UAVs and UCAVs

[Sri]

DRDO Working On Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles

DRDO Working On Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles | India Defence

Agency reports have suggested that DRDO has begun working on unmanned combat air vehicles for a possible procurement by the Indian Air Force. Press Trust of India has quoted a senior DRDO official saying that work for the UCAV is in parallel progress in labs across the country.

The following quotes are attributed to P.S. Subramanyan, Project Director of Aeronautical Development Agency (a DRDO lab):
-- "We have identified all the technologies required for the unmanned combat air vehicle ... Technologies include flying wing and stealth, which was most important"
-- "Work on the project has begun in different parts of the country, including in laboratories. Technologies are now getting evolved and we are working on configuration in parallel and eventually at some stage user (IAF) requirements will be matched into the design"

An unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) or "combat drone" is an experimental class of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). They differ from ordinary UAVs, because they are designed to deliver weapons (attack targets) – possibly with a great degree of autonomy. The elimination of the need for an on-board human crew in a combat aircraft that may be shot down over enemy territory has obvious advantages for personnel safety.

In addition, much equipment necessary for a human pilot (such as the cockpit, flight controls, oxygen, seat/ejection seat, etc.) can be omitted from an unmanned vehicle, resulting in a decrease in weight possibly allowing greater payloads, range and maneuverability.

 

[Anshu Attri]

DRDO Working On Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles | India Defence

DRDO Working On Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles

Agency reports have suggested that DRDO has begun working on unmanned combat air vehicles for a possible procurement by the Indian Air Force. Press Trust of India has quoted a senior DRDO official saying that work for the UCAV is in parallel progress in labs across the country.

The following quotes are attributed to P.S. Subramanyan, Project Director of Aeronautical Development Agency (a DRDO lab):
-- "We have identified all the technologies required for the unmanned combat air vehicle ... Technologies include flying wing and stealth, which was most important"
-- "Work on the project has begun in different parts of the country, including in laboratories. Technologies are now getting evolved and we are working on configuration in parallel and eventually at some stage user (IAF) requirements will be matched into the design"

An unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) or "combat drone" is an experimental class of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). They differ from ordinary UAVs, because they are designed to deliver weapons (attack targets) – possibly with a great degree of autonomy. The elimination of the need for an on-board human crew in a combat aircraft that may be shot down over enemy territory has obvious advantages for personnel safety.

In addition, much equipment necessary for a human pilot (such as the cockpit, flight controls, oxygen, seat/ejection seat, etc.) can be omitted from an unmanned vehicle, resulting in a decrease in weight possibly allowing greater payloads, range and maneuverability.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Chetak/Alouette-III by IAI Malat to convert it into an unmanned platform for the Indian Navy.

 

[Patriot]

Boeing to build solar spy plane that can fly for five years

A U.S. Air Force drone. Breakthroughs in technology have now enabled egineers to build solar-powered spyplanes that can keep flying for years. File photo

The U.S. military will soon have a new solar-powered unmanned spy aircraft that can fly non-stop for more than five years.

The aircraft, called SolarEagle, which is being built by Boeing is designed in such a way that it can soar in the upper atmosphere for years, constantly sending surveillance and intelligence information back to the ground.

The U.S. military has already given Boeing an $ 89-million contract to develop a SolarEagle demonstrator which will make its first flight in 2014, the Daily Mail reported.

During testing, the SolarEagle demonstrator will remain in the upper atmosphere for 30 days, harvesting solar energy during the day that will be stored in fuel cells and used to provide power through the night, it said.

The aircraft will have highly efficient electric motors and propellers along with a 400-foot wing for increased solar power and aerodynamic performance.

Pat O'Neil, Boeing Phantom Works program manager for Vulture II, said: "SolarEagle is a uniquely configured, large unmanned aircraft designed to eventually remain on station at stratospheric altitudes for at least five years.

"That's a daunting task, but Boeing has a highly reliable solar-electric design that will meet the challenge in order to perform persistent communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions from altitudes above 60,000 feet."

According to the report, the aircraft's developer Phantom Works, Boeing's research and development arm, is also working on a fighter-sized, unmanned, advanced technology demonstrator called Phantom Ray, scheduled to make its first flight in early 2011.

Its other projects included a hydrogen-powered aircraft called Phantom Eye - a High Altitude Long Endurance aircraft that can stay aloft for up to four days. It is also scheduled to make its first flight in 2011.




The Hindu : Sci-Tech / Technology

 

[Patriot]

Israel Reveals Panther Tiltrotor UAV

TEL AVIV — Israel's new Panther vertical takeoff and landing unmanned tiltrotor aircraft is one of the latest products emerging from the classified projects section of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The UAV was developed by IAI's Malat division, which has been looking at new designs to fill some of the operational gaps between the company's largest, longest-range Heron TP UAV — now in operation with the Israeli Air Force — and its smallest 0.5-kg. (1.1-lb.) Mosquito UAV with a 30-40 min. flight time.

"In between we have something very new — a [design that] can take off and land on grass, ice or desert," says Tommy Silberring, general manager of Malat's military aircraft group. "The idea is to take off and land without a parachute or crash cushion."

The principal features of the aircraft are tiltrotor engines that allow pinpoint takeoffs and landings or, if desired, conventional landing and takeoff operations. It also has automatic navigation to targets of interest and day/night cameras.

An intriguing option is the Panther's ability to hover or land quietly in enemy territory, conduct surveillance like a ground sensor and then take off again. It also could be operated from ships that need a tactical UAV.

"It is all-electric and we are looking at higher-technology materials and power generation," says Israel Shemer, assistant general manager for military projects. "We're minimizing the noise and you will not hear it at its mission altitude."

The Panther's wingspan can vary from 2-8 meters (4.5-17.5 ft.) depending on the required mission endurance and the number of motors used. The current six-meter version has two electric motors and fuel cells that provide a 60-km. range and a top speed of 70 kt. It can carry an 8-kg. payload at an altitude of 10,000 ft. for up to 6 hr. It has a two-man, ground-based flight crew and can be assembled and operated in the field.

"We want to replace manned aircraft so we need to make all the mission and maintenance systems automatic so that it only requires one or two people for the whole mission," Shemer says. "IAI has today a full capability for integrating intelligence gathering, sensors and the platform.

That includes the fusion of intelligence, sensor use and exploitation of data. We are closing the loop and we are the main intelligence provider for the [Israel Defense Forces].

"We can provide a full sensor suite," Shemer continues. "Users can ask for the vehicle to identify particular types of target, to get data to specific organizations and to provide analyses of certain data. We can put it all together with this vehicle."


http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aerospacedaily&id=news/asd/2010/09/22/01.xml&headline=Israel Reveals Panther Tiltrotor UAV

 

[EagleOne]

Now, SMEs help power India's next generation unmanned aerial vehicle Rustom

BANGALORE: Some years ago, SM Kapoor, executive director at Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), retired from the public sector organisation to try his hand at entrepreneurship.

His firm Taneja Aerospace & Aviation, set up in 1994, that manufactures general aviation aircraft and offers maintenance, repair and overhaul services, has been selected to develop advanced critical system technologies for India's next generation unmanned aerial vehicle, Rustom.

This is the first time that the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has roped in private sector entrepreneurs for critical work on advanced technologies such as airframes and avionics. Small and medium-sized enterprises such as Data Patterns India, Coimbatore's Zephyr Aerospace and Taneja Aerospace and Aviation have contributed to the prototype for India's unmanned aerial vehicle, Rustom that will fly by October.

The UAV project is led by the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), of the state-run DRDO. In November last year, the first prototype of the Rustom crashed during a test flight near the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border. As the country begins an ambitious $100-billion modernisation plan for its defence services by 2022, opportunities for private firms to bag critical outsourced contracts will increase.

Industry watchers estimate that building UAVs for the Indian market alone will amount to a $2-billion opportunity for small and medium enterprises. "SMEs can play a huge role in projects such as UAVs and radars as subcontractors."

Public sector units may step up outsourcing to SMEs

Considering India's huge defence needs, PSUs such as HAL and BEL will necessarily have to increase outsourcing to SMEs and develop risk and profit-sharing relationship with private firms," says Dr KG Narayanan, former DRDO chief advisor and ADE director who described this as a win-win situation for defence agencies as well as private firms.
"This is a technology initiative done at a cost of Rs 50 crore.

ADE has just done the design and integration, while the rest has been outsourced to private firms. They have developed parts such as airframes and avionics", said a top ADE official who did not wish to be quoted.

Companies such as Data Patterns India and Taneja Aerospace which are contributing to Rustom have started receiving high-end work from defence agencies.

Chennai-based Data Patterns, run by S Rangarajan, has been accorded approval for design and development avionics — hardware and software for military aircraft and airborne systems by the Center for Military Airworthiness & Certification India (CEMILAC).

Taneja Aerospace has struck a deal with Russian aircraft manufacturer IRKUT a few months ago to make UAVs.
"There is a fresh requirement from ministry of defence to make around 500 UAVs, besides Rustom," said a person familiar with the development.

Other entrepreneurs at various startup firms such as Aurora Integrated System, Radianx Robotics and IdeaForge have also started making UAVs as small as humming birds which are being marketed to the defence forces.

The Rustom prototype can fly at an altitude of 25,000 feet for 12-15 hours at a speed of 180 km/per hour. But the main drone, with a wingspan of 20 metres and weighing 1,800 kg, has a maximum speed of 225 km per hour and can operate at 30,000 feet altitude.
In future, this prototype is expected to evolve into a larger unmanned planes, similar to Israel's Heron and America's Predator drones.

India needs UAVs for surveillance of border areas, counter-insurgency and terror attacks. The combat version of the UAV can also be used for stealth aerial attacks.

"It will be able to execute surveillance of the enemy territory up to a distance of 250 km and carry a variety of cameras and radars for surveillance," said a DRDO official who did not wish to be quoted.

Experts tracking the sector say that the components that small firms can make for UAVs include satellite communication antennas, fuel cells, radars, sensors, intelligent cameras, transmitters and engine cooling fans. "It includes providing electronics, mechanics, software, aerodynamic structures," said Dr Narayanan.

"These SMEs are very competent and today they are suppliers to Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), missiles and other major systems. I am sure the Rustom project is going to be successful," he added

Now, SMEs help power India’s next generation unmanned aerial vehicle Rustom - Page2 - The Economic Times

 

[Patriot]

Boeing: Stuas Win Strategically Important | AVIATION WEEK

Boeing's win of the U.S. Navy's $43.7 million Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (Stuas) contract was a significant victory for the company in a burgeoning market area, according to Boeing Military Airc`raft President Chris Chadwick.

Meanwhile, the loss this month of a deal worth tenfold for a precision guided munition could be of less strategic importance to the company, he says.

The company is building the small Integrator UAS with its partner, Insitu, for the Navy and Marine Corps. Intelligence is now collected for ships and Marine units using the ScanEagle, built by Boeing/Insitu. But the Integrator win is a shift from a services-based contract into selling an entire fleet of the unmanned aircraft to the government. This win was a significant notch in Boeing's belt only 16 months after announcing the inception of its unmanned aircraft business unit at last year's Paris Air Show.

Chadwick notes that this market is likely to grow substantially.

By contrast, the Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) II contract loss is in a segment of the market in which Boeing has strong footing. It is well known for its work in precision-guided munitions, including the Joint Direct Attack Munition kit. The company also builds the fixed-target variant of SDB. For SDB II, which required a tri-mode seeker for destroying moving targets in weather, Boeing/Lockheed Martin was the team to beat.

"I think Stuas, strategically, was huge for Boeing Military Aircraft and while we would have liked to have won SDB II, I think we will do just fine in the missile and weapons business," Chadwick asserts.

He characterizes both the unmanned aircraft and missiles/weapons markets as potentially high growth. As of Oct. 1, the two consolidated into one business unit as part of a larger restructuring of Boeing Military Aircraft. This is a "rock solid home [for the unmanned aircraft business] that should last for a long, long time," Chadwick says.

Both rely heavily on the use of and integration of sensors into larger platforms and both require an entrepreneurial business model, Chadwick says.

He also acknowledges lessons from the SDB II loss. "What we are learning out of all of this is we need to continue to challenge our engineers not to just give us more capability," he says. "We need to tell them to give us more capability within a certain price boundary. And if we do that, we will be just fine. We tend to always beat the requirements. So it then comes down to truly what is the best value proposition."

Chadwick says the affordability lesson is being infused into the company's forthcoming proposal with Raytheon for the Army-led Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) program, which aims to replace the Hellfire, Maverick and TOW missile families for six fixed-wing and rotary-wing platforms. A request for proposals is expected as soon as the end of the month.

The Raytheon/Boeing JAGM team is up against a proposal from Lockheed Martin.

Photo: Insitu

 

[Patriot]

Aviation Milestone Achieved By British Engineering

15:50 GMT, September 28, 2010 Cumbria, UK | A British designed unmanned air vehicle (UAV) which showcases a wide range of new technologies has successfully demonstrated 'flapless flight' in the UK.

The UAV, called DEMON, made the historic flight from an airfield at Walney Island in Cumbria on Friday 17 September. Developed by Cranfield University, BAE Systems, and nine other UK universities, DEMON is designed to be able to forgo the use of conventional mechanical elevators and ailerons which usually control the movement of an aircraft in favour of novel aerodynamic control devices using blown jets of air.

Such an approach offers several advantages over 'moving flap' technology which has been used since the early days of aviation, in that it means fewer moving parts, less maintenance, and a more stealthy profile for the aircraft. DEMON's trial flights were the first 'flapless flights' ever to be authorised by the UK Civil Aviation Authority.

DEMON successfully demonstrated flapless flight when, for a planned portion of a test-flight, the conventional flap control system was turned off and the aircraft flew and manoeuvred using the new technology. BAE Systems is already recognised as a leader in the field of intelligent autonomy for unmanned aircraft. It promoted the development of the £6.2m FLAVIIR (Flapless Air Vehicle Integrated Industrial Research) programme which led to the DEMON demonstrator after laying down a 'Grand Challenge' to UK universities five years ago.

Richard Williams, BAE Systems programme director for Future Capability, said: "What the FLAVIIR Team have achieved in such a short time is nothing short of remarkable. I was in Cumbria to watch DEMON fly and I feel sure I have witnessed a significant moment in aviation history." He added: "What makes it even more poignant is that this is the result of British brains collaborating to produce world-leading technology. It, and other initiatives like it, will help ensure we maintain both a level of sovereign capability and a competitive edge."

Professor John Fielding, chief engineer and lead for the DEMON demonstrator team from Cranfield University, said: "To make an aircraft fly and manoeuvre safely without the use of conventional control surfaces is an achievement in itself; to do that while at the same time bringing together new construction techniques and new control mechanisms could be said to be over-ambitious - but we have done it. The DEMON UAV has been developed within a research programme but it is a representative, complex, high technology aircraft. Gaining approval from the CAA and flying it successfully has required great skill, dedication and patience by the team and they should be very proud of their achievement."

The flapless system, developed around a concept called fluidic flight control, was the result of collaborative work between Manchester and Cranfield universities together with BAE Systems' Advanced Technology Centre and was tested in wind tunnels and on models before the full-scale trials on DEMON took place.

While Demon itself is not expected to become a production aircraft, a number of the technologies it contains have and will continue to filter through to a range of other aviation platforms.


Background information

The programme to develop the aircraft and its technologies has been jointly funded by BAE Systems and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). As well as the successful demonstration of flapless flight technology, the programme also showcases new methods of UAV construction, new control systems, and more advanced integration of technologies.

The FLAVIIR programme will help inform the development of affordable and low-maintenance UAVs for the future and provides valuable information on the fluid dynamics of flight and the potential for low observability. As well as Cranfield University and BAE Systems, DEMON was developed in conjunction with the Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine; Leicester; Liverpool, Manchester; Nottingham; Southampton; Swansea; Warwick and York universities.


DEMON Key Facts:

"¢ Weight: 200 lbs (90 kg); Dimensions:approximately 8-foot (2.5m) wingspan Flight speed 70 -150kts.
"¢ It was developed by BAE Systems and Cranfield University in the UK. It incorporates fluidic flight controls developed at Cranfield and Manchester Universities and flight control algorithms developed at Leicester University and Imperial College.
"¢ The DEMON is designed to fly with no conventional elevators or ailerons, getting its pitch and roll control from technologies which rely on blown air and so requires much fewer moving parts, therefore making it a lot easier to maintain and repair.
"¢ DEMON can fly parts of its mission by itself but, as it is currently an experimental vehicle, is not fully autonomous unlike, for example, BAE Systems' MANTIS.
"¢ The shape of the DEMON aircraft is referred to as a "blended wing-body" configuration.





defence.professionals | defpro.com

 

[Patriot]

Japan may buy US drones: Report :: Brahmand.com


TOKYO
(AFP): Japan's Defence Ministry is looking to buy three US-made Global Hawk spy drones to help monitor China's military movements and North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, a report said Monday.

Japan hopes to use the camera-equipped unarmed aircraft to boost the officially pacifist nation's intelligence-gathering capabilities, watch remote islands and monitor suspicious ships in and near its waters, Kyodo News said.

The unmanned high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft each cost around USD 50 million, Kyodo said, citing unnamed ministry sources.

Equipped with sophisticated communications capabilities, the Global Hawk can fly at an altitude of 60,000 feet (18,000 metres) -- about twice as high as commercial passenger planes -- for more than 30 hours on autopilot, it said.

An ongoing territorial row with China that began when Tokyo arrested a Chinese trawler captain in disputed waters in the East China Sea nearly four weeks ago has frayed diplomatic ties between the two Asian powers.

Japan's defence ministry hopes to include the drone purchase plan in its new mid-term defence programme, which covers the period up to March 2016, Kyodo said.

In what would inevitably raise tensions with China, Japan and the United States are also planning to hold a joint military exercise in December with a focus on defending remote Japanese islands, Kyodo said in a separate report.

The exercise, using a scenario in which remote islands are invaded by armed forces, would deploy Japan-based US aircraft carrier USS George Washington in the sea drill and Japanese ground troops on the land, Kyodo said.

 

[jatkshatriya]

Demon UAV Flies Without Flaps
Posted by Armed Forces International's Aviation Expert on 04/10/2010 - 12:00:00


A pioneering aircraft technology demonstrator has been flown that abandons conventional aircraft control philosophies for something completely new.

Created by a team of engineers representing UK aerospace and defence firm BAE Systems, Cranfield University and a host of other educational organisations, the Demon is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle that shuns the use of traditional aircraft parts like ailerons and elevators. Instead, it flies without flaps and did so successfully on its maiden voyage in September 2010, BAE Systems has reported.
Demon UAV: Flapless Flight
The Demon UAV's flapless flight technology offers a number of key advantages. These include a less complex overall system, a reduction in associated maintenance time and costs and a profile that's harder to detect on radar: all features that could give future military aircraft like the Demon a combat edge.

The Demon test flights occurred after approval was given by UK regulatory aviation body the CAA. This represented the first time the Civil Aviation Authority had ever given permission for an aircraft to fly without employing and deploying moveable flying control surfaces.

Instead of flaps, control of the Demon is achieved through so-called fluidic flight control, which involves a network of devices that draw on blasted air.
Flying without Flaps
It should be emphasised that the Demon UAV is not set to go into production, but the technologies it has showcased could ultimately have an impact on future military combat aircraft designs capable of flying without flaps.

The Demon weighs 200 pounds, is around eight feet wide and operates within a 70-150 knot speed range.

"To make an aircraft fly and manoeuvre safely without the use of conventional control surfaces is an achievement in itself; to do that while at the same time bringing together new construction techniques and new control mechanisms could be said to be over-ambitious - but we have done it", Cranfield University's Professor John Fielding commented in a BAE Systems press release issued at the end of September 2010.

"The DEMON UAV has been developed within a research programme but it is a representative, complex, high technology aircraft. Gaining approval from the CAA and flying it successfully has required great skill, dedication and patience by the team and they should be very proud of their achievement."

 

[Patriot]

IAI Unveils the Panther - Electrically Powered Tilt-Rotor UAV

The Panther combines the flight capabilities of an airplane with helicopter-like hovering, takeoff and landing employing tilt-rotor propellers, and a vertical lift augmenting propeller. Photo: IAI


Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is unveiling two new unmanned systems, representing a breakthrough in Vertical Take off and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designs. Both designs, named Panther and Mini-Panther employ a new tilt-rotor propulsion concept patented by IAI. Both are designed for tactical use. The Panthers have already performed test flights and are expected to operational ready next year. The new Panther will be displayed tomorrow in Latrun, Israel.

Panther combines the flight capabilities of fixed wing airplane with helicopter-like hovering, takeoff and landing, by employing two tilt-rotor propellers, and a vertical lift augmenter propeller providing additional lift for hovering, takeoff and landing. This configuration enables the Panther to be runway-independent, taking off and landing from unprepared areas. This unique, concept can be applied to UAVs of different sizes, providing land forces and special operations units at tactical level the capabilities commonly associated with much larger platforms.

This image shows the two tilt-rotors pointing upward, along with the augmenting propeller that is activated only for takeoff, landing and hover. Photo: IAI

Weighing about 65 kg, the Panther is powered by three electrical motors and packs sufficient power to loiter on missions of up to six hours at an altitude of 10,000 ft. At this altitude operational radius can exceed 60 km. The Panther carries IAI's MiniPOP multi-sensor electro-optical day-night payload comprising stabilized day and night cameras, laser rangefinder, laser pointer or laser designator. The smaller Mini-Panther is a 12 kg tilt-rotor mini-UAV designed for mission endurance of two hours. This version operates at lower altitudes and carries the miniature 'Micro-POP' EO stabilized payload. Both versions are powered by ultra-quiet electrical motors contributing to the Panther's stealth capability.

The Panther's flight control system is enhanced with automatic transition flight modes controlling the transitions between hovering and forward flight, enabling the Panther to take off and land automatically by a simple click of the operator console, thus eliminating the need for an external pilot. The Panther system employs compact ground control station and support systems packed into a midsize vehicle, storing up to three aircraft, communications datalink, and support equipment, allowing tactical units an autonomous operation. The ground control segment has two operators, using two fully redundant and identical consoles. The two consoles are employed for maximum mission efficiency – according to IAI, the Panther can be operated by a single operator as well. Designed as a portable system, the mini Panther includes two aircraft and a command and control unit carried by two soldiers.

The Panther control station, transported on a midsize vehicle, can store up to three aircraft, as well as the ground data link, the support equipment and spare parts, all of which allow the troops' autonomous operation on the field at a tactical level. Two operators control the mission using two fully redundant identical consoles.

IAI is unveiling the Panther tilt-rotor tactical UAV tomorrow, at the Latrun Conference in Israel. IAI's new UAV will make its international debut later this month, at the Association of the United States Army's (AUSA) 2010 Annual Meeting and Exposition in the USA.




IAI Introduces: Panther UAV – Electrically Powered Tilt-Rotor VT-UAV - Defense-Update

 

[Patriot]

Israel opens helicopter, UAV simulator unit

By Arie Egozi

A new Israeli air force squadron dedicated to delivering simulation-based training to helicopter pilots and unmanned air vehicle operators has become operational.

Flightglobal visited the unit in mid-September, days after it began training its first personnel at Palmachim air base.

The squadron operates in a number of new buildings that house two full-motion simulators for the air force's Sikorsky CH-53 and UH-60L Black Hawk transport helicopters. They also have a variety of PC-based UAV simulators, which also allow operators to learn emergency procedures and to plan missions.

All the systems are interconnected, enabling helicopter pilots and UAV operators to train under various scenarios.

"We go through all the sequence that is common in a flying squadron and that adds to the atmosphere of the training," says one Black Hawk pilot. Procedures include full pre- and post-mission briefings, plus calibrating systems such as night-vision goggles.

The new synthetic training systems also enable squadron personnel to participate in "combat days" drills, during which all the air force's squadrons participate in planned and unplanned operational situations.

The unit's commander, identified as Lt Col Oren, says the plan is to achieve full network capabilities with other arms of the Israeli defence forces. "A tank commander will be able to train in a joint combat scenario with helicopters and UAVs by using the same database and a fast communications infrastructure." Similarly, the squadron could also support training activities involving Special Forces personnel, he says.

"This new squadron is another proof that UAVs, alone and in conjunction with other aerial platforms, are gaining a greater, more important role in the structure of the Israeli defence forces," says Col Oren.

"Today the combat squadrons consider us an integral part of the force structure when they train in complicated, diverse scenarios."

The air force plans to add more simulators, including to support operations with the Israel Aerospace Industries Heron TP (Eitan) medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV.

Existing devices will also be updated to ensure full commonality with frontline equipment. "Each change in a system or software upgrade in one of the flying squadrons is implemented immediately in the simulators," Col Oren says.

The simulators are operated by young female soldiers who are specially selected and complete a year-long qualification course.

"We know the helicopters and UAV systems very intimately and that allows us to correct mistakes made by experienced pilots that carry very high ranks on their uniforms," says Sgt Sharon, one of the unit's most experienced staff.

 

[Patriot]

AirMule UAV gains wheels for STOVL operations

Urban Aeronautics' AirMule ducted fan craft has been equipped with a wheeled landing gear to facilitate ground manoeuvring and to enable the unmanned air vehicle to perform short take-off and vertical landing operations.

The Israeli company's prototype AirMule has recently been undergoing a systems upgrade, after having performed 40 test hovers and accumulated 10h of flight time.

The upgrade activity has included the development and installation of the wheeled landing gear, which when used in STOVL mode has the potential to nearly double the aircraft's payload capacity.

According to information previously released by the company, a skid-equipped AirMule has a maximum take-off weight of 1,090kg (2,400lb), including a mission payload of around 400kg.

The AirMule is equipped with internal lift rotors and has a small footprint, qualities that make it suitable for vertical mobility in urban environments. The aircraft has multiple-mission capabilities, although the current emphasis is on unmanned casualty evacuation and cargo resupply tasks.

Urban Aeronautics plans to resume flight tests with its prototype AirMule before year-end.








PICTURES: AirMule UAV gains wheels for STOVL operations

 

[talmash]

Hi,

sorry for the late response, I new to this forum way of communication, and the email notifications send me to others' threads.
Anyway, we got 2 potential local Indian agents (actually, 2 big firms, that are well connected with the Indian army)

I will add links to 2 brochures:
DRS-I : can be a control unit , and also be a controlled unit at the UAV
DRS-micro : can be a controlled unit at the UAV

note: DRS = Dynamic Relay System, that AcceleRadio developed.

Tal Mashraky, Founder & CTO
AcceleRadio ltd.
you can mail me directly to: tal at acceleradio.com

 

[talmash]

better get agents here, who can sell your product, there are number of customers including state police in anti terror operations and military.

picture of your products will be appreciated.

sorry for the delay, here are 2 pictures:



acceleradio.com/new/images/DRS-I-finkel_hand.JPG
acceleradio.com/new/images/DRS-micro-home_page_closeup.jpg

tal at acceleradio.com

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Iran muscles into the UAV battlefield

Iran muscles into the UAV battlefield

The United States and Israel lead the field in developing unmanned aerial vehicles, including missile-armed drones used extensively against their enemies in an evolving form of remote-control warfare.

But their common foe, Iran, is in the race, too, and that has serious implications for the military balance in the Middle East.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad unveiled a long-range, bomb-carrying drone called the Karar, Farsi for "assailant," in August that reputedly has a range of 600 miles and can carry a military payload of 450 pounds.

That's not enough for the jet-powered UAV to reach Israel -- but it could if it was launched from Lebanon or Syria by Iran's allies.

With the Levant simmering amid rising tension over Iran, Iraq and the Middle East peace process, the Iranian drive to develop long-range UAVs is causing concern in Israel and pro-Western Arab states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

Hezbollah of Lebanon, Iran's main proxy in the Arab world, allegedly has as many as 45,000 rockets and missiles provided by Iran and its ally Syria and since 2004 has operated the Iranian-built Mirsad-1 UAV.

This has been used to carry out aerial reconnaissance over Israel, much to the annoyance of the Jewish state's military. Mirsad is an early generation, relatively unsophisticated system with little endurance capability and doesn't, as far as is known, carry weapons.

But the more advanced versions of the Karar, which Iran presumably has in the works, would be a very different story.

It could, conceivably, be upgraded to perform the kind of deadly remote-control attacks that the U.S. MQ-1 Predator or its successor, the MQ-9 Reaper, are conducting in Afghanistan and Pakistan against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

These craft are produced by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.

Global security analyst Paul Rogers, professor of peace studies at Britain's Bradford University, noted recently that the current phase of developing these craft as instruments of war is to apply the stealth and weapons technologies developed for the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk and the Northrop Grumman B-2 bombers.

By giving UAVs radar-evading capabilities, these craft could fly over Iran or other hostile states "with impunity, and with minimal fear of interception," Rogers observed.

The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is planning a new generation of fast and heavily armed UAVs.

"A current project is to adapt the Fairchild A-10 -- among the world's most powerful close-air support planes -- for autonomous operations," Rogers wrote.

The A-10, known as the "Warthog" because of its seemingly ungainly lines, carries a fearsome array of weapons that include a 30mm cannon, laser-guided rockets, AGM-56E Maverick air-to-ground missiles and GPS-guided bombs.

The next-generation UAV platform would thus combine "the intense firepower and high subsonic speed of the A-10 with an endurance of up to 18 hours," Rogers noted.

The Israelis, considered to be the second-ranking UAV producer after the United States, is the world's top drone exporter with more than 1,000 sold to 42 countries, says Jacques Chemia, chief engineer at the UAV division of state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, flagship of Israel's defense industry.

Israel's military employs a wide array of UAVs, including armed craft deployed against Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas militants.

It is also reported to fly surveillance drones over Iran, presumably to locate targets for threatened pre-emptive strikes against the Islamic Republic's nuclear infrastructure.

Israel reportedly used long-endurance IAI Heron drones to spot Iranian arms consignments bound for Hamas in Gaza across the Red Sea to Sudan in early 2009 -- and to destroy two convoys loaded with weapons in the desert.

With Iran now pushing its growing technological expertise to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles and spy satellites, its efforts to produce long-range UAVs may not be too far off.

"The Karar may well be unarmed and have limited intelligence capabilities," says Rogers, "but its very existence will reverberate Â"¦

"If the Iranians have been able to develop a long-range drone, then it is more likely that they will attempt to launch reconnaissance drone sorties against Israeli territory -- at a time of their own choosing.

"The military effect will be minimal but the political impact will be very great Â"¦ The role of drones in asymmetric warfare -- or even just asymmetric psychological warfare -- may come much sooner than many expect."

 

[RPK]

Carbon Fibre Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Set to Smash Its Own Endurance Record

Employing carbon fibre airframe components manufactured by Leafield-based Formtech Composites, QinetiQ's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) project, "Zephyr", is expected to go into the record books by quadrupling its own previous record of 82 hours.

Zephyr operates within the High Altitude, Long Endurance (HALE) sector and was successfully launched on July 9th at the US Army Yuma proving ground in Arizona and completed a flight time, yet to be officially confirmed by the FAI, of 14 days (336 hours).






This 22.5m wingspan UAV is little more than 50kg and launched by hand. It operates by day on solar power, generated by amorphous silicon arrays and by night it is powered by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day by the solar energy gathered.

Zephyr and QinetiQ provided Formtech Composites a unique entrance into the UAV sector of aerospace and, providing a complete solution from design receipt through to production, the team worked exclusively in carbon fibre from QinetiQ's original designs, the components being produced to specification and adapted as new innovations were delivered.

"We can offer our clients a one to one drawing board to runway solution by maintaining a high level of communication and contact throughout the process," says Mark Preston, managing director of Formtech Composites, "and the results speak for themselves; in just two years of business our expertise has grown to a level where we are able to supply such a high end client as QinetiQ."

Stuart Banyard, production manager at Formtech Composites, agrees that the key to the Zephyr project was communication: "With regular meetings and our ability to fast track client adaptations throughout the development stages, we were able to keep to accurate deadlines and strict budget parameters. We are absolutely delighted at the high level of results for Zephyr and wish to pass our congratulations to all the HALE team at QinetiQ".

 

[RPK]

Northrop Grumman 's Fire-X passes key test - SignOnSanDiego.com

In an important milestone, engineers recently turned the power on for the first time in Fire-X, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that Northrop Grumman's Rancho Bernardo plant is developing with Bell Helicopter.

Northrop believes it can expand its product line by creating a vertical take off-and-landing UAV that the military could use to transport cargo or carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Northrop also produces Global Hawk, a UAV that's already in wide use around the world.

Global Hawk is a fixed-wing aircraft. Fire-X will be an unmanned helicopter. Engineers have installed such things as Northrop flight computers, navigational equipment and acuators in a Bell 407 helicopter.

The Fire-X was powered up for the first time on Sept. 17th. The demonstration "went well," said George Spongberg, who manages the Fire-X program for Northrop Grumman.

Spongberg said that a pilot will test fly the Fire-X next month, using the Northrop avionics systems. If that goes well, the medium-range vehicle will be put through a series of unpiloted flights in November or December at the U.S. Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona.

Many companies, including General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in Poway, design or build UAVs. Northrop is trying to expand its presence in this field with the Fire-X, which is designed to be capable of operating from Navy ships, as well as from land sites. Northrop also is promoting Fire-X as a comparatively low-cost UAV that's capable of carrying cargo inside the helicopter, or from a sling beneath the aircraft.

 

[Patriot]

Trials of Honeywell T-Hawk Micro Air Vehicles to be Conducted

Indian security forces will conduct trials for the T-Hawk micro air vehicle (MAV), a product of US-based Honeywell Aerospace, to test its feasibility in different terrain and surroundings. Earlier this year in April, Honeywell had carried out live demonstration and trials for T-Hawk at the Counter-Terrorism and Jungle Warfare College in Kanker, Chattisgarh. Thereafter, a video demonstration of another Israeli UAV was shown to all concerned agencies, also at Kanker.

"We are now carrying out some more trials for T-Hawk before taking a final decision on procurement of MAVs for surveillance in Naxal-infested areas. Let us see how they go," a senior official of the security establishment told Economic Times. According to sources, the MHA would help the Central forces procure the UAVs. The cost of a fully-operational T-Hawk would work out to around $200,000 or approximately, 90 lakh. The forces would initially like to order a small quantity of these UAVs, preferring to "develop tactics" for their use by the forces on the ground, before placing a bigger order.

Honeywell, on its part, has welcomed the idea of putting its T-Hawk through live trials in different environments and terrain. Speaking to Economic Times over the phone, the US-based Honeywell Defense and Space director, Prabha Gopinath, said: "The live trials at Kanker had borne very satisfactory results. The foliage was not too much and we could see the enemy troop movements very clearly. We also managed to detect IEDs planted 20 inches into the ground."

Mr Gopinath said the company was waiting for more such trials, possibly in the denser locations, including Bastar where the Naxalites are most active. Incidentally, a top Army expert, while witnessing the T-Hawk's April trials in Chhattisgarh, had noted that most Naxalite-infested stretches were not quite located under thick foliage. Also, the expert pointed out that the Maoists were known to engage forces mostly in the "cleared" areas of the jungle.

Dismissing the negative feedback from some quarters about T-Hawk not being able to see through thick foliage, Mr Gopinath said there was no UAV really capable of taking images through triple canopy. Also, unlike its close competitors, including the fixed-wing mini-UAVs of Israeli make, the T-Hawk was more sturdy as it is shaped like a large pressure cooker or a drum with all operational parts secure inside. "The biggest advantage of our design is that all the moving parts are contained, minimized any scope for snags," Mr Gopinath pointed out.

The second and possibly more important advantage of T-Hawk, which is 18 inches in diameter and is invisible to the naked eye beyond a height of 200 feet, is that it can hover over a location/target for a good 40-50 minutes and "help the forces view it and take images from different angles." "As against this, the fixed-wing UAVs cannot stop at a location. These machines are like a bird. If you spot something suspicious, you cannot stop them for a good, closer look," said the Honeywell director for strategic campaigns unmanned aerial systems.

"The T-Hawk is capable of daylight imagery as well infra-red imagery for night-time operations. For example, you can spot Maoist hideouts from the trail of smoke, possibly from cooking, caught by its cameras," said Mr Gopinath. He also ruled out any disadvantage due to the buzzing sound made by its gasoline engine. "The T-Hawk is not really recommended for stealthy operations. And counter-Naxal operations, as we understand, involve moving of trucks, besides movements of 70-80 troops at a time, all of which is possibly more noisy," said Mr Gopinath.

"We are waiting to be called for more trials as Honeywell is committed to helping the Indian government in meeting its security needs," he added.






Trials of Honeywell T-Hawk Micro Air Vehicles to be Conducted | India Defence

 

[Patriot]

Boeing To Offer A160T Hummingbird In Response To NAVAIR RFP

Boeing is preparing to offer a solution based on the world record-setting A160T Hummingbird unmanned rotorcraft in response to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command's Request for Proposal (RFP) for Cargo Unmanned Air Systems (UAS) Services.

The RFP calls for government-owned, contractor-operated UAS services for the U.S. Marines in Afghanistan.

In March, under contract from the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), Boeing demonstrated the A160T's ability to deliver at least 2,500 pounds of cargo from one simulated forward-operating base to another base 75 nautical miles away in less than the required six hours.

The simulated mission delivered 1,250-pound sling loads over two 150-nautical-mile round trips, with the A160T operating autonomously on a preprogrammed mission.

"Based on Boeing's success in the MCWL demonstration, we are convinced we have the right solution to bring this important capability to the Marines in the field," said Vic Sweberg, Boeing director of Unmanned Airborne Systems.

"We are prepared to offer the best response to the Marines to support their ongoing efforts in Afghanistan."

The A160T has a 2,500-pound payload capacity. It features a unique optimum-speed-rotor technology that significantly improves overall performance efficiency by adjusting the rotor's speed at different altitudes, gross weights and cruise speeds.

The autonomous unmanned aircraft, measuring 35 feet long with a 36-foot rotor diameter, has hovered at 20,000 feet and cruised at more than 140 knots. The A160T established a world endurance record in its class in 2008 with an 18.7-hour unrefueled flight.

Boeing started its A160T production line at its plant in Mesa, Ariz., in March.






Boeing To Offer A160T Hummingbird In Response To NAVAIR RFP