General Atomics Completes Key Wind Tunnel Test on Sea Avenger UAS for the U.S. Navy

[Someoneforyou]

GA-ASI Completes Key Wind Tunnel Test on Sea Avenger UAS Model
UNITED STATES - 15 FEBRUARY 2011

Test Results Validate Performance of Aircraft for U.S. Navy UCLASS Program

SAN DIEGO – 15 February 2011 – General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA"‘ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and sensor systems, today announced that it has successfully completed a key wind tunnel test on a model of its Sea Avengerâ„¢ UAS. Sea Avenger supports the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program by providing a long-endurance, survivable, carrier-based UAS for the U.S. Navy.

The wind tunnel test validated the low-speed characteristics of a new wing, resulting in higher endurance and lower approach speeds. The new wing is also designed to increase aircraft dash speeds, decreasing the time to respond to potential threats.

"GA-ASI is committed to providing the Navy with swift delivery of a robust and versatile aircraft carrier-based UAS that meets or exceeds known requirements, provides measurable manpower savings, and assures best value," said Frank W. Pace, president, Aircraft Systems Group, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. "Reducing risk is a key component of this process, and our company has repeatedly designed and delivered low-cost, high-quality UAS, in part, because of our recurring commitment to invest in early development, as evidenced by this recent wind tunnel test."

The 90-hour, eight-day test was conducted at the San Diego Air & Space Technology Center. The goal of the test, which was completed ahead of schedule, was to validate the low-speed characteristics of an updated wing in the approach, launch, and cruise configurations. The advanced design utilizes proprietary wing technology that enables high-speed flight, while also supporting excellent low-speed handling qualities desired for aircraft carrier landings.

The testing enabled GA-ASI to evaluate a specific set of configuration changes both quickly and economically. Wind tunnel testing also helps reduce program risk by providing empirical data to complement computational analyses. In addition, it provides the opportunity to correlate key performance data to analytical tools, such as computational fluid dynamics, and to validate various analytical methods.

Designed for fully autonomous launch and recovery from both USS Nimitz and USS Ford class carriers, Sea Avenger provides unmanned, autonomous, and long-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities responsive to the multi-mission requirements of carrier-based aircraft. The aircraft will provide for planning, control, tasking, collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination of actionable information in support of Navy missions. An evolution of the combat-proven Predator® UAS series with high-performance maritime payloads, Sea Avenger provides the highest operational value while being the only affordable system capable of meeting the Navy's aggressive program schedule.


Source: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.

 

[Someoneforyou]

SEA AVENGER UAS:
The Sea Avenger is a carrier-based aircraft derived from the Predator C Avenger Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to fulfill the US Navy's requirement for an unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) system. The aircraft is based on an open, modular architecture that provides plug and play system configuration, configuration management, and significant flexibility for rapid, controlled change, adaptation, and growth. The air vehicle offers high-speed long-endurance, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) and precision-strike capabilities operating into the carrier air wing. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems announced the Sea Avenger program launch in early May 2010. The system will be developed on company funds.

The key elements of the Sea Avenger aircraft are: a highly fuel-efficient engine and inlet design; retractable electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor suite; internal weapons bay; and folding wings. The airframe was also designed with the flexibility to accommodate carrier suitable landing gear, tail hook, drag devices, and other provisions for carrier operations. The Sea Avenger will be fitted with a Pratt & Whitney PW545B jet power plant, a Lynx Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), various EO/IR camera systems, and up to 3,000 pounds (= 1,360.78 kg ) of internal ordnance. It will be capable of flying at 400 KTAS ( = 740 km/h ) for 20 hours reaching an altitude of 50,000-ft.

Illustration: Sea Avenger UAS

 

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Boeing Receives UCLASS Study Contract from US Navy
UNITED STATES - 27 JUNE 2011

US Navy plans to add unmanned surveillance and strike system to fleet in 2018

ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2011 -- Boeing [NYSE: BA] has received a $480,000 study contract from the U.S. Navy to support pre-Milestone A activities including development of a concept of operations, an analysis of alternatives, and an investigation of potential material solutions for the Navy's Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) program.

"The Navy wants UCLASS in the fleet in 2018," said Jimmy Dodd, vice president, Advanced Boeing Military Aircraft. "Boeing has been delivering carrier-based aircraft to the Navy since 1925. With Boeing's broad experience in unmanned systems and rapid prototyping, and nearly 90 years of carrier-based aircraft know-how, we are prepared to meet that schedule to support the mission and requirements the Navy establishes. This contract is the start of that."

The UCLASS system will consist of an air segment, a connectivity and control segment, a Carrier Vessel-Nuclear (CVN) segment (launch and recovery), and a systems support segment. The work on the eight-month contract, according to the Navy's Broad Agency Announcement, will conceptually demonstrate that a UCLASS system can provide a persistent CVN-based Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance and strike capability supporting carrier air wing operations in the 2018 time frame.


Source: The Boeing Company