UAVs and UCAVs

[Kunal Biswas]

 

[black eagle]

Indian Drone Slybird...

 

[black eagle]

AERO INDIA: Flying Impression Of India's Rustom-H MALE UAV

 

[black eagle]

 

[black eagle]

Steps on for India's first non-pilot combat jets


Defence scientists have taken first baby steps towards making India's own version of missile carrying remotely piloted aircraft, widely recognised to be the future of air warfare, as they have sought specifications from the armed forces on their requirements. The unmanned combat aerial vehicles, or UCAVs, have been used most effectively by the US to target Taliban and Al Qaeda in Af-Pak where drone attacks have wrecked havoc. Realising that such technology would not be shared by any other country, India launched its own UCAV project recently and named it Aura. It is being developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and the Defence Avionics and Research Establishment (DARE).The scientists have now shared that the "users" have been asked to formulate specifications of their requirements from the new weapon platform. Once these specifications are on board, a feasibility report of the project would be prepared on the basis of which the work will progress further.It's still early days and the project could take several years to realise its objective.


http://expressbuzz.com/nation/steps-on-for-india%E2%80%99s-first-non-pilot-combat-jets/247571.html

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Elbit_unveils_new_UAV_command_center_999.html

Elbit unveils new UAV command center

Elbit Systems says it has successfully flight-tested its Hermes 450 and Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles from one ground control station, greatly enhancing the operational flexibility of the long-range drones amid a growing global market for the aircraft.

The tests underlined how Israel's high-tech defense industry is developing a wide range of unmanned robot systems for air, land and sea. These include Nahshson, a remote-controlled land vehicle that can tote 2 tons of cargo.

This is an advanced variant of the Guardium robot vehicle developed by G-NIUS Unmanned Ground Systems, a joint venture by Elbit and state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries. The Guardium has been in operated by the Israeli military since 2008.

Elbit said the Hermes tests were conducted from the company's new universal ground control station using a single operator for both UAVs.

"Joint flight control and management of two different unmanned aircraft systems provides users with enhanced operational flexibility, adapting each UAS to a specific mission and enabling management of highly complex missions in diverse arenas," Elbit said.

The Hermes 450 is a tactical long-endurance UAV that is the backbone of the Israeli air force's drone fleet, with more than 200,000 operational flight hours.

It's capable of flying at altitudes up to 20,000 feet. The latest variant is quieter than its predecessors and carries a heavier payload.

The Hermes 900 has longer endurance, a silenced engine, a maximum altitude of 30,000 feet and a larger payload capacity of 770 pounds.

Israel's defense industry has become a major producer of UAVs, along with the United States.

According to Jacques Chemia, chief engineer of IAI's UAV division, "Israel is the world's leading exporter of drones, with more than 1,000 sold in 42 countries."

Under a ground-breaking April 2009 contract with Moscow, worth $53 million, IAI, flagship of Israel's defense industry, sold Russia 12 short-range Bird-Eye 400, I-View MK150 and long-range Searcher II UAVs.

It was Russia's first purchase of a foreign weapons system and emphasized its technology shortfall following the sharp reduction of spending on research and development in the 1990s when the Cold War ended.

That contract led to a $400 million deal between IAI and Russia's Oboronprom OPK Group in October under which the Russians will eventually manufacture the Heron 1, one of Israel's most advanced UAVs capable of strategic missions.

IAI has developed the more advanced Heron TP, dubbed the Eitan which is Hebrew for "Strong."

This long-range UAV weight 4.5 tons, has a wingspan of 86 feet -- about that same as a Boeing 737 airliner -- and can stay aloft for 20 hours at high altitude.

This unique UAV, a major technological breakthrough for the Israelis, has a 1,200 horsepower turbojet, a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and can carry hundreds of pounds of equipment, such as high-resolution cameras, electronic surveillance systems and presumably weapons.

The Heron TP is capable of reaching Iran, although it's not known whether it has done so on surveillance missions, or whether it can be refueled in air.

The Hermes 900 is also reported to be able to reach Iran.

The ground-based robot systems are now widely deployed with the Israeli military. The Guardium has notched up thousands of operational hours since 2008.

The Nahshon, the latest UGV being developed by UGS, is able to operate on its own in combat zones. The Nahshon team believes it is close to producing a completely autonomous guidance system for the cargo vehicle.

Guardium and other UGVs are used to reinforce the remote-controlled gun and sensor towers or patrol areas along Israel's borders with troubled Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Amid the upheaval in Egypt that toppled President Hosni Mubarak, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered the construction of a security barrier along a 90-mile stretch of the border with Egypt to be speeded up.

This, originally intended to keep out illegal African immigrants, could have remote-control guard towers as well and be patrolled by UGVs.

Over recent years, the Israeli military has automated much of its security along the Lebanese and Gaza borders.

This includes the Sentry-Tech armored watchtowers, 15 feet high and 6 feet in diameter, that are topped with remote-control machine gun turrets and night-vision video cameras. The latest addition is radar that can penetrate fog.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Indian Drone Slybird...

Strangely their is another one in same category:

 

[Tshering22]

MP.net.........................

Wont it be prudent if we could ask France and join this program rather than letting DO(R)DO go at it alone and risk half a century late induction?

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Wont it be prudent if we could ask France and join this program rather than letting DO(R)DO go at it alone and risk half a century late induction?

India's UCAV To Be A Neuron Clone?


India's indigenous stealth UCAV programme, AURA, could borrow a lot of design from the European Neuron UCAV technology demonstrator. The image above, (snapped helpfully with a cell phone off a doc I hope to see a full version of soon) could be another glimpse into how the programme is thinking, and it sure looks like the Neuron to me. Interestingly, the AURA team has in fact been offered a technology partnership by the Neuron's programme leader Dassault Aviation, though the offer may not have anything directly to do with the Neuron programme itself. Incidentally, the AURA started out as a secret defence project (like India's SSBN programme), though the establishment has not only acknowledged its existence, but begun to talk quite a bit about it. Hope to get some real juice at Aero India though. Maybe a model too? Unlikely, but you never know.

http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/02/indias-ucav-to-be-neuron-clone.html

 

[black eagle]

Urban View Unmanned Aerial Vehicle [UAV] by Indian Startup company, Aurora Integrated systems



This is a new company started by a group of IIT grads.. They claim to offer 3 UAVs.

* Altius Mk II
* Urban View
* Sky Dot

They have also developed an Aerostat, Sky View, available in 3 variants & whose payload can be changed depending upon the requirement.

* SkyView 50
* SkyView 100 HD
* SkyView 200

This company is said to have the backing of TATA Group of Industries...

 

[bhramos]

Urban View Unmanned Aerial Vehicle [UAV] by Indian Startup company, Aurora Integrated systems



This is a new company started by a group of IIT grads.. They claim to offer 3 UAVs.

* Altius Mk II
* Urban View
* Sky Dot

They have also developed an Aerostat, Sky View, available in 3 variants & whose payload can be changed depending upon the requirement.

* SkyView 50
* SkyView 100 HD
* SkyView 200

This company is said to have the backing of TATA Group of Industries...

Great news.......
it looks good at the first step..........

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

this is a very good developement.the drdo and the armed forces should encourage such developements rather than turning a blind eye.india has a very strong private sector needed to developed a strong military industrial complex within the country to meet the needs the armed forces and reduce our dependency on imports.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/A...ird_Like_Unmanned_Aircraft_for_DARPA_999.html

AeroVironment Develops World's First Fully Operational Life-Size Hummingbird-Like Unmanned Aircraft for DARPA

AeroVironment, Inc. has accomplished a technical milestone never before achieved - controlled precision hovering and fast-forward flight of a two-wing, flapping wing aircraftthat carries its own energy source, and uses only the flapping wings for propulsion and control.

The milestone was part of the Phase II contract awarded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to AV to design and build a flying prototype "hummingbird-like" aircraft for the Nano Air Vehicle (NAV) program.

"The success of the NAV program paves the way for a new generation of aircraft with the agility and appearance of small birds," said DARPA NAV program manager, Dr. Todd Hylton.

The final concept demonstrator is called the 'Nano Hummingbird' and is capable of climbing and descending vertically, flying sideways left and right, flying forward and backward, as well as rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise, under remote control and carrying a video camera payload. During the demonstration the Nano Hummingbird flew in and out of a building through a normal-size doorway.

"The historic achievement made by the Nano Hummingbird is an example of the leading-edge innovations introduced and deployed almost routinely by the AeroVironment UAS team," said Tom Herring, AV senior vice president and general manager of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

"From the battle-proven Raven, Wasp and Puma small UAS to the tiny Nano Hummingbird to Global Observer, the largest, highest and longest flying UAS, AeroVironment continues to define the future of unmanned aircraft systems. Our mission in doing so is to provide our customers with advanced tools that help them succeed."

The hand-made prototype aircraft has a wingspan of 16 centimeters (6.5 inches) tip-to-tip and has a total flying weight of 19 grams (2/3 ounce), which is less than the weight of a common AA battery. This includes all the systems required for flight; batteries, motors, communications systems and video camera.

The aircraft can be fitted with a removable body fairing, which is shaped to have the appearance of a real hummingbird. The aircraft is larger and heavier than an average hummingbird, but is smaller and lighter than the largest hummingbird currently found in nature.

"The success of the Nano Hummingbird was highly dependent on the intense combination of creative, scientific, and artistic problem-solving skills from the many AV team members, aided by a philosophy of continuous learning, which we feel was only possible due to the unique R and D environment here at AV," said Matt Keennon, AV's project manager and principal investigator on the NAV project.

The technical goals for the Phase II effort were set out by DARPA as flight test milestones for the aircraft to achieve by the end of the contract effort. The Nano Hummingbird met all, and exceeded many, of the milestones:

+ Demonstrate precision hover flight within a virtual two-meter diameter sphere for one minute.

+ Demonstrate hover stability in a wind gust flight which required the aircraft to hover and tolerate a two-meter per second (five miles per hour) wind gust from the side, without drifting downwind more than one meter.

+ Demonstrate a continuous hover endurance of eight minutes with no external power source.

+ Fly and demonstrate controlled, transition flight from hover to 11 miles per hour fast forward flight and back to hover flight.

+ Demonstrate flying from outdoors to indoors, and back outdoors through a normal-size doorway.

+ Demonstrate flying indoors 'heads-down' where the pilot operates the aircraft only looking at the live video image stream from the aircraft, without looking at or hearing the aircraft directly.

+ Fly the aircraft in hover and fast forward flight with bird-shaped body and bird-shaped wings.

 

[black eagle]

Two significantly different prototypes of India's SLYBIRD hand-launched mini-UAV during initial flights. The drone was revealed for the first time at Aero India earlier this month. The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL), developer of the drone, says, "The 2-kg class mini-UAV is currently under development. The requirement is to fly with an endurance of 1 hour, a range of 10-km for both telemetry data/video imagery, and an altitude of 300 m above ground level (service ceiling of 15,000 ft). Initial flights of the mini-UAV are complete. The integration of an indigenous autopilot and daylight camera/IR camera is under progress."


http://livefist.blogspot.com/2011/02/photos-indias-hand-launched-slybird.html

 

[black eagle]

India outlines mini VTOL-UAV requirement


India has issued a request for information for a small-sized vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle According to the Indian air force's request, the requirement is for a battery- or fuel-operated UAV that weighs less than 10kg (22lb) and has an endurance of over 60min.


The UAV will perform intelligence, search and reconnaissance missions. Mission payloads should include cameras, forward-looking infrared and laser spotters and rangefinders. The RFI also specifies that the UAV be capable of hovering and operating in urban environments.


The system should come with portable, lightweight ground stations and datalink terminals.


The RFI is for "a simple design such as a personal computer-based ground control station capable of handling the UAV telemetry information, mission display image processing, detection and transmission of information pertaining to all payloads", the air force says.


It also calls for the "facility to integrate with other HQ/control stations" and a datalink range of "not less than 10km [5.4nm]".

 

[afi]

India outlines mini VTOL-UAV requirement
India has issued a request for information for a small-sized vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle According to the Indian air force's request, the requirement is for a battery- or fuel-operated UAV that weighs less than 10kg (22lb) and has an endurance of over 60min.

In addition to the sub-10kg UAV, there is another RFI for a sub-2kg UAV.
http://www.suasnews.com/2011/03/3972/indian-air-force-seeks-a-sub-2kg-hovering-platform/

I've found so many news sources that mention this information, yet I have not been able to find the actual RFI's so that I can respond. Any ideas where to find the original RFI's for these?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/JLENS_Program_Achieves_Critical_Milestone_999.html

JLENS Program Achieves Critical Milestone

Raytheon's JLENS (Joint Land Attack Cruise Missile Defense Elevated Netted Sensor System) program has successfully demonstrated the ability to transmit from an elevated aerostat.

The JLENS demonstration was conducted at the Utah Test and Training Range. The aerostat deployed to an altitude of 10,000 feet mean sea level, and the surveillance radar began emitting radio frequency radiation into free space for the first time.

"This milestone demonstrates another step in the maturing of our JLENS program as a game- changing capability for our warfighters to detect and defend against cruise missile threats," said Dave Gulla, vice president, National and Theater Security Programs for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems.

JLENS is the first aerostat platform featuring long-duration, wide-area, over-the-horizon detection and tracking of low-altitude cruise missiles and other threats. Its capabilities provide the battlefield commander with enhanced situational awareness and elevated communications, enabling sufficient warning to engage air defense systems and defeat threats.

The surveillance radar performs wide area surveillance and fire control sensor cueing and is one of two advanced elevated sensor systems deployed on JLENS. The multifunctional fire control radar performs sector surveillance, provides combat identification support, and supports extended range engagements of weapon systems to intercept threats at the maximum possible range from defended assets.

Deployed on a 74-meter (about 243 feet) aerostat, JLENS provides the warfighter with a low-altitude, single integrated air picture and the ability to conduct air-directed surface-to-air missile engagements.

 

[ace009]

In addition to the sub-10kg UAV, there is another RFI for a sub-2kg UAV.
http://www.suasnews.com/2011/03/3972/indian-air-force-seeks-a-sub-2kg-hovering-platform/

I've found so many news sources that mention this information, yet I have not been able to find the actual RFI's so that I can respond. Any ideas where to find the original RFI's for these?

Try looking at

http://www.india-defence.com

http://indiadefenceonline.com

 

[black eagle]

Advanced drone project gets 1,540 cr funding

The unmanned aerial vehicle is scheduled to take to the skies within three years and replace the Israeli Heron

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared a Rs.1,540 crore proposal from the Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), the Bangalore-based defence laboratory, to design and develop an advanced version of its Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)—which will significantly enhance the capability of the country's Armed Forces.

ADE director P.S. Krishnan said the lab received the approval around 10 days ago. Of the Rs.1,540 crore, Rs.1,156 crore will be used to develop 15 UAVs, while Rs.384 crore will go towards setting up a dedicated aeronautical test range (ATR) at Chitradurga, 200km from Bangalore.

The first UAV, named Rustom-H, is to take to the skies within three years and users can evaluate it after five-and-a-half years. The Rustom-1 has an operating altitude of 22,000 ft and an endurance of 12-15 hours, while the Rustom-H will have 30,000 ft of operating altitude and endurance of 24 hours. It is a medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV meant for surveillance of hostile areas, tracking targets and will replace the Israeli Heron UAV currently in service with the Indian Army.

It can also carry loads of up to 350kg—long range electro-optics, synthetic aperture radar, maritime patrol radar, electronic and communication intelligence payload, radar warning receiver and a traffic collision avoidance system. And it will have the so-called automatic take-off and landing, or ATOL, capability.

"This UAV will bring in the new technology of de-icing to India, for which we are in talks with firms in Germany, Europe and Israel," Krishnan said. He declined to reveal the name of the firms. De-icing is technology used to melt the ice that settles on the wings of a UAV when flying at high altitude. De-icing distorts the aerodynamics of the flying body and thus makes it unstable.

The laboratory is looking for partners to help it develop the vehicle and six firms including Tata Advanced Systems Ltd, Larsen and Toubro Ltd, Godrej Precision Systems, and the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd-Bharat Electronics Ltd consortium will be asked to submit proposals.

The project has its challenges. The UAV will have to share civilian airspace and will require certification from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, apart from a certification from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification, another defence lab. "The ATOL feature, certification requirements, developing indigenous payload and de-icing are challenges to this project," Krishnan admitted.

"Making the UAV will help India build indigenous capability and also help the nation to move up the value chain from low-end technology to high-end technology," said Dhiraj Mathur, executive director of PricewaterhouseCoopers, India.

 

[Patriot]

Lakshya-2 performs low-altitude tests

India has conducted low-altitude trials with its developmental Lakshya-2 target drone, with the aircraft performing high-g manoeuvres at altitudes as low as 82ft (25m).

On a test conducted on 20 December 2010, the drone flew 5.4nm (10km) at an altitude of 82ft, with an average altitude deviation of less than 3ft, says India's Defence Research and Development Organisation.

On 23 December it flew the system for 10.8nm at an altitude of 490ft towing a target that was flown at a height of 164ft.

The tests had four objectives. The first was to assess the Lakshya-2's flight-control system and ability to use autonomous waypoint navigation with GPS updates. They also looked at its ability to fly programmed low-altitude flights in both clean and tow body configurations, and to perform high-g manoeuvres in both regimes.

The process also assessed the deployment of the Lakyshya-2 on its mobile launcher, and introduced new features in its ground control station.

The DRDO says it is working with India's armed forces for a limited series production order, and also speaking with industry partners about the programme.