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Military.com Forums Air Force Discussions It's All About The Flying UAVs: Orders & Developments - II|
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This is a continuation of the original UAV thread that is now closed.
-------------- Watchkeeper UAV Undertakes Maiden Flight (Source: Thales; dated May 6, web-posted May 13, 2008) Thales UK today announces the successful first flight of the Watchkeeper unmanned air vehicle (UAV) platform. The Watchkeeper UAV, flown for the first time on 16 April from Megido airfield in northern Israel, is the first produced air vehicle, designed and built to meet the demanding requirements of the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD). Watchkeeper will provide the UK armed forces with an essential intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability, and will be a key component of the UK's network enabled capability (NEC). Thales UK, as Prime Contractor for the Watchkeeper programme, will deliver equipment, training and facilities, with the capability coming into service from 2010. Commenting on this major programme milestone, Richard Deakin, Managing Director of Thales' aerospace business in the UK, says: "Thales UK's Watchkeeper programme is on track and has been steadily moving forward since June 2007 when the company unveiled its final configuration following a Critical Design Review undertaken by the MoD. We have made tremendous progress since the contract was signed in 2005 and all the customer-agreed programme milestones have so far been met on or ahead of schedule." Looking forward to the plans for the rest of the year he adds: "2008 is an important year for the programme as it will also see the testing and integration of the automatic take-off and landing (ATOL) system, the I-Master radar and EO/IR/LTD payloads*. The I-Master radar flight trials have been extremely encouraging. The SAR imagery seen in the initial trials is outstanding and testing the GMTI functionality has just commenced. The combination of these sensors operating in a networked manner will certainly provide a transformational step in ISTAR capability for the UK armed forces." Production of the Watchkeeper system will take place at U-TacS (UAV Tactical Systems Ltd), the Thales UK and Elbit Systems joint company, based in Leicester. BACKGROUND NOTES: The Watchkeeper system consists of the unmanned air vehicle, with a dual-payload configuration. This includes day/night electro-optic sensors, laser target designator, as well as advanced synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator radar. The ISTAR information and images are provided to a network of highly mobile ground control stations and remote viewing terminals where UK military operators will control the whole mission and interface within a network-enabled environment. High resolution optical and radar imagery will be exploited and disseminated to provide valuable intelligence for operational commanders. The Watchkeeper air vehicle is fully autonomous, including ATOL, and has a de-icing capability, to expand its ability to operate in all weather operational environment. The system is capable of rapid deployment and operations anywhere in the world. Watchkeeper will support the information requirements of all three services.  |
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USAF Tests New, Autonomous UAV
(Source: U.S. Air Force; issued May 14, 2008) EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --- Thanks to technology advances in small, unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, service-members on the ground may be able to get an inside track on what lies ahead, literally. The Air Force Research Laboratory tested the Arcturus unmanned aerial vehicle prototype May 7 at Northern Edge 2008 in the Pacific Alaska Range Complex. The significant fact with this launch and testing is the new ability to follow movement on the ground, recognize changes on the landscape, and work autonomously, officials said. "We've done complete tracking of target vehicles where the aircraft is controlled by the tracking algorithm, we don't have to do any man-in-the-loop intervention," said Capt. Samuel Hart, the unmanned services program manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory. "We tell it to track the vehicle and it auto-tracks and follows it around corners, turns, behind trees and things like that." The main goal is to capture real-time images whether it be live video or snapshots and take those for targeting, tracking and geolocation, said the captain. "They can also use it for battle damage assessment, if there is a bomb drop," he said. "we can go back and see what kind of effect it had, if they were on target or if they missed." The new technology will give service-members a bird's eye view of the battle space. -ends- |
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Lockheed Formally Protests UAV Contract
Aviation Week's DTI | Amy Butler | May 06, 2008 (This article first appeared in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report.) LINK Lockheed Martin is protesting the U.S. Navy decision to award a $1.16 billion contract to Northrop Grumman to design and build its new Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aerial vehicles. The company filed its protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) May 5. GAO has 100 days to rule on the protest. Lockheed proposed a version of the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Predator, which was thought to be a lower-cost proposal than Northrop’s. Northrop’s Global Hawk-based RQ-4N system, however, is expected to carry a more powerful radar system and reach the objective capabilities for range and time-on-station with fewer aircraft. A Boeing-led team also proposed a manned/unmanned Gulfstream jet for BAMS. The sensor suite is integral to BAMS, as it will be expected to collect intelligence on ocean-going targets. “Information provided to us during our debrief indicated that we offered a technically compliant and awardable solution at significantly lower cost, leading us to request a Government Accountability Office review,” according to a Lockheed Martin statement. The BAMS protest adds to the list of major Pentagon acquisition programs that are contested by losing contractors – and Lockheed has found protesting Pentagon acquisition decisions to be effective. For instance, along with another losing contractor, Sikorsky, Lockheed apparently has earned another shot at the U.S. Air Force’s $15 billion Combat Search and Rescue replacement (CSAR-X) program. Boeing won the work in late 2006 but GAO referees were quickly bombarded with a string of protests. Now the Air Force expects to decide this fall whether the work will stay with Boeing or to re-award it to a new provider. Also under protest is the Air Force’s award of a Northrop Grumman/EADS North America design for the KC-45 aerial refueling tanker. GAO is expected to rule on that matter by late June. Navy and Northrop officials had scheduled a news briefing about BAMS for May 6 in Washington, but by midday on May 5 they said it was “postponed due to scheduling conflicts.” |
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US Air Force Awards $324M Order for Global Hawk
(Source: US Department of Defense; issued July 10, 2008) The Air Force is modifying a fixed price incentive firm contract not to exceed $324,600,000 with Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Integrated Systems Air Combat Systems of San Diego, Calif. This contract will provide 2 RQ-4B Block 301 Global Hawk air vehicles, 3 RQ-4B Block 40 air vehicles with MP-RTIP sensor, 1 mission element, 1 launch and recovery element, and associated equipment; option for 4 EISS sensor payloads. At this time $180,351,181 has been obligated. 303 AESG/PK, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-07-C-4015 P00008). -ends- |
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Firm Building Man-carrying VTOL Drone
LINK September 16, 2008 Military.com|by Bryant Jordan A Virginia-based company is hoping to test-fly a vertical take-off and landing drone before the end of this year that, ultimately, could do triple duty as strike vehicle, medevac or special ops insertion/extraction plane. The Excalibur is currently being developed as an armed, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle by Aurora Flight Sciences of Manassas, Va., capable of carrying Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Viper Strike missiles. The Hellfire is currently mounted on Predator UAVs, while Viper Strike missiles are used for strikes on the Army's RQ-5B Hunter UAV, both fixed wing aircraft requiring traditional runway take-offs and landings. |
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EADS Details Twin-Jet UAV for Tri-national Program
(Source: EADS Defence & Security; issued June 15, 2009) At the Paris Air Show 2009, EADS Defence & Security (DS) presents the mock-up of the latest unmanned aerial system: the Advanced UAV, the proposed Franco-German-Spanish UAV programme for the development and production of a fully autonomous system for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. On the occasion of the debut of the full-scale model, DS announced the brand name "Talarion", derived from the winged sandals of Hermes in the Greek mythology, enabling him to fly over great distances and faster than anyone. Talarion, with its 27.90 m wing span, is a joint endeavour of DS in France, Germany and Spain. The modular UAV is based upon the results of a comprehensive risk reduction study, which was concluded in May this year. Given a governmental go-ahead for development in 2009, the maiden flight of "Talarion" would be in 2013, and with first series deliveries in 2015. The industry proposal to the three partner nations contains six Talarion systems for France and Germany each, and three for Spain, respectively. One system consists of three Talarion units plus ground segment. In addition to the three partner nations, there is also a growing interest on the advanced UAV programme Talarion in the international markets. Talarion is the European programme for advanced, twin-jet ISTAR solutions with a unique modular sensor / payload philosophy, providing customers unlimited control of their missions and the data obtained therein.  Full-scale mock-up of the new Talarion UAV that EADS is offering to a joint requirement by France, Germany and-Spain. Note sensor ball under rear fuselage and radar bay under the forward fuselage.(EADS photo) |
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Enhanced Block 40 Global Hawk to Roll Out June 25
(Source: U.S Air Force; issued June 16, 2009) WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --- Air Force and Northrop Grumman officials will roll out the first Block 40 RQ-4 Global Hawk June 25 at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif. The Block 40 carries the Multi-platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) enhanced sensor suite. The Air Force plans to purchase 15 of the Block 40 variant. "The RQ-4 Block 40 weapon system primarily supports the warfighter's battle management command and control (BMC2) mission while also supporting the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission. Its' multi-mode MP-RTIP radar provides enhanced ground moving target indication and high quality radar imagery," said Dr. Yvette Weber, engineering director with the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson, which manages the Global Hawk system. The development of the MP-RTIP sensor suite is managed by the Electronic Systems Center at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. The prime contractor for this new sensor is North Grumman in El Segundo, Calif. The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system with an integrated sensor suite that provides intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, or ISR, capability worldwide via satellite data link. The system is in high demand by joint warfighters and has flown more than 31,000 hours while deployed in contingency operations since 2001, program officials said. The Global Hawk system consists of the RQ-4 aircraft, mission control element, launch and recovery element, sensors, communication links, support element and trained personnel. The Block 20 system employs a side-looking synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical and medium-wave infrared sensors. The Block 30 system adds a signals intelligence capability. This latest Block 40 variant adds battle management and control capability. To date, the Air Force has completed acceptance of the seven Block 10 aircraft. Six Block 20 aircraft have been purchased and another six Block 30 aircraft are in various stages of test and acceptance, Doctor Weber said. A total of 15 Block 40 aircraft are planned for production, with the first aircraft scheduled for delivery to Grand Forks Air Force Base, N.D., in 2011, Air Force officials said. -ends- |
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Next-Gen Global Hawk Block 40 Unveiled
(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued June 25, 2009) PALMDALE, Calif. --- Northrop Grumman Corporation and the U.S. Air Force unveiled the next-generation of high-flying unmanned aircraft - the RQ-4 Block 40 Global Hawk - in a ceremony today at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, Calif., manufacturing facility. "This unveiling of the first of 15 Block 40 aircraft is a significant step to fielding Global Hawk to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota, in 2010 and reaffirms our excellent track record of delivering Global Hawks since low rate production began," said Duke Dufresne, sector vice president for Northrop Grumman Aerospace System's Strike and Surveillance Systems Division. "Carrying an advanced, all-weather multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP) sensor, the Block 40 aircraft will provide game-changing situational awareness for our warfighters with its unprecedented capability to detect, track and identify stationary and moving targets." Use of the MP-RTIP sensor on the Block 40 Global Hawks marks the first time the active electronic scanned array (AESA) technology has been used on a high-altitude unmanned aircraft. AESA technology provides all-weather, day-night synthetic aperture radar mapping and ground moving target indicator capability. "The Global Hawk system is in high demand by joint warfighters overseas, having successfully flown more than 31,000 hours since 2001," said Steve Amburgey, Global Hawk program director for the 303rd Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "Congratulations to the entire Global Hawk team for continuing to provide our service men and women with a reliable intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) system." Designated AF-18, this Block 40 aircraft was the 27th Global Hawk built since the program's inception in 1995 and is scheduled to begin flight testing next month. "This magnificent aircraft represents the future of Grand Forks Air Force Base. This and the rest of the Block 40 fleet will make significant contributions to the safety and security of our nation for years to come," said Sen. Kent Conrad of North Dakota. "I look forward to seeing this airframe on the Grand Forks ramp next year." Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities are well suited to support a variety of customers and missions, including environmental and Earth science research, homeland security, border and coastal patrol, hurricane and fire monitoring, and other disaster relief support activities. Global Hawk effectively provided imagery of the California wildfires in 2007 and 2008, and of Hurricane Ike in 2008. Flying at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours per sortie at speeds approaching 340 knots, the MP-RTIP-equipped Block 40 Global Hawk can persistently see through most type of weather, day or night. As the world's first fully autonomous high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft system, Global Hawk is the platform of choice for a wide variety of sensors, foreign and domestic, meeting the global need for persistent ISR. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the Global Hawk and MP-RTIP programs and continues to move these technologies forward under the stewardship of the Air Force's Aeronautical Systems Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and the Electronic Systems Center, located at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. Northrop Grumman's Norwalk, Conn., facility is the principal MP-RTIP radar developer along with principal subcontractor, Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, El Segundo. The development MP-RTIP sensor is undergoing a radar system level performance verification on a surrogate aircraft, and will be integrated into AF-18 for an operational evaluation. Northrop Grumman's Global Hawk program is based at its Aerospace Systems' Unmanned Systems Development Center in San Diego, Calif. The company performs Global Hawk sub-assembly work at its Unmanned Systems Center in Moss Point, Miss., and final assembly at its Antelope Valley Manufacturing Center in Palmdale. The principal Global Hawk industry team includes: Aurora Flight Sciences, Bridgeport, West Va. (V-tail assembly and other composite structures); L-3 Communications, Salt Lake City (communication system); Raytheon Company, Waltham, Mass. (ground station); Rolls-Royce Corporation, Indianapolis (engine); and Vought Aircraft Industries, Dallas (wing).  The Global Hawk Block 40, the first UAV fitted with an active electronic scanned array (AESA) radar, will begin flight tests in July. (Northrop Grumman photo) |
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Has this become your personal version of MySpace? Your ad spot? I mean, if anyone really likes logging on to see yur dominance of this board and read your stuff, please chime in and correct me here...but I would lay odds I am not alone in thinking you need to pick a new spot to post this stuff...day, after day, after day.
Start a thread called Sgt. Schlappy's daily stuff and post it all in there. I, for one, log on...and when I see that all sub-threads are dominated by you...I go elsewhere and don't even bother with Mil.com. Overkill...brother. Big time. |
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Global Hawk UAV Logs 1,100 Missions is SW Asia
(Source: Northrop Grumman Corp.; issued July 2, 2009) SAN DIEGO --- The combat-proven RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft system (UAS), built by Northrop Grumman Corporation, continues to prove its mettle by exceeding more than 31,000 cumulative flight hours for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. More than 76 percent of these flight hours were flown in support of overseas contingency operations (OCO) efforts. "Global Hawk has been a tremendous asset in OCO support, flying more than 1,100 missions in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom," said Steve Amburgey, Global Hawk program director for the 303d Aeronautical Systems Group at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. "With four aircraft now surging overseas at 97 percent mission effectiveness, the highest of any deployed system, the Global Hawk has consistently demonstrated its resiliency and capabilities." This milestone comes on the heels of several recent successes, including the Global Hawk's 2,000th mission, deployment of the first Navy aircraft for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance Demonstration (BAMS-D) program, the first series of flight tests for its Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) on the Block 30 configuration, and completion of initial testing of the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) sensor for the Block 40 aircraft. "Ever since its first OCO deployment in 2001, Global Hawk has provided persistent surveillance -- an unblinking eye -- over and from any place on the planet," said George Guerra, Northrop Grumman vice president of high altitude long endurance (HALE) systems. "These recent achievements are a testament to the robustness of the system, as well as the excellent partnership we have with our customers to ensure our technology is meeting the mark." Able to simultaneously detect, identify and locate electronic and communications signals as well as special signals, the ASIP sensor will also be used onboard the Global Hawk's manned counterpart, the U-2. ASIP testing is scheduled for completion later this year. The MP-RTIP tests verified system performance of the Synthetic Aperture Radar and Ground Moving Target Indicator dedicated modes as part of the Radar System Level Performance Verification program. The first Block 40 aircraft, AF-18, has been assembled and awaiting flight testing by the Air Force. To date, the Global Hawk program has been on cost and on schedule for three straight years. All nine of the Block 10 configurations have been completed and delivered, seven for the Air Force and two for the Navy's BAMS-D program. All of the six Block 20s have been delivered and the rest of the fleet are in various stages of production and flight testing, including 17 Block 30s and one Block 40. "Global Hawk, which can fly three times as long and operates at more than half the cost per flight hour than its manned counterpart, is the best value system for our warfighters," said Guerra. "Compared to other similar UAS, it only takes a single Global Hawk to collect the same information as 18 smaller medium-altitude unmanned systems." Costing approximately $30 million each, without the applicable sensor package, Global Hawk's range, endurance and large payload capabilities are well suited to support a variety of customers and missions, including environmental and Earth science research, homeland security, border and coastal patrol, hurricane and fire monitoring, and other disaster relief support activities. The Global Hawk is the world's first fully autonomous HALE UAS, collecting persistent ground surveillance data over a wide area for both military intelligence analysis and warfighters' battle management and targeting. Global Hawk can fly at altitudes of more than 60,000 feet for more than 32 hours, providing surveillance day or night, regardless of weather conditions. Global Hawks are currently flown in four locations across the globe: Beale Air Force Base, home of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing and the RQ-4's main operating base, in Northern California; Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California; Patuxent River Naval Air Station in Maryland; and in support of the OCO efforts. |
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Go with this one. Retrofit it with x-band instead of the blimp. We can correspond it to the DARPA scout bug and hummingbird technology to see under the jungle tarp by two methods. If this is effective we should have a newer jungle method to watch for SAMS and land to sea missile caches, beyond the retrofitted scuds.
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Military.com Forums Air Force Discussions It's All About The Flying UAVs: Orders & Developments - II
