-stroke 50 hp t-o/recove: conv-conv

/arrestor

Payload:

1.5 3.00

1.2 kg

E-O Controp

2-str Hirth 55 hp

75 n/a 16

450 15 30

Elbit Systems

t-o/recove: vtol

230 13 -6.00

Payload:

190-cc 10 hp Honda 4-str

16 kg

Cloud Cap T2 EO, Cloud Cap Piccolo autopilot, two drop loads.

T-Hawk Mav

n/a

EO plus

Honeywell X-47B (Ucas-D)

demonstrator

I-Master radar UEL AR 801 38.8 kW

t-o/recove: hand-conv

7.5 15 3.00

Payload: 0.45 kg

0.40 0.33

t-o/recove: cat-belly

Payload:

6.10 10.51

U-Tacs

n/a

CCD camera (various manufs) Athena Guidestar 2-cyl 2-s 311system 6.70 hp

426 19 16

Payload:

0.82 1.00

t-o/recove: conv-conv

2.87 5.26

Arcturus

n/a

EO gimbal, Sar GMTI (Elbit), satcom, air-to-ground weapons singint, 1x Rolax elint 100 hp

4.00 4.70

Saab

E-Swift Eye

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload: 300 kg

7167 53 20

5.85 8.56

250 kg

t-o/recove: cat-net

<40 10 6+

Zanzottera 2-piston 490ia 200 18 14 38 hp t-o/recove: conv-conv

0.80 2.20

IAI Malat

Stab day-night + “special mission” suite Entered service in 2011

2.77 3.26

Yakovlev Design Bureau

Bird Eye 400

t-o/recove: cat-net

Payload:

970 33 40

2.26 2.36

Aeronautics

50 kg

Stabilised EO

n/a

EO or EW 1x Rotax 914 115 hp

Payload:

4.50 6.50

option

Payload:

135 15 15

15 15

Aerostar

sigint, weopons 16hp 2-stroke Hirth

~1 4.35

Lockheed Matin

34 kg

EO/IR, sar,

4.00 16.3

EADS-IAI Malat

5 kg

Cloud Cap stab. day+infrared, also belly-mounted sigint pack New specific 4hp single piston engine (2014) t-o/recove: cat-belly/ Lyc.EL-005 15.20 15 12

net

6.80 10.50 0.70

2-stroke 3W engine 4 hp

Sony FCB-IX11A EO, DRS E3500 IR cameras

t-o/recove: vtol

Payload: 2040 kg

11.58 18.90

EO, IR, Sar, GMTI, ESM, IO P&W F100

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Northrop Grumman

armada Compendium UAVs 2015

20.215 40

armada

40+

Compendium UAVs

t-o/recove: conv-conv

2015

19

Compendium of UAVs Aladin

Payload:

0.60 1.46

n/a

Day or IR

Anka Block A

Payload: 200 kg

8 173

300 T E-O turret (Savronic datalink)

1x electric

EMT Bird Eye 650

TAI

t-o/recove: hand-belly

4.0 low 1.00

Payload:

~1 3.00

1.1 kg

E-O Controp

Black Jack

1750 30 24

Centurion TMG 2.0 heavy fuel

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload:

2.10 4.80

23 kg

infrared, marker

8 hp

IAI

11 15 3+

Falco

Payload:

5.30 7.20

Selex Galileo

450 15 14

Global Hawk RQ-4 Block 30

UEL AR 682 75 hp

1x RR AE30007 H 14628 60

Heron TP

36

Mantis

4650 45 36

demonstrator

TV & IR, custom (IAI Tamam, various)

Selex ES Global Hawk Triton (Bams)

n/a

2 x EO, Sar

EO/IR, sar, EW. comint

650 20 18+

Hero SD-150

Payload: 10 kg*

21.5 15 >20

Puma AE

*incl fuel, modular pallet 2.5 hp Honda

1xRR AE30007 H 14628 60

Mantis

Payload:

Payload: -500gr

1.40 2.80

Pioneer

Gimballed EO, IR

1.52 12+

Payload:

R90

Seeker 400

Payload: 100 kg

10 15

210 15 6.50

Sentry HP

n/a n/a 0.50

Skylark II

DRS Technologies

t-o/recove: conv-conv

n/a 8.00 16

Payload:

n/a 4.20

9 kg

Stabilised EO not defined

Sky Saker CH4

150 10 6.00

1x 27 hp Sachs SF2 t-o/recove: conv/rato- 350

con Payload:

65

1x Enics M44D pulse jet

Tipchak (1K113)

Payload:

2.40 3.40

Luch

n/a

TV, IR, targeting laser (Vego)

Tracker (Drac)

Hirth 12 hp 50

Yarara

70 4.00

Payload:

2.47 3.98

EO

5 kg

Zala 421-12

1x 2-stroke 28 hp

Nostromo Defensa

armada

Compendium UAVs

2015

30

10 6.00

t-o/recove: conv-conv

/para

Payload: 345 kg Stab. day + infrared, SAR endurance: armed/clean, laser guided missiles or GPS guided bombs t-o/recove: conv-conv

1350 22.5 14/30

Payload: 1.8

t-o/recove: hand-belly

7.50 6.50 2.00

Payload: 1.00 kg

0.62 1.60

Day or IR Electric

t-o/recove: vtol

armada Compendium UAVs 2015

Zala Aero

kg

Day or IR 1x electric

6 hp

20

9.1 kg

Various

1.40 3.60

EADS

t-o/recove: cat-para

t-o/recove: rato-expen

Payload:

8.5 18

Norinco

t-o/recove: cat

15 5.00

n/a

Day, IR

n/a

Elbit systems

n/a

TV & flir (IAI Tamam, Versatron

2.57 1.90

EO & Sar

n/a

Denel

Payload:

1.42 2.56

Enics

t-o/recove: hand-belly

t-o/recove: bungee/

hand-belly

2

600W 5.9 500 2.00

n/a

Day or IR

4.24 5.12

IAI-AAI

50 kg

(incl fuel) Various sensors triple redundant systems t-o/recove: vtol

100 13.1 5

1.48 2.10

Indra

360 degree MFAS aesa radar, satcom etc

t-o/recove: conv-conv

36

50 hp

t-o/recove: conv-conv

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload: 1360 kg

3.3 3.5

IDS

t-o/recove: conv-conv

n/a 50 24

2.27 3.3

Aerovironment

UEL AR 682 75 hp

14.53 39.9

Northrop Grumman

1x 1200 hp P&WC PT6-67A t-o/recove: conv-conv Payload:

Payload: 100 kg

2x R-R 250 tp

Penguin B

UAV Favtory

EISS (integrated sar, EO + IR), Asips (sigint), satcom

t-o/recove: cat-snag

59 20 24

6.2 12.5

t-o/recove: conv/cat conv

Payload: 245 kg

n/a 22

BAE Systems

Falco Evo

t-o/recove: conv-conv

14 26

IAI Malat

70 kg

EOST 45 (typical), Picosar and Gabbiano radars

Payload: 1360 kg

14.53 39.9

Northrop Grumman

Insitu/Boeing

t-o/recove: cat-para

3.90 1.00 2.00

t-o/recove: vtol

Apex

Payload:

~1.90 4.20 Axi

L-3

28

Camcopter S-100

18 7.00

Schiebel

200 18 6.00

Firebird

2268 30 40.00

Global Observer GO-2

<2

9

Fire Scout MQ-8B

Payload: 536 kg Gimballed multi-

Northrop Grumman

t-o/recove: conv-conv

Payload: 450 kg EO or EW

Payload: .25 kg Stabilised pan and lilt day/night colour or IR

Payload:

1430 20 8.00

Gray Eagle MQ.1C

8 motors 4127 65 168+

Hunter MQ-5B

Payload:

7.01 10.44

n/a

TV & IR (IAI Tamam)

*internal, 522kg ext, EO/IR, sar, 4 Hellfire, satcom

1633 29 30

I-View

Neptune RQ-15

Payload:

Payload:

DRS Technologies

62

Pointer

8.00 4.00

Payload:

274 14.8 5.00

Shadow 200 RQ-7B (ext. wing)

211 18 9.00

UEL AR 74-1230

2-str hp tp Rx

powerplant abbreviations

2-stroke horsepower turboprop Rotax engine

elec gas s/b -cyl

electric engine gasoline engine solid booster -cylinder

tf tj pj h

20 kg

Gimballed EO/IR (various Manufacturers)

34 kg

Flir (lypical), also signit, elint, ladar

L-3 240 n/a 12

Northrop Grumman Raven RQ-11

Aerovironment Shadow M2

Payload: 19.5 kg T Controp infrared + day 21 hp Yamaha

93

t-o/recove: vert-vert

n/a 4+

Payload:

AAI-Textron Sperwer Mk 2

1x Aveox 27 t-o/recove: hand-belly

1.82 14 1.50

Payload: 81.6 kg

340 22 18

EO-IR+ laser pointer & laser designator underwing EW s uite, 1x 48hp or sar, or Fury Lycoming gliding missiles diesel t-o/recove: conv-conv Payload:

3.50 4.20

Sagem Vulture

250 15 20

50 kg

EO, Sar, elint, comint. Modified structure for Robonics cat. launch

65 hp Rotax 562UL

t-o/recove: cat-para

Payload:

3.11 5.21

ATE

n/a

EO, IR

3.9 6.92

Zanzottera 498i 39 hp t-o/recove: conv-conv

turbo fan turbo jet pulse jet heavy fuel

t-o/recove: conv-conv

1.04 1.31

t-o/recove: conv/cat/

rato-para

Payload:

4.48 6.00

n/a

Radar,IR plus guided bombs in two internal bays

3.65 3.13

t-o/recove: cat-para

145 13.00 4+

Viking 400

59 kg

EO/IR, laser painter, laser range finder & laser designator

Payload:

3.81 4.50

VTULaSTV

1x UEL AR 741 38 hp

Payload

-6000 35 n/a

R-Bat

t-o/recove: cat-conv

Payload:

3.66 6.22

Sojka III

n/a

EO, IR (IAI Tamam) 1x GoeblerHirth 38 hp

t-o/recove: cat-para

20 8.00

9.30 12.50

Neuron

t-o/recove: hand-belly

3.60 0.6+ 1.00

250

1x Adour

CCD camera or IR

4.60 5.70

AAI-Textron

demonstrator

1x electric

Ranger

Ruag

Neuron

t-o/recove: cat/bellt para

Payload: 0.90 kg

1.80 2.70

Aerovironment

9 kg

IR or TV or droppable 1x 15 hp 2-stroke

30 kg

Mosp EO or EL/M-2055B n/a

IAI Malat

t-o/recove: conv-conv

1.83 1.83

Thielert 165 hp heavy fuel t-o/recove: conv-conv

4.10 7.10

Dual 885 18 20.5

t-o/recove: vtol

Payload: 204 kg*

2x 57 hp

Northrop Grumman

1x R-R 250C20W

8.53 17.07

General Atomics

t-o/recove: conv-conv

n/a

EO, IR, laser designator, Sar, GMTI, radar

Fuel Cell

Aerovironment

t-o/recove: hand belly

1

7.01 8.22

EO/IR,Sar, satcom +2

6-cyl hardpoints Lycoming ~300 hp

25.4 78.94

2-cyl 2str Hirth heavy fuel t-o/recove: vert-vert 55 hp

0.45 1.7

Selex Galileo

var

custom

180 n/a 6-8

Crex-B

50 kg

t-o/recove: vtol

10.36 19.81

Northrop Grumman

Cyb Aero

Day, IR, elint, comint, laser; rangefinderâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 1x 55 hp laser pointer, Sar Austro AE50R

Payload:

4.0 3.30

t-o/recove: cat-para

Payload:

3.09 3.40

Apid 60

n/a

Day + infrared T-Stamp Controp Operational US Army

50 kg

Optronic day sight (M-Tek)

125 16 3.00

1x TTLWae 342

t-o/recove: cat-para

take-off / recovery abbreviations

conv conventional cat catapult para parachute belly belly land

rato hand vtol stovl

rocket-assist t-o hand launched vertical t-o/land short t-o vertical land

armada Compendium UAVs 2015

Electric motor

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turbine or t-prop engine

piston engine

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Wankel engine

21

The Royal Australian Air Force has leased IAI Herons since 2009, one of which (serial A45262) is shown at Kandahar in Afghanistan. The lease has been extended for training at Woomera, South Australia until December 2017. (Commonwealth of Australia)

I Hale

The in-service leader in the Hale (high altitude, long endurance) category remains the Northrop Grumman Q-4.

This began life as a Darpa project, but was pressed into service following the 2001 terrorist attacks on the US. The principal operator is still the US Air Force, which has an active Global Hawk fleet of four EQ-4Bs (modified Block 20s), 18 RQ-4B Block 30s with three more to be fielded by FY17, and eleven Block 40s.

The EQ-4B has the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (Bacn) payload, and is operated together with four Bombardier E-11A (Global Express) manned aircraft to provide communications relay facilities. The RQ-4B Block 30 is a multi-intelligence platform, equipped with the Raytheon Eiss (Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite) and the Northrop Grumman Asip (Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload). Formal IOC was declared in August 2011.

The RQ-4B Block 40 carries the Northrop Grumman/Raytheon ZPY-2 Aesa radar, providing Sar/GMTI facilities.

Early operating capability (EOC) was declared in September 2013, and IOC is projected for later in 2015. In 2014 a Block 40 from the 348th Reconnaissance Squadron based at Grand Forks, North Dakota remained airborne for 34.3 hours, the longest unrefuelled flight ever achieved by any US Air Force aircraft.

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The US Air Force also operates 33 Lockheed U-2S manned aircraft in the same high altitude ISR role. In recent years the Pentagon has been trying to standardise on a single type, proposing first to terminate the Global Hawk Block 30 in its FY13 request, and then (thwarted in that ambition by Congress) to retire the U-2S in its FY15 request.

Comparing the 18,000-kg manned U-2S with the 14,628-kg unmanned RQ-4B, the U-2 is basically more capable, having a very

effective 2270-kg payload, relative to the 1460 kg for Global Hawk. In addition, the U-2 can cruise much higher, at over 70,000 ft, compared to around 55,000 ft for the RQ-4B. Sensor range to the horizon is roughly proportional to altitude.

The U-2 is also much easier to deploy overseas, and has a self-defence suite and anti-icing measures. The U-2 has a lower mishap rate, recording an average of 1.27 Class A accidents per 100,000 flight hours over the last ten years (FY05-FY14), compared to 1.93 for the RQ-4B. The main advantage of Global Hawk is that it has almost three times the endurance of the U-2, which is limited to twelve hours for the sake of the pilot. In addition, if Global Hawk were to be shot down over hostile territory, there would be no present-day Gary Powers to be paraded in front of the media.

The FY16 defence budget request envisions the U-2 being funded for at least three more years (FY16-FY18), retaining it in US Air Force service until 2019. Meanwhile, the sensor package of the Global Hawk will receive a $ 1.8 billion upgrade, aimed at achieving parity with the U-2S. As said a few pages earlier, one can only compare things that are comparable and built for a given purpose.

Lockheed Martin has now proposed an optionally manned version of the U-2. It is claimed that three U-2s could be converted and two ground stations provided for around $ 700 million.

The IAI Heron is shown equipped with SatCom and Sigint equipment, an EO/IR sensor turret and a maritime surveillance radar. (IAI)

The IAI Super Heron HF (Heavy Fuel) demonstrator, registration 4X-UMF, is powered by a Dieseljet Fiat engine, and has an endurance of 45 hours. (IAI)

The first export order for the RQ-4 was Germany’s four RQ-4E Euro Hawk Sigint aircraft, based on the Block 20. These were to replace the German Navy’s five Breguet Atlantic ATL-1s, which were retired in 2010. A Full-Scale Demonstrator was flown to Germany in July 2011, and fitted with the Eadsdeveloped Elint and Comint payloads in two underwing ‘gondolas’. However, the Euro Hawk programme was cancelled in May 2013 due to problems with certificating the UAVs to operate in central European airspace.

Then in January 2015 the EuroHawk contractor was funded to de-preserve and restart maintenance work on the Demonstrator, with a view to completing testing of the sensor payload, probably at Sigonella AB in Sicily, where US Air Force Global Hawks already operate. To provide the four required service aircraft, the payload is to be installed on a different platform, such as the better-equipped US Navy’s MQ-4C or a high-flying manned business jet.

In contrast to the Euro Hawk, Nato’s 15-nation AGS (Alliance Ground Surveillance) plan to acquire five RQ-4B Block 40s was based from the outset on the use of Sigonella. The AGS aircraft are to be certificated by Italy. Deliveries are to be completed by mid-FY17.

South Korea is buying four RQ-4B Block 30s through the FMS (Foreign Military Sale) process in a deal valued at $ 815 million, basically to improve surveillance over North Korea and provide warning of missile attacks. In December 2014 Northrop Grumman was awarded a $ 657 million contract, covering the four aircraft and two ground control stations for the Republic of Korea Air Force. The first is to be delivered in 2018 and the last

by June 2019.

In November 2014 Japan’s Ministry of Defence announced the selection of Global Hawk in a programme to improve its surveillance capabilities, responding to maritime disputes with China and concern over North Korean missile developments. It is anticipated that an FMS deal will be finalised shortly, leading

to three RQ-4Bs being operated by the Jasdf at Misawa AB from FY19.

The US Navy’s MQ-4C Triton differs from the RQ-4B basically in equipment, but the wing and “ruddervators” are modified to avoid flutter at the relatively high airspeeds used in descending to low altitude to investigate surface contacts. The wing leading edge is strengthened to improve resistance to bird strikes, and is provided with deicing gear and lightning protection.

Triton equipment includes the Northrop Grumman ZPY-3 MFAS (Multi-Function Active Sensor) radar, the Raytheon MTS-B/DAS-1 EO/IR sensor turret, a TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System), ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast), the SNC ZLQ-1 electronic support measures, and an AIS (Automatic Identification System) receiving VHF transmissions from surface vessels.

A forward-looking “Due Regard Radar” to detect other aircraft has been deferred to a later stage of development. Planned improvements armada

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23

Bidding to repeat the success of the Heron, the Elbit Systems Hermes 900 has already chalked up some impressive wins, including selection by Switzerland and Brazil. (Elbit Systems)

include a Sigint package and upgraded communications relay capability.

Flight trials to prepare for Triton included tests with five RQ-4A Block 10s.

These are being followed by three LRIP MQ-4C Lot One development aircraft and (on current plans) 65 production Tritons. The first MQ-4C development aircraft (BuNo 168457) flew on May 22, 2013, followed by the second (168458) on October 16, 2014. Due to funding cutbacks, Northrop Grumman has financed the third development aircraft (which first flew on November 18, 2014), and it is anticipated that the production total will be reduced.

Each orbit requires only four Tritons.

The US Navy plans to declare EOC with the fourth and fifth MQ-4Cs at the end of FY17, and to announce IOC with four aircraft in FY18. The first operational Triton squadron, VUP-19, is being established at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, with a detachment at NAS Point Mugu, California. A deployment to Guam is scheduled for FY16. The second, VUP11, will be established at NAS Whidbey Island, Washington. The other planned operating sites are Beale AFB, California, Andersen AFB on Guam, NAS Sigonella in Sicily, Kadena AB on Okinawa, and an unspecified airfield in southwest Asia.

In May 2013 the Australian Government confirmed that it had selected the MQ4C to satisfy its maritime and land surveillance needs, and was negotiating the purchase of up to seven, to be operated in conjunction with up to twelve Boeing P-8A manned aircraft. The Indian Navy has expressed an interest in buying up to eight Tritons. Canada and Spain are also regarded as potential customers.

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I Group V

The Northrop Grumman family discussed above represent the upper end of what the Pentagon refers to as Group V UAVs, defined as weighing over 600 kg and designed to operate at over 18,000 ft.

Other notables in this group include the turboprop 4762-kg General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper (still Predator-B to its manufacturer). The US Air Force plans to buy 343 MQ-9s, the last in FY19. The current MQ-9 production variant is the Block 5, with increased maximum takeoff weight, a stronger undercarriage, encrypted data links, high definition video, and automatic landing facility. The Block 5 was launched with a $ 377.4 million US Air Force order for 24 aircraft in October 2013. Italy is to equip its Reapers with Rafael Reccelite pods and Selex Seaspray 7500E radars.

The 5310-kg Predator-B ER has a stronger undercarriage, alcoholwater injection for improved take-off performance, and two external tanks, increasing endurance in ISR missions from 27 to 34 hours. The prototype first flew in February 2014. This variant was launched with a February 2014 US Air Force contract for 38 of its MQ-9s to be upgraded to ER standard by mid-2016.

Wings with span increased from 20 to 24 metres are being developed as an option, to further raise ISR endurance to 42 hours.

The Reaper’s main rival in the international market is the 4650-kg IAI Heron TP (‘Eitan’), which first flew in 2006 and was first used operationally in an Israeli Air Force strike against a convoy carrying Iranian arms through Sudan in 2009. Reports indicate that Israel has only a small number of Heron

Turkish Aerospace Industry displayed this Anka retroactively called Block A at the Berlin Air Show in 2014, to illustrate the fact that a more capable B iteration was on its way to iron out some of the earlier model’s shortcomings in terms of capacity and performance. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

In May 2014 Airbus Defence & Space, Dassault Aviation and Alenia Aermacchi jointly proposed the MALE2020 project for a Male UAV that could enter service by 2020, in order to sustain their key capabilities (and restrict MQ-9 sales). It is anticipated that at the Paris Air Show in June 2015 representatives of France, Germany and Italy will sign an agreement to fund initial studies, leading to contract signature with these three entities in December (more on this further).

I 600 kilos and more

In its third iteration, the IAI Searcher has gained in endurance (now 18 hours instead of 16), maximum take-off weight (450 kilos instead of 428) and operational ceiling (23,300ft instead of 19,000). It has a quieter four-stoke flat-four engine and features wintip winglets. (IAI)

TPs, and that these are used only for longrange missions, such as those over Iran.

Its procurement has been considered by France and Germany, but-on published evidence-the first export deal has yet to be signed.

Europe’s latest venture in this group is the 6145-kg Piaggio Aero P.1HH Hammerhead, a joint development with Selex ES of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti twinturboprop business aircraft. The obvious course of action would have been to develop an optionally-piloted aircraft, but it was decided to make this purely a UAV. The Hammerhead differs structurally from the Avanti in having the wingspan extended from 14 to 15.6 metres. It first flew on November 14, 2013. At Idex last February it was announced that the Italian Air Force is to buy six Hammerheads and three ground control stations.

India’s Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) is working on the long-running Rustom series, which is now to fulfil a tri-service requirement to replace the Heron. The latest news is that DRDO proposes to fund 80% of the development of the Rustom-2, while Indian industry funds the remainder.

Publicly available sources state that the Rustom-2 will be powered by two 74-kW NPO Saturn 36MT turboprops, which is clearly nonsense. The 36MT is a 4.41-kN turbofan developed for cruise missile applications, suggesting that the Rustom-2 could gross around 4,100 kg, half the weight of the 8255 kg General Atomics Avenger.

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In Pentagon’s parlance Group IV is defined as having gross weights of more than 600 kg, but being designed for flight at less than 18,000 ft. The prime example in this group is the General Atomics Q-1 Predator-A series, derived from the 520kg Gnat 750 that flew in 1989, developed for the CIA. The numerical leader of the series is still the 1020-kg US Air Force RQ/MQ-1 Predator with 86-kW Rotax 914F piston engine. The RQ-1 had its maiden flight in 1994, and was first employed operationally in 1999, when aircraft from a pre-series batch of nine (serials 95-3013/3021, c/n P-013/20) was deployed to Hungary for use over Bosnia and Kosovo. Six were lost.

The 268th and last Predator-A for the US Air Force (an MQ-1B) was delivered in March 2011. It is known that 116 were involved in Class A mishaps between FY96 and FY14, including 102 write-offs.

The current US Air Force fleet is given as 164 aircraft. Small numbers of Predator-As are operated by Italy, Morocco and Turkey.

The unarmed Predator XP is capable of an endurance of 40 hours.

The latest variant in the General Atomics Q-1 series is the US Army’s 1633-kg MQ-1C Gray Eagle (American spelling having prevailed over the original Grey Eagle), which replaces the 725-kg Northrop Grumman MQ-5B Hunter.

Relative to the MQ-1B, the MQ-1C introduces a Thielert Centurion diesel engine and adds an automatic take-off and landing system (Atls), a Northrop Grumman ZPY-1 STARLite radar with Sar/Gmti facilities, communications relay capability, a tactical common data link and increased warload.

The MQ-1C was deployed to Iraq in August 2009, and to Afghanistan in April 2012. The Pentagon’s FY16 budget request includes $ 383.1 million for 17 MQ-1Cs, following 19 in FY15 and 23 in FY14. The US Army originally planned to have 128 MQ-1Cs plus 21 attrition aircraft and seven for training, but later reports have indicated that the total will rise to 164, with a final buy in FY22. The 160th Soar (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) is receiving 24 MQ-1Cs. The 1900-kg Improved Gray Eagle first flew in July 2013, with a 153-kW Lycoming DEL-120 engine in place of the 123-kW Centurion 1.7 and increased fuel, boosting endurance from 23 to around 50 hours. It has already demonstrated a flight of 45.3 hours.

The closest equivalent of the RQ-1 is the 1250-kg Israel Aerospace Industries Heron I (‘Shoval’), which first flew in 1994, powered by an 86-kW Rotax 924. The Heron has demonstrated an endurance of 52 hours. It is currently operated by (among others) the armed forces of Australia, Azerbaijan, Canada, Ecuador,

It must be given to the Italians, even when they design a UAV, it has to look right. With fine success feathers in its hat like seeing its bird being operated in Africa under the United Nations banner, Selex ES is now looking at expanding the capabilities of the Falco by giving it, inter alia, a turbodiesel engine. (Selex)

The Falco Evo (Evo being an apocope for Evoluzione) is a much heavier (650 kg, hence Group IV) derivative with a wingspan increased from 7.2 to 12.5 metres. It first flew in 2010. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

France, Germany, India, Israel, Morocco (ex-French Harfangs) Singapore and Turkey, and the police forces of Brazil and Mexico. The biggest of over 20 operators is probably the Indian Air Force, which is thought to have around 50. In December 2014, South Korea chose the Heron I. The latest in this line of IAI developments is the 1450-kg Super Heron HF (Heavy Fuel), which is powered by a 149-kW Dieseljet Fiat engine and has an endurance of 45 hours. It was unveiled at Singapore in early 2014, equipped with the IAI Mosp 3000-HD EO/IR laser turret, IAI/Elta EL/M-2055D Sar/Gmti radar and a Sigint suite.

The 1180-kg Elbit Systems Hermes 900 (‘Kochav’) first flew in December 2009. The Hermes 900 was selected by the Israeli Air Force in 2012 and (with a heavy fuel engine) by Switzerland in 2014. It is also used by Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. The Hermes 900 was introduced into Israeli service during Operation Protective Edge over Gaza in July 2014.

Another Israeli UAV in this category is the 800-kg Innocon Falcon Eye, which is based on a manned aircraft.

China has made several attempts to repeat the success of the Predator-A and Heron I, including the 1100-kg Wing Loong (Pterosaur), the 1330-kg Casc CH4B and its Norinco Sky Saker derivative, and the 1200-kg Harbin BZK-005. Iran has publicised various UAV developments in this category, notably the Qods Aeronautics Industries (QAI) Shahed (Witness) and the larger Iran Aerospace Industries Organisation (IAIO) Fotros, each of which has weapon pylons.

The United Arab Emirates has developed one of the few twin-engined UAVs, the 1500-kg Adcom Systems United 40 Block 5, which was unveiled at Dubai in 2013.

Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) performed the maiden flight of its 1600kg Anka UAV in December 2010. Two aircraft have since been built and are known as Anka block As, as tests have proven the need for a more capable Anka block B. A TAI official told Armada that the Turkish ministry of defence had ordered ten Block Bs to be built to test a variety of new equipment including satellite communications (so watch for that aerial “cockpit”), which almost commands well beyond line of sight controllability, a heavily and redesigned nose gimballed turret (to make it much

lighter and with much higher resolution cameras and so forth), but remained tightlipped on the armament option. Since the Anka B will need to be re-engined given the fact that troubled Thielert has gone into Chinese hands (Avic), options are open to install a more powerful engine from elsewhere and thereby make the armament option even more probable.

The first flight of the B was announced in January this year, but the photo released with the announcement shows no difference with the A. So how much this really was a “full-blown” B remains to be seen. If the reported order for ten Anka systems for Egypt was ever signed, it has evidently been cancelled.

Europe’s principal project in this category is the 1050-kg Sagem Patroller, which is based on the Stemme S-15 motorglider. The Patroller has an automatic takeoff and landing system, and an endurance of 20 hours. It is being promoted for both military and civil use.

I 25 to 600 kilos

This is the most numerous category (Group II to the Pentagon), hence it is possible to mention only a few illustrative examples.

A relative newcomer to this group is the 500-kg Karayel, developed by Turkey’s Vestel Savunma to achieve 20 hours endurance with a 70 kg payload. Vestel is producing a batch of six for the Turkish Ministry of Defence under a 2011 contract.

One of the leaders is the IAI Searcher series, which (along with the IAI/AAI Pioneer) replaced the IAI Scout and

Displayed at Idex in February 2015, the Denel Snyper is a Seeker 400 adapted to fire air-to-ground missiles, in this instance a couple of Impi-S. Tests are already underway and should be completed by 2016 (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

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27

Being reasonably small and able to operate from a relatively limited footprint, while offering a good endurance and an datalink range of 80 miles out at sea, the newly engined Textron Aerosonde 4.7G would also lend itself to maritime anti-piracy missions particularly if fitted with some form of auto-detection software to detect trouble spots emerging from the sea clutter. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

IMI Mastiff, Israel’s first major ISR UAV projects, with service dating back to 1979.

Now in its third iteration as the Searcher Mk III, it is powered by a 35-kW Limbach engine and has an endurance of 18 hours.

The Searcher II, which entered service in 2000, has been used by 14 nations and still serves in large numbers (at least 100) in India. It is manufactured under licence by the Ural Works of Civil Aviation (UWCA) in Yekaterinburg in Russia with the name ‘Forpost’.

The 450-kg Elbit Systems Hermes 450 (‘Zik’) is operated by eleven countries, and is believed to be used by Israel in armed form. The Hermes 450 was the basis for the Elbit Systems/Thales WK450 Watchkeeper, which replaces the former’s parasol wing with a shoulder mounting, and adds the Thales I-Master radar with Sar and Gmti modes. The British Army is receiving 54 of these UAVs, of which 24 represent an attrition reserve.

Four Watchkeepers were deployed to Afghanistan in August 2014, but FOC is not expected before 2017.

Italy’s 490-kg Selex ES Falco, which first flew in 2003, was developed purely for the export market. The principal customer is Pakistan, which is believed to have ordered 25 Falcos in 2006, with further examples being produced under licence by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex at Kamra. In September 2013 a country in the Middle East, thought to be Jordan or Saudi Arabia, placed a Euro 40 million order for Falcos. Turkmenistan has purchased three and the United Nations five, initially to support its operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

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Other relatively heavy, runway-operated tactical UAVs include the UAE’s 570-kg Yabhon-R and 650-kg Yabhon-R2, products of Adcom Systems. Pakistan’s GIDS (Global Industrial and Defence Solutions) produces the 480-kg Shahpar, which is similar to China’s 630-kg Casc CH-3.

In a substantially lighter category, the 250-kg Sagem Sperwer has been one of Europe’s few successful UAV programmes, with production now totalling 150 units.

Although several services have withdrawn it, Sperwer is still operated by France, Greece, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

In 2011 France funded an upgrade, and ordered three more Sperwers with an option on five more.

Other UAVs in a similar weight category include China’s 300-kg CAAA CH-92, South Korea’s 290-kg KAI RQ101 Night Intruder 300, and Russia’s 250-kg Vega/Luch Korsar. Israel’s 220-kg Aeronautics Aerostar has been purchased by 15 operators.

The 170-kg Textron Systems RQ-7B Shadow 200 serves as the Tactical Uas for both the US Army and Marine Corps. It is also operated by the armies of Australia, Italy, Pakistan, Romania and Sweden. The US Marine Corps has a need for the RQ7B to deliver lightweight precision airground weapons. Several types have been tested, the most recent being the laser/ GPS-guided Textron Systems Fury, which is the 5.0-kg Thales Free-Fall Lightweight Modular Missile.

The US Army RQ-7B (a fleet of 117 UAVs) is now being upgraded by Textron Systems to Shadow Version 2 (V2)

The Textron Systems Shadow M2 features a redesigned fuselage and wing-mounted weapon pylons, shown here carrying the company’s 5.9-kg Fury GPS-guided/laser-homing gliding missiles. (Textron Systems)

The 23.5-kg Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle 2 introduces a heavy fuel engine, generating electrical power to suit a wider range of payload options, weighing up to 3.5 kg. Flight endurance is 16 hours. (Insitu)

standard, an all-digital configuration with Ku-band compatibility and NSA-approved encryption with the Tactical Common Data Link (TCDL). The Shadow V2 can carry a high-definition EO/IR payload for full-motion, high-quality video imagery.

It is being fielded with Textron Systems’ Universal Ground Control Station (UGCS), which will also serve the Army’s Gray Eagle and Hunter UAVs. Textron is now marketing the Shadow M2, which has a 48-kW Lycoming diesel engine, a redesigned fuselage with two payload bays, higher cruise, increased endurance, satellite communications for beyond-line-of-sight operations, and provisions for wing-mounted payloads such as Sigint and NBC-detection.

In the context of Textron, and in spite of its smaller size, mention must be made here of a new iteration on the Aerosonde, which is now powered by a purpose-built single-piston Lycoming engine designated EL-005 that happily runs on Jet A, Jp5 or 8 jet fuels, to produce four horsepower with a time between overhauls of 500 hours.

The Aerosonde has an endurance of 14 hours. It still takes off from a catapult and although it typically would be recovered by flying it into a net, it can belly land on a runway or reasonably flat surface if its underside is prepared with protective self-adhesive hard rubber stripes (similar to those used to protect door cars from parking spot dings), the chin-mounted Cloud Cap ball being retractable of course. This stabilised package includes

a camera with wide angle and rifle scope view, as well as a medium-wave infrared camera. The Aerosonde is also used as a sigint mission platform, courtesy of a payload pallet that is belly mounted as close as possible to the aircraft’s centre of gravity (the sigint suite being supplied by the American government). The new engine was introduced in late 2013 and retrofitted to about 100 aircraft.

It is flown for Socom and the Navy in a special package arrangement whereby

missions are actually performed by Textron personnel.

In all some 400 Aerosondes have been built to date, but the type’s field of applications is now exceeding the boundaries of military operations with one system sold in the Middle East to the oil and gas industry for installation surveillance. In this particular instance, company operators were trained by Textron and have started operating the system themselves in mid-2014.

Lower down the scale from the Shadow M2, the 61-kg Insitu/Boeing RQ-21A Blackjack (formerly Integrator) is a more capable derivative of the smaller but highly successful ScanEagle. Adopted as the Small Tactical UAS for the US Navy and Marine Corps, the Insitu/Boeing (as the company told Armada it preferred to be called) UAV is catapult launched and recovered by means of a stronger version of the earlier SkyHook, formally known as the Stuas Recovery System.

The first RQ-21A system with five air vehicles and two ground control stations was deployed to Afghanistan in April 2014. The US Marine Corps has a requirement for 32 systems, of which three were funded in FY14, and three in FY15. A further four were requested (for $ 84.9 million) for FY16. The Navy has a requirement for 25 systems, of which three were funded in FY15. The Netherlands has ordered five Blackjack

One of the most widely used hand-launched ISR UAVs is the Elbit Skylark 1-LE, which is flown by ‘Sky Rider’ units of the IDF and has been exported to over 20 countries.

(Elbit Systems)

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Europe’s most successful UAV helicopter is Austria’s Schiebel Camcopter S-100, of which over 100 units have been sold. This example is one of two operated over Ukraine for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe. (Schiebel)

systems and an undisclosed Middle Eastern country a further six.

I 9 to 25 Kilos

One leading example of a Pentagon Group II item is the 22-kg Insitu/Boeing ScanEagle, derived from the SeaScan that was developed to support commercial fishing operations. Thanks to its ‘SuperWedge’ pneumatic catapult and innovative ‘Skyhook’ recovery system with differential GPS for precision engagement, ScanEagle provides independence of runways.

The ScanEagle entered US Navy service in 2005, and is now operated by the armed services of 15 nations. In October 2014 Insitu introduced the ScanEagle 2 with a heavy fuel engine and a range of system improvements, although endurance is reduced from 20 to 16 hours. The Iranian Aviation Industries Organisation (IAIO) produces a reverse-engineered ScanEagle under the name Yasir.

Other UAVs in a similar size category include China’s 18-kg CAAA CH-803, Israel’s 20-kg Aeronautics Orbiter-III and 24-kg BlueBird Aero Systems ThunderB, and Russia’s 18-kg Vega/ STC Orlan-10.

the 6.53-kg RQ-12A Wasp III, although Israeli UAVs from various companies are not far behind.

The Puma is currently used only by the US services, but the Wasp series is also operated by the Australian Army, the French Navy and all three Swedish services. The lightweight Raven is flown by 23 nations.

The leading alternative is the 7.5-kg Elbit Systems Skylark I-LE, which is the IDF’s standard battalion-level UAV (operated by the ‘Sky Rider’ units of the

Artillery Corps) and has been supplied to over 20 services. In 2008 it was selected

by France’s special forces after a contest involving ten types of UAVs. It has been employed operationally in both Afghanistan and Iraq.

Russia’s lightweight UAVs include the Zala Aero’s 4.5-kg 421-04M Lastochka and 10.0-kg 421-16E, both of which are employed by the MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs). Kalashnikov has recently acquired a 51% stake in Zala Aero. The Ministry of Defence uses the 5.3-kg Enics Eleron-3SV. The 8.5-kg Irkut-10 is used

by Kazakhstan and manufactured under licence in Belarus.

Norway’s 16-gram Prox Dynamics PD-100 Personal Reconnaissance System (PRS) is the first micro-UAV to achieve operational status, having been used by the British Army and several Coalition partners in Afghanistan. The upgraded PRS Block II was introduced in June 2014, followed by the PD-100 T with integrated thermal imager and daylight camera in October 2014.

I Rotary-Wing

In the context of small vertilift UAVs for use by front-line forces, there is a clear case for the silent operation provided by battery-power. Notable examples include the ducted-fan Selex-ES 2.0-kg Spyball-B and 8.5-kg Asio-B, which are now being delivered to Italian Army infantry and cavalry units respectively.

I Nine Kilos and Less

The Pentagon’s Group I consists of UAVs weighing less than 9.0 kg, and are mostly battery-powered and hand-launched.

This category is largely dominated by AeroVironment, with the 1.9-kg RQ-11 Raven, the 5.9-kg RQ-20A Puma AE, and

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The Northrop Grumman R-Bat capitalises on more than two million flight hours by the Yamaha R-Max in agricultural operations. Gasoline-powered, it has an endurance of more than four hours. (Northrop Grumman)

The 255-kg Saab Skeldar appears to be aimed primarily at maritime applications. It has a 41 kW diesel engine, a payload capacity of up to 40 kg, and an endurance of six hours. (Saab)

In a slightly larger category, IAI is marketing the tilt-propeller, 12.0-kg miniPanther and 65-kg Panther. These fixedwing projects offer endurances of 1.5 and 4.0 hours respectively, compared to the 40 minutes of the company’s tandem-rotor 4.8-kg Ghost.

Airbus D&S markets the batterypowered 12-kg Copter City and 30-kg Copter 4, with endurances of 35 min and 120 min respectively. In 2014 it was announced that China is developing a battery-powered ‘Clean Energy Helicopter’, based on the 220-kg Changhe (CAIC) U8E. The 93-kg Northrop Grumman R-Bat, an ISR version of the Yamaha R-Max aircraft, is amongst the lightest in this category and, as a Yamaha product, has over two million flight hours of cropspraying operations in Australia, Japan and South Korea. The R-Bat has an endurance of over four hours.

Higher up in weight, the leading company in the defence rotorUAV domain is without any doubt Schiebel in Austria, which was the first to successfully mass-produce and sell a rotorUAV in the 100 to 200 kilo class for defence applications, namely the S-100. Also known as the Camcopter, its sales have amply exceeded the 250 unit mark. The success of the Camcopter, and particularly once the usefulness of such a category of UAV became evident to the naval world, prompted others to enter the fray.

Schiebel has developed a diesel engine for

the Camcopter, which is expected to have its maiden flight in 2015. The S-100, in addition to being produced under licence in Russia by Gorizont, also has officially demonstrated its capabilities onboard frigates of various navies (including the French and German navies), and as a carrier of aesa radars like the Selex Picosar and the Thales I-Master (normally carried by the Watchkeeper). As a Gorizont, it also has been seen on China’s PLANavy ships.

Saab probably was the first to follow with the Skeldar, but oddly enough was not aiming at a naval version, but first at a land-based type for the Swedish army, which eventually turned it down. After many iterations and versions (including a Skeldar M for marine) the Skeldar grew to the current Skeldar V-200 status. Against all odds, Saab scored its first Skeldar sales in Spain, whose national Indra company had been working for several years on the development of the Pelicano (which, like the first versions of the Skeldar, also drew on Apid technology) the real fate of which is now uncertain, Indra having been very evasive on the subject.

The next European manufacturer down the chronological list is Cassidian, which has since changed name to Airbus. Initially unnamed, the Tanan made its first public début at the Paris Air Show in 2011 (not 2013 as often stated). A noteworthy point is that the Tanan 300, as it was finally named, is the first of its kind to have been powered

by a diesel engine from the outset. It had actually made its maiden flight a couple of weeks before the 2011 Paris event.

Closing the march is an Italian project that was presented at Euronaval late last year (2014) by Ingeneria dei Sistemi, a company that was set up as a joint venture with Agusta Westland. Known as the SD150, it has an empty weight of 100 kilos and a payload capacity of 50 kilos. In spite of its recent public presentation, it had its maiden flight in Siena (Tuscany) in 2012 and completed more than 150 flight by October 2014. One major detail that sets it apart from its above-described stable mates is the fact that it spins a three blade rotor against two to all the other ones. The SD-15 is currently undergoing certification as it eyes both the civilian and military markets. Unsurprisingly, the Marina Militare has shown interest in the programme (its rotor blades can be folded backwards for storage or garaging), especially that the current 50-horsepower engine is to be substituted for a heavy fuel type of similar power output.

Word must be here said about Japan.

Indeed some of the above programmes would have probably been heavily challenged had the Japanese heliUAV industry been allowed to develop and export defence versions of their very successful civilian models. As a matter of fact, the set-up mentioned earlier between Northrop Gumman and Yamaha is a first inroad in this field, but by far not a new strategy in the defence world.

As mention was made above of the hitherto relatively unknown Ingeneria dei Sistemi, it is worthy to note that this company is also developing a light recce fixed-wing UAV in the 20 kilo category

The 330-kg Airbus Tanan 300 is equipped with a heavy fuel engine and is designed to operate with a 50 kg sensor payload out to a radius of 180 km. (Airbus Defence & Space)

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The Ingenieria Dei Sitemi SD-150 Hero is developed in cooperation with Agusta Westland. Its three-blade rotor distinguishes it from its stable mates, but a most noteworthy point is its ability to take off from altitudes of 9859 feet (3,000 metres). All flight and navigation systems have triple redundancy. (Armada/Eric H. Biass)

known as the Manta. A modular aircraft, it features a rather unique quick-swap propulsion module that enables it to fly under either electric or piston power. Catapult-launched and parachuterecovered, it has been sold in small numbers to the Italian Army for testing.

Moving higher upscale, are the Russian Helicopters 300-kg Ka-135, 600-kg (later 700-kg) Ka-175 Korshun and 3,000kg Albatros UAVs shown as mock-ups in 2010. All had contra-rotating rotors.

It appears that the Russian Defence Ministry finally placed development contracts for all three in 2011. The first (Ka-135) is to fly in 2015 and the last (the Albatros attack/utility UAV) in 2017.

The Schweizer 333-based Northrop Grumman MQ-8 Fire Scout began with a US Navy requirement for 177 but the 1430kg MQ-8B programme was terminated at 30 units, to be initially replaced by 40 examples of the more capable 2720-kg MQ-8C based on the Bell 407.

The MQ-8C can carry a Telephonics ZPN-4 radar, a Flir Systems Brite Star II and a Cobra hyperspectral mine detector, and stay airborne for ten hours. It is planned for IOC in the autumn of 2016, and is now to be used only on LCS frigates.

Future orders for the MQ-8C could come from the US Marine Corps and Royal Australian Navy.

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Following 33 months of successful operations by the 5443-kg Lockheed Martin/Kaman Unmanned K-Max in Afghanistan, there is political support for cargo UAV becoming a programme of record. The US Army and Marine Corps are currently defining their operational needs, especially in regard to greater autonomy in obstacle detection, collision avoidance and landing site selection.

There is also interest in carrying loads internally with the long-term aim of casualty evacuation.

Aside from the K-Max team, interested parties include Aurora Flight Sciences, working on the Boeing H-6U Unmanned Little Bird, and Sikorsky with a modified fly-by-wire UH-60MU. From a US Army viewpoint, an optionally-piloted version of the 10,000 kg Black Black Haw could appear very attractive.

I Lethal UAVs

Armed UAVs have existed for decades, more recently in the form of the IAI Harpy and Harop, and the MBDA

The larger and more capable MQ-8C version of Fire Scout is shown during trials on board the USS Jason Dunham (DDG-109) off the coast of Virginia in late 2014. (Northrop Grumman)

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ON THE COVER: The Franco-British FCAS, particularly in the light of combat drone demonstrators built so far by a number of European manufacturers, particularly those around the Neuron, should in theory have all the trump cards in hand to be a winner, at least as a project.

In theory only, alas, as Britain has refused to commit to a €150 million study of more than two years. In the meantime, it may eventually appear that the umpteenth attempt to produce a European male drone - the Male 2020 - has a better chance to take to the air one day.

Compendium UAVs Supplement to armada Issue 3/2015 Volume 39, Issue No. 3, June/July 2015

The MBDA Fire Shadow loiter-attack UAV weighs less than 200 kg, but provides an endurance of six hours and a range of up to 100 km. Production deliveries began in March 2012. (MBDA)

Fire Shadow loiter-attack UAVs and the small AeroVironment Switchblade.

The concept has taken a massive step forward with the 20,215-kg Northrop Grumman X-47B technology demonstrator, which has taken off from a carrier and landed back on. Future tests will include aerial refuelling.

Britain and France are scheduled to decide by 2016 whether to work together on the demonstration and manufacturing stages of the proposed Future Combat Air System.

This artist’s impression shows how the FCAS may eventuate. (Dassault Aviation/DR).

The X-47B is paving the way for the US Navy’s Uclass (Unmanned CarrierLaunched Airborne Surveillance and Strike) programme, reportedly designated RAQ-25. Some conspiracy theorists believe that Uclass is being dumbed down (concentrating on surveillance at the expense of strike) because a secret US Air Force programme has already been launched to fulfil America’s deep penetrating strike needs.

Europe is determined not to be become reliant on the United States in regard to combat UAVs. The Dassault-led 7000-kg Neuron first flew on December 1, 2012, with half the funding provided by France and the rest shared between Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The Neuron is still being extensively flight tested. The British 8,000-kg BAE Systems-led Taranis followed on August 10, 2013. In January 2014 a Franco-British summit meeting produced a ‘Declaration on Security and Defence’ that included a statement on a joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

By 2016 the two nations are to decide whether to collaborate on demonstration and manufacturing phases.

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