Directory: unmanned air vehicles UAV directory 2006 The rapid evolution of unmanned air vehicles is highlighted by our third annual directory. We have expanded the range of systems described in terms of technology and geographic regions to refl ect a truly global sector, where the dominance of traditional supplier nations is now under challenge. Technical specifi cation and performance data tables to accompany each entry in the directory are available at www.fl ightglobal.com/uavdirectory

PETER LA FRANCHI / LONDON

Northrop CLASSIFICATIONS ACRONYMS Grumman/ Israel UAV classifi cations contained in above 24h commonplace – the General ACTD Advanced Concept Technology Aircraft this directory are largely based on Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-1 Demonstration CAPECON civil UAVs Industries manufacturers’ own designations, but also Predator is already demonstrating in excess applications and economic effectivity E-Hunter, an take into account a variety of international of 30h. High-altitude long-endurance UAVs of potential confi gurations DARPA US extended- classifi cation standardisations, which are in have an endurance of greater than 24h at Defence Advanced Research Projects range a constant state of fl ux. Generally speaking, altitudes of above 50,000ft with operations Agency DSTO Australian Defence version of close-range UAVs are those which operate in excess of 30h common for the few Science and Technology Organisation the Hunter, at low altitude at distances of less than 5km platforms in this class. HALE high-altitude long endurance has an (2.7nm) with a payload below 5kg (11lb). Unmanned combat air vehicles are IMINT imagery intelligence J-UCAS endurance Short-range UAVs are those which operate classifi ed in this directory as purpose- Joint Unmanned Combat Air System of 30h at low altitude at distances of up to 20km. designed and -built aircraft in development LADP low-altitude deep penetration Air vehicles in both these categories are for armed combat, such as the Boeing X-45 LALE low-altitude long endurance also often referred to by the designations and Dassault-led Neuron types, rather LRIP low rate of initial production LUAV small-UAVS and mini-UAVs, as distinct from than being a weaponised derivative of an logistics unmanned air vehicle MALE micro-UAVs. The latter category tends to existing UAV type. The term unmanned medium-altitude long endurance have a wingspan of below 0.5m and a range reconnaissance air vehicle has emerged MTOW maximum take-off weight NBC of up to 2km. This directory standardises within the European UAV community within nuclear, biological, chemical N-UCAS around the terms micro, close and short the past 12 months and is adopted by this Navy Unmanned Combat Air System range. directory to designate systems that have SIGINT signals intelligence TUAV Tactical UAVs are generally classifi ed the physical attributes of a UCAV, but are tactical unmanned air vehicle UAV as having an endurance of around 6-10h not optimised for that role at the outset. unmanned air vehicle UCAR unmanned on average, but with 10-15h becoming In this context URAVs should be seen as combat air rotorcraft UCAV unmanned common for more capable systems in the an evolution of low- and medium-altitude, combat air vehicle URAV unmanned class. Medium tactical UAVs may have an deep-penetration concepts such as the reconnaissance air vehicle USAF US Air endurance of up to 24h and a maximum EADS CL-289 and the former Lockheed Force USMC US Marine Corps USN US ceiling of up to 18,000ft (5,500m). Medium- Martin Darkstar system. The EADS Navy VTOL vertical take-off and landing altitude long-endurance UAVs fl y for at least Barracuda and Alenia Sky-X are two clear VTUAV vertical take-off and landing 20h above 18,000ft with endurance well examples. tactical unmanned air vehicle

32 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

AAI increased payload provisions and retractable confi gurations, with this including sensors undercarriage. AAI, 124 Industry Lane, Hunt Valley, Maryland optimised for detection of improvised explosive 21030-0126, USA. Tel +1 410 666 1400; fax: +1 devices. A modular logistics drop pod system is Yabhon-R 410 628 3077; www.aaicorp.com in advanced development for battlefi eld emer- gency support roles. Heavy fuel engine options Extended-range tactical UAV similar in con- RQ-7A/RQ-7B Shadow 200 continue to be explored. A potential Foreign fi guration to Yabhon-M, but with double-delta In production for the US Army as a stand- Military Sales programme sale to Poland of two wing, unveiled in late 2005. Development is ard TUAV system based on a modifi ed RQ-7B systems was announced 27 July 2006. continuing, with options including tail-less confi guration. It will also serve as the interim confi guration. Class III (battalion level) UAV under the Future Shadow 400 Combat System force structure. Each Shadow Evolved Shadow 200, with improvements in Yabhon - VTOL system is made up of four air vehicles, two payload capacity and an increased wingspan. It Developmental coaxial rotor extended endur- ground-control stations, launcher and associ- is in operational service with at least one inter- ance tactical VTOL system announced at ated support equipment. national customer, believed to be the South November 2005 Dubai air show, with fi rst fl ight The Shadow 200A air vehicle fi rst fl ew in Korean navy. AAI announced a $25.4 million projected for the fi rst quarter of 2006. There 1998 and was selected by the US Army as a international order for an unspecifi ed UAV sys- have been no subsequent announcements. standard TUAV in 1999 with an LRIP contract tem in June 2001, with this including supply of signed in December of that year. Initial opera- shipboard air vehicle recovery nets. ADI tional test and evaluation approvals from the ADI, Cowper Wharf Road, Garden Island, New US Army were granted in June 2002. The initial Shadow 600 South Wales 2011, Australia. Tel: +61 2 9562 full-rate production contract, worth $86 mil- Evolved version of the Shadow 200/400 fam- 3333; fax: +61 2 9562 2390; www.adi-limited.com lion, was signed in January 2003, with nine ily, it incorporates a semi-swept outboard wet systems to be delivered in a 20-month period. wing. Export sales of at least one system to Cybird-2 The fi rst full-rate production system was deliv- Turkey and two systems to Romania have been Jet-powered UAV developed as a testbed for ered in September 2003. made, with the initial Romanian deal, worth research into new forms of air vehicle naviga- The US Army announced in December 2003 $20 million, announced May 1997. tion and sensor system localisation and track- that it was extending full-rate production con- ing algorithms derived from the study of insect tracts for Shadow 200 systems. A second full- ADCOM cognition and fl ight behaviours. The airframe rate production order for 11 systems worth Advanced Communications Systems Group, PO was developed under subcontract by Turbo Jet $71.9 million was announced in March 2004. Box 25298, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Technologies. The 100th RQ-7A air vehicle was produced in Tel: +971 2 5500 630; fax: +971 2 5500 631. The vehicle fi rst fl ew in early 2003 and was July 2004. Deliveries of RQ-7B (also known as publicly unveiled in October 2003. Potential Shadow Plus) air vehicles began in August 2004 Yabhon Excellency development of a high-speed, short-range tacti- with air vehicles fi tted for – but not with – tac- Developmental MALE system with a wing cal UAV, loitering missile and target drone vari- tical common datalink terminals. based on fl exible, high-aspect ratio profi le. The ants is being studied. It is being further devel- The RQ-7B version adds a larger wet company-funded project with wing and tail oped under the Australian DSTO’s Project Air wing, modified tail assembly, and Athena was completed in November 2005, but with 5434 Bioseeker advanced concept technology Technologies GS-211e fl ight controller into the fuselage assembly still to start at that date. The demonstration project, with initial funding on-board avionics suite. The third full-rate pro- proposed communications system includes awarded in the fi rst quarter. duction order for eight systems was awarded in a Ku-band satellite link, with the prototype January 2005, worth $71.9 million. An order mounting unveiled at the Dubai air show in Jandu worth $14.4 million for one additional system November 2005. Its fi rst fl ight was initially Jet-powered UAV under development as a high- and three mobile maintenance facilities was forecast for April 2006, but there have been no speed platform to carry electronic intelligence announced in February 2005. The fourth full- subsequent announcements. gathering equipment. It is larger than the rate order, worth $129 million, for 12 systems, Cybird-2 and may carry two engines. Proposed was placed in July 2005. The fi fth full-rate Yabhon-H application of the vehicle, which has a 50kg order, worth $87 million, was placed May 2006 Canard-delta wing tactical UAV with vacuum payload capacity, is high-speed mapping of the for nine systems, with deliveries to complete in formed glassfi bre epoxy construction, twin tails electronic order of battle in threat areas. Being March 2008. at wingtips and tricycle undercarriage with par- further developed under the Australian DSTO’s First deliveries to US Army operational users achute back-up system. It was initially devel- Project Air 5436 is the Jandu advanced concept took place in October 2002, and 64 systems had oped as a target drone. Reconnaissance version technology demonstration project, with initial been delivered by mid-2006. The system has payload is based on a single electro-optic cam- funding awarded in the fi rst quarter of 2005. been operational in Iraq since January 2004, era in an Adcom-designed turret. No specifi cation data has been released. with the fl eet passing 50,000 fl ying hours in August 2005 and 100,000 combat fl ight hours Yabhon-M ADVANCED CERAMICS RESEARCH in June 2006. Work is continuing within the Large tactical UAV based on evolution of basic Advanced Ceramics Research, 3962 East army and at AAI on alternative sensor payload Yabhon-H canard-delta wing airframe with Hemisphere Loop, Tuscon, Arizona, 85706,

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 33 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

USA. Tel: +1 520 573 6300; fax: +1 520 573 2057; 2007. There is also potential Indian coastguard Three systems have been ordered by Nigeria. www.acrtucson.com interest. The air vehicle unit cost is around $3.5 million at February 2004 prices. The vehicle is Dominator Manta catapult launched with a combined airbag and This multimission flying-wing MALE UAV Developmental convoy escort UAV developed parachute recovery system. Forty systems are was unveiled at the Aero India exhibition in conjunction with the US Naval Research expected to enter Indian army service by 2010. in February 2005. Under development since Laboratories and based on operational les- at least 2003, it was originally designated sons emerging from US military operations AERONAUTICS DEFENSE SYSTEMS Morpheus, with work continuing. Endurance in Iraq from 2003. Initial fl ights took place in Aeronautics Defense Systems, Post Offi ce Box is believed to be 35-40h, including the use of early 2004 and the prototype air vehicles were 169 Yavne 81101, Israel. Tel: +972 8 943 3600; underwing drop tanks and a wet wing. Capable unveiled at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems fax: +972 8 932 8912; www.aeronautics-sys.com of simultaneous carriage of both SAR and IR/EO North America exhibition in August 2004. payloads, the vehicle has large winglets and an Mantas were used by the Scripps Institute, Aerolight integrated anti-icing system for high-altitude NASA and the US National Science Foundation Close-range UAV developed for intelligence operations, with a ceiling of 25,000ft (7,600m). to carry out a mid-atmosphere monitoring and surveillance missions, but also being mar- A satellite datalink terminal is above the nose role over the central Indian Ocean in early keted as a UAV operator training system. Some mounting. 2006 and by Raytheon and USN Air Systems aircraft have been acquired by the USN PMA- Command to demonstrate co-operative UAV 273 UAV programmes offi ce. Orbiter operations with an unmanned ground vehicle A short-range, electrically powered fl ying wing for US Special Operations Command in April Aerosky unveiled in early 2005, Orbiter is aimed at 2006. Twin tail-boom pusher-propeller confi guration homeland security, law enforcement and facili- UAV, it is used as the baseline air vehicle for ties protection markets. Deliveries were made Silver Fox Aeronautics’ business model, which is based to an unspecifi ed European defence customer Tactical UAV designed by US Navy Offi ce of on offering UAV services rather than selling air in April 2006. Naval Research (ONR) to support explora- vehicles. It was contracted in March 2002 by tion of swarming UAV operations in the bat- the Israeli defence forces to provide “surveil- AEROSONDE tlefi eld. Licensed production is by Advanced lance by the hour” services. It was marketed Aerosonde, Unit 1, 585 Blackburn Road, Ceramics, with air vehicles supplied to ONR internationally via a seven-year agreement Notting Hill, Victoria 3168, Australia. Tel: deployed to Iraq in mid-2003 to assist in meet- with IAI signed in 2001. Customers include the +61 3 9544 0866; fax: +61 3 9544 0966; www. ing ongoing surveillance requirements. The US Navy PMA-263 UAV programmes offi ce. aerosonde.com fi rst export sale, worth $649,000, was made to the Canadian Defence Forces in April 2004 Aerostar Aerosonde Mk1/2/3/3.1/4.1 via Thales Systems Canada to support ongo- Based on the Aerosky airframe, but with a more- The Mk3 standard production version super- ing UAV experimentation activities. Silver Fox capable engine and significantly increased seded Mk1 and Mk2 versions developed was used by the US Forest Service in October payload capacity. A small number of aircraft between 1995 and 2000. Some Mk1 systems 2004 to monitor the volcanic eruption of Mt and ground systems (along with Aerosky and were sold to Taiwan for use in meteorological St Helens in Washington. A USMC order for a Aerolight aircraft) were acquired by the US monitoring. The Mk3 version incorporates a Block 2B system with improvements to air vehi- Navy PMA-263 offi ce via a June 2001 solicita- fuel-injection system for the engine. A Mk3.1 cle avionics was placed in November 2004 for tion, with systems located at NAS Patuxent version, featuring new avionics and a 75w elec- continued experimentation in defi ning Tier-2 River, Maryland. A 2003 contract ws signed trical generator to enable increased fl exibility TUAV requirements. These UAVs are operated with the Israeli defence forces to provide rou- in payload options, has been fl ying since early by the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Silver tine security monitoring within Israel’s borders 2004 and will be standardised for future pro- Fox is a candidate for a current USMC Tier-2 and a two-year service contract was announced duction series. TUAV competition. in May 2004 to provide security monitoring for The major Mk3 application remains scientifi c Chevron Texaco-operated oilfi elds in Angola. monitoring, with standing contracts with NASA AERONAUTICAL DEVELOPMENT ESTABLISHMENT Aerostar was selected by Irkut in 2004 as the Goddard Space Flight Centre, Wallops, until Aeronautical Development Establishment, UAV component of its proposed emergency 2006. Some Mk3s were sold to the Australian Defence Research and Development response complex based on use of a UAV to DSTO to support UAV battlefi eld experimenta- Organisation, Ministry of Defence, New cue airborne fi refi ghting missions by Beriev tion with electronic warfare and EO-IR payloads Thippasandra, Bangalore 560 075, India. Tel: Be-200 amphibians. A teaming arrangement with this continuing as at June 2006. A Mk2 +91 80 2528 3188; fax: +91 80 2505 7007; www. with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Aeroguard confi guration aircraft was used by ada.gov.in Systems was established in September 2004 to the Australian Army in peacekeeping support pursue sales and service-based contracts in the work in the Solomons Islands in 2004. In 2004 Nishant/Gagan USA and allied markets, with Aerostars to be follow-on Mk3 sales were made to Taiwan and A multimission tactical UAV with extended manufactured at the General Dynamics Moses a new sale was made to Singapore for civil development history, it received initial govern- Lake facility. applications. A Mk4.1 version was unveiled in ment funding in October 1991 and the fi rst General Dynamics also signed in mid- February 2004, with key additions including a prototype fl ew in August 1996. Five additional 2005 to provide air vehicle services for the Cloud Cap Technology Piccolo guidance sys- prototypes were built and tested up until 2002. University of New Mexico Technical Analysis tem, a distributed on-board data network, new An initial Indian army production order for 12 and Applications Centre, and Aerostars were power supply, increased payload weight and aircraft and ground systems was placed in mid- used by the US Air Force Research Laboratory space, and increased endurance. November 2004, with the deal based on initial in early 2006 to test a prototype optical sense- The changes were retrofi tted in early 2005 production and delivery of four aircraft by the and-avoid system for the General Atomics into earlier versions owned by the US Offi ce end of 2006, with payments then to be released Aeronautical Systems International MQ-1 of Naval Research and Alion Science and for the remaining eight aircraft. However, Predator A. The Israeli police tested Aerostars Technology Corporation. A modified wing deliveries are now not expected until mid- in the law enforcement role in February 2006. incorporating winglets was unveiled at the 2005

34 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

A new-generation thermal imager was added in 2000, along with a smaller, ruggedised con- trol system. US Special Operations Command ordered 28 air vehicles and ground systems in early 2002 in response to identifi ed capa- bility defi ciencies emerging from the war in Afghanistan. Deliveries were completed by August 2002. The system was tested by the French army, with two systems delivered in 2001, with in-country support provided by CAC (later acquired by EADS). Total production since 1986 exceeds 700, with several hundred systems in the current US Army, SOCOM and USAF inven- tory.

Hawkeye Unmanned logistics air vehicle under develop- ment since 2002 in conjunction with the US Special Forces Command, with the project man- aged by the US Naval Research Laboratories. Hawkeye has a folding tandem wing arrange- ment and is designed to be launched from the tail ramp of large cargo aircraft. Prototype sys- tems were unveiled at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America exhibition in August 2004 with development continuing as at July 2006. The larger version, designated X-Glider, has a 2.7m wingspan and was developed on behalf of the USN. X-Glider was fl ight tested from a USN Lockheed P-3 during 2002 as a potential delivery system for sonobuoys, but funding for that specifi c variant was discontinued in 2003. A range of miniature variants under develop- ment, called GLUAV – or Gun Launched UAV – are intended to either be fi red from a ground- based ballistic system or tube-launched from AeroVironment Global Observer testbed is intended to continue the quest for eternal aircraft the air.

Paris air show. It was contracted by the US Air was launched in mid-2002 for the supply Global Observer Force in September 2005 for the Weatherscout of up to 1,026 vehicles for the USMC, with Long-endurance hydrogen fuel cell-powered Foreign Comparative Test programmes. The this competed by BAI (see separate entry) and aircraft developed as company-funded ini- type endurance record of 38h was set on 3 May Aerovironment. Aerovironment was selected tiative and drawing on lessons from crash of 2006 and a 48h endurance target is being pur- as preferred USMC supplier in November 2003 Helios eternal aircraft prototype in June 2003. sued through engine modifi cations. A revised with a contract award worth up to $40 mil- The airframe is based on a traditional fuselage Mk4 confi guration, developed after the June lion over fi ve years to supply around 300 fully and wing confi guration to better support fuel- 2006 acquisition of company by AAI, is due to autonomous air vehicle systems, each compris- cell weight distribution, as this directly contrib- be unveiled in August 2006. ing one ground station and three air vehicles. A uted to the Helios accident. The debut fl ight It is on offer for the USMC Tier-2 TUAV com- follow-on USMC award came in February 2006, in May 2005 at the US Army Yuma Proving petition with the existing ground control sta- worth $9.79 million, for 303 additional air Ground lasted 1h. A second fl ight took place in tion replaced by the AAI One System to facili- vehicles and 101 ground control stations, with June 2005. Demonstration fl ights are planned tate interoperability with the US Army AAI deliveries to be completed by December 2006. for October 2006 over Arizona to test a proto- RQ-8B Shadow 200. The Swift derivative has been developed to pro- type European Commission-funded Capanina vide operators with a remote piloting option as project broadband communications payload. AEROVIRONMENT well as full autonomous capabilities. Endurance Two Global Observer derivative versions Aerovironment, 4685-3H Industrial Street, Simi data is based on a single-use battery. were proposed in February 2006 for military Valley, California 93065. Tel: +1 805 581 2187; use, with target customers including Australia, fax: +1 805 581 4512; www.avinc.com FQM-151A Pointer Japan and Saudi Arabia. The GO-1 confi gura- First fl ew in 1986, with initial deliveries to the tion would have a 48.8m (160ft) span, a gross Dragon Eye/Swift USMC beginning in 1988, and follow-on orders take-off weight of 1,800kg (3,960lb) and seven- Designed by the US Naval Research Laboratory coming from the US Army and USAF. Initial day endurance. The limited rate production and Marine Corps Warfi ghting Laboratory as upgrades to the baseline payload system were aircraft is forecast to cost $14.2 million, with a the air vehicle segment of the Navy Advanced implemented in 1990, followed by the addi- two-year lead time. GO-2 confi guration would Tactical Reconnaissance system. The first tion of GPS-based auto-navigation systems and have an 80m span, 4,100kg gross take-off prototype fl ew in May 2000. A competition thermal-imaging cameras in 1995. weight and eight-day endurance.

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 35 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Pathfi nder-Plus cles, with work scheduled for completion in increase endurance. A prototype has fl own. Solar electric-powered eternal aircraft prototype October 2005. One air vehicle costs around developed as a stepping stone towards Helios $35,000 and a complete system, including Chacal aircraft, with funding provided from NASA’s ground control system and payloads, is roughly Pusher-propeller powered delta wing surveil- ERAST Earth sciences programme. The vehi- $250,000. A standard rechargeable battery pack lance UAV with canards to provide improved cle, which has a spanlifter airframe, was used provides 60-90min fl ight time, while a dispos- manoeuvrability. At least one prototype has to test atmospheric monitoring of coffee crops able battery gives 110min. It is on offer for the fl own with a GPS-based navigation system, in September and October 2002. Pathfi nder- US Army small UAV competition, which was autopilot and S-band datalink. Target drone Plus is also being used to support development launched in February 2005. variants have been proposed. testing of Aerovironment’s Skytower commer- cial communications server concept based on Skytote Futura using stratospheric aircraft as atmospheric sat- Tail-sitting, VTOL winged UAV being devel- Jet-powered delta wing medium-range fast ellites. The concept was demonstrated in trials oped for US Air Force Research Laboratory reconnaissance system that is rail launched. over Hawaii in July 2002. NASA funding was using small business innovation research pro- An attack confi guration similar to that of the awarded to Aerovironment in late 2003 to refur- gramme funding. The initial award, made in Rheinmetall Taifun has been proposed, but its bish Pathfi nder-Plus for fl ight operations, with 1998, was worth $100,000. The vehicle uses development status is unclear. Target drone this completed in early October 2004. Limited counter-rotating propellers to lift off and then variants have been studied. fl ights were conducted during the fi nal quarter transitions into horizontal wing-borne fl ight. of 2004 to explore the impact of atmospheric Transition weight loads are shared between Maya turbulence on spanlifter airframes as part of wings and 2.3m cruciform tailplanes, which act Short-range mini-VTOL system designed for the relaunch of NASA HALE UAV research after as a landing platform in vertical fl ight mode. A use in urban and close-range reconnaissance the loss of Helios. Follow-on fi nal fl ights were half-scale demonstrator fl ew initial trials in the operations. An integrated NBC detection pay- conducted at Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB fi nal quarter of 2003. load is available, although the standard pay- on 31 August 2005 and 14 September 2005, The vehicle completed all basic test fl ights, load is one CCD camera. The current datalink again examining turbulence issues. The aircraft but then made a hard landing because of a soft- uses analogue FM technology and a lithium is now retired. ware error. Repairs to the demonstrator were polymer battery carried out in 2004-5, with fl ight testing resum- Puma ing in early 2006 at the US Army Yuma Proving ALENIA A new-generation close-range UAV proposed as Grounds, Arizona, starting with initial autono- Alenia Aeronautica, Via Campania, 45-00187 a Pointer replacement, with an endurance of up mous hover tests. Follow-on testing, including Roma, Italy. Tel: +39 06 420 881; fax +39 4282 to 4h on a single disposable battery and 3h on a exploration of transition modes, took place in 4529; www.alenia-aeronautica.it rechargeable battery. US Army Soldier Systems the second quarter of 2006. Center acquired a system in September 2005 Sky-X for evaluation. The water-landing Aqua Puma Wasp UCAV/URAV demonstrator being developed version was funded by US Special Operations Hand-launched micro-UAV downselected by under a $32.1 million programme launched by Command in the US fi scal year 2006 budget, DARPA for Micro Air Vehicle programme in Alenia in January 2003 following discussions with total allocations of $3.5 million. The vari- 1997, with extensive development carried with Italian air force about potential future ant programme was made public in February out since then focusing on potential applica- requirements. The basic design is built around 2006. Aqua Puma has a take-off weight of 5.5kg tions in urban environments. Wasp is capable a requirement to carry and deliver two 225kg (18lb) with a single battery. Both versions are of both autonomous and remote fl ight modes (500lb) J-series munitions from an internal capable of carrying dual batteries, extending and shares the same ground control station weapons bay. mission time. A basic version of the Puma was software as Raven and Puma. Can be landed in The fi rst mock-up of the vehicle was unveiled used to fl y a broadband communications pay- water with marinisation kit adding some 0.15kg in May 2003. The project schedule announced load in an August 2003 demonstration of tele- to take-off weight. US Navy testing took place in June 2003 proposed an initial fl ight testing surgery capabilities jointly run by the US Army, in April 2005. Production versions are expected campaign to run in May-December 2004, fol- University of Cincinnati and Aerovironment. to cost around $5,000 per unit. Development lowed by advanced testing from January 2005. Aqua Puma is being marketed internationally is continuing. A revised schedule and design concepts were as an option for fi tting small patrol craft with announced in May 2004. Assembly of demon- UAV capabilities, with target markets including ALCORE TECHNOLOGIES strator began in October 2004 based on further Australia. Alcore Technologies, Boîte Postale 7111, 95 054 design revisions and using an existing certifi - Cergy Pontoise, Cedex , France. Tel: +33 (0)1 30 cated weapons dispenser pod as the fuselage RQ-11A Raven 37 42 21; fax: +33 (0)1 34 64 41 50; www.alcore- core. The guidance and control system was Lightweight close-range UAV making extensive tech.com fl ight tested using a modifi ed Aeromacchi SF- reuse of Pointer subsystems, including same 260 as a UCAV surrogate in early 2005. ground station. Designed to be transported Azimut The fi rst fl ight of the demonstrator was in by two people to reduce the weight load on Hand-launched close-range military system sim- May 2005 at the Vidsel military test range in individual soldiers, it fi rst fl ew in 2003 and has ilar to Aerovironment Pointer, with a high- wing Sweden. Air vehicle take-off speed was 125kt been in service in Iraq with SOCOM units. The pusher propeller confi guration with V tail, it is a (230km/h) and landing speed was 110kt. US Army placed a $20.7 million initial order candidate for a future French army competition A second fl ight campaign was carried out at for 170 vehicles in January 2004 and a second for a combined close-range/urban operations Vidsel in the third quarter of 2005, compris- order in February for 59 air vehicles. The total UAV system. Needs a two-person crew. ing four sorties to assess the impact of software USAF inventory at 1 February 2005 was 84 upgrades. A third fl ight campaign at Vidsel aircraft, while the SOCOM inventory was 225 Biodrone in April-May 2006 saw the vehicle attain an aircraft. Close-range surveillance system with design air speed of 230kt and an altitude of 10,000ft A $7.9 million contract was announced in features intended to mimic the aerodynamic (3,000m). Campaign elements included auton- February 2005 for reset work on 170 air vehi- attributes of birds to improve energy usage and omous navigation and a preliminary evaluation

36 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles of auto-approach modes for automatic take-off Vulture US Army in March 2005, with an initial fund- and landing, and datalink characteristics. A Developed in response to a South African ing release of $5.01 million. total of 11 fl ights was achieved by late June Army requirement for artillery target location The prototype is scheduled to make its fi rst 2006, with a fourth fl ight campaign imminent and spotting system, with initial contracts fl ight in 2007. as at 14 August 2006. placed in 1994. First fl ight was in 1995, but The project schedule calls for integration of the development and evaluation programme Golden Eye 50 autonomous fl ight-control systems with air was extended. Qualifi cation trials at the South Shrouded fan short-range VTOL UAV for tacti- traffi c management systems to be completed African Gerotek test range were completed in cal application, with an optional free-wing con- by mid-2007 allowing the vehicle to operate mid-2004. The fi nal integration of the ground fi guration. Its development was made public in in non-segregated airspace. A weapons delivery control system with South African Army artil- 2003 and its fi rst free fl ight came in July 2004. demonstration is proposed for 2006-2010. A lery command and control network took place Its fi rst autonomous transition from hover to new-generation Finmeccanica synthetic-aper- in late 2004 and early 2005. Deliveries of more forward fl ight and back to hover was performed ture radar and hyperspectal imaging sensors is capable air vehicles to the South African Army in April 2005 and a high-speed banked turn being considered for inclusion in the test pro- to support operational qualification tests capability was demonstrated in October 2005. gramme. The development effort is contribut- were made from early 2005 and completed in The 100th demonstrator fl ight was achieved in ing to Alenia involvement in the Dassault-led mid-2006. A production contract award was March 2006. Neuron UCAV demonstrator programme (see announced in August 2006. Aircraft weight is 7.2kg (15.8lb), with guid- separate entry). ance and control architecture based on the Intelligence Vulture Athena Technologies GS-111M system. At least ATAIR Upgraded version to enter South African intel- one demonstration has been conducted for an Atair Aerospace, Suite 3B, 499 Van Brunt ligence corps service in 2005-8 under South unnamed second NATO member state. Street, Brooklyn, New York 11231, USA. Tel: African government plans announced in 2003. +1 718 923 1709; fax: +1 718 923 1733; www. May carry electronic intelligence payload. Golden Eye OAV/Golden Eye 50 Block II atairaerospace.com Shrouded-fan VTOL derivative of the Golden Multi-Mission Vulture Eye 50 and 100 programmes. It was shortlisted LEAPP in December 2004, alongside rival proposals Long-endurance autonomous powered parasail Upgraded variant proposed to enter South by BAE Systems North America and Honeywell (LEAPP)-based precision logistics UAV system African Army service in 2007-11 to support (see separate entry) for DARPA/US Army Future planned to be developed for DARPA under a broader spectrum surveillance and reconnais- Combat System Phase 1 Class II Organic Air tactical technology project. Funding of $1.5 sance missions. Vehicle (OAV) development programme. million has been incorporated into fi scal year The upgrade pathway is based on concepts Aurora funding allocation for Phase 1 devel- 2007 forward DARPA budget plans released in for Super Vulture as offered to the United Arab opment totalled $2.39 million. The vehicle February 2006. Atair plans initial test fl ights Emirates between 1998 and 2002. was downselected for the Phase II OAV Class of demonstrator aircraft in September 2006. II system in July 2005. The Golden Eye Block LEAPP is a derviative of the Onyx parasail logis- Ukhozi/Seagull II designation was announced in March 2006, tics UAV initially developed in response to a A Vulture derivative intended for use in civil with this variant to include a new engine, development funding award worth $850,000 and military maritime surveillance operations. increased endurance and improved imagery provided by the US Army in July 2003. Private The concept was unveiled in 2003, but devel- handling. The award of DARPA Phase III OAV launch investment was also provided by Festo. opment has been suspended. Class II system funding worth $23.6 million Unpowered Onyx versions were used to dem- was announced in June 2006. A candidate for onstrate autonomous fl ocking and collision AURORA FLIGHT SCIENCES the US Army FCS Class II requirement. avoidance capabilities in December 2004 using Aurora Flight Sciences, 3000 East Benedum two fl ights of fi ve air vehicles. Autonomous Industrial Drive, Bridgeport, West Virginia Golden Eye 100 guidance and control algorithms developed 26330, USA. Tel: +1 304 842 8100; fax: +1 304 Shrouded-fan VTOL with optional free-wings by Atair with variants are being considered for 842 8116; www.aurora.aero and heavy fuel engine. Its first flights in application to other UAV systems. Data is for September 2003 included the demonstration the DARPA variant, but a 30.5m wingspan ver- Excalibur of autonomous fl ight-control systems. An ini- sion capable of carrying 1,815kg was test fl own Vertical take-off and landing tactical UAV under tial trials campaign ran from September 2003 during 2004. A micro LEAPP variant capable of development as a purpose-built, rapid-response to April 2004. fl ying for 4h with a 9kg payload was unveiled strike platform for the US Army. Funding allo- in June 2006. cations totalled $20 million at mid-2005. The BAE SYSTEMS design is based on the turbine-powered fl y- BAE Systems Platform Solutions Sector, 600 ATE ing wing, with tip-mounted vertical tails with Main Street, Johnson City, New York 13790, Advanced Technologies and Engineering, PO VTOL lift attained by rotating the engine 90° USA. Tel: +1 607 770 2000; fax: +1 607 770 3524. Box 632, Halfway House, 1685, South Africa. into the vertical with augmentation stability www.baesystems.com Tel: +27 11 266 7600; fax: +27 11 314 2151; www. provided by three electrically driven thrusters. BAE Systems Australia, East Avenue, ate-aerospace.com A sole-source contract was awarded by the Edinburgh Parks, South Australia 5112,

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 37 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Australia. Tel: +61 8 8480 8888; fax: +61 8 8480 developed in conjunction with Cranfield SIGINT payloads took place in January 2006. 8800; www.baesystems.com University with an airframe manufactured by Development is continuing. The data table Tasuma. It has a twinjet propulsion system details IAV 2 and IAV 3 production vehicle con- Brumby Mk 3/4 and its one fl ight took place at Campbeltown, cepts as released in July 2005. Designed and developed by BAE Systems Scotland, in March 2003. The design was found Australia as a stable, large payload capacity to be highly unstable and the programme was Phoenix fl ying research platform. It is used to support suspended in favour of the Raven. Current British Army tactical UAV system and research into real time observation and meas- fi rst acquired for artillery spotting and obser- urement techniques, coupled with distributed Kingfi sher Mk II vation roles, it was initially developed by the data processing between UAVs, to achieve Extensively modifi ed derivative of the Brumby former GEC Avionics company, with a produc- precision autonomous navigation and target- Mk4 airframe developed by BAE Systems tion award by the UK Ministry of Defence in ing. Initial Brumby Mk1 and Mk2 designs were Australia to provide signifi cantly improved 1985. There were extensive service entry diffi - developed by the University of Sydney as a payload and endurance capabilities. The culties, but these were largely resolved by the delta wing research programme. vehicle incorporates a new high-lift wing, late 1990s. Operationally deployed to Kosovo The Mk3 was developed into canard wing larger box-form fuselage and a new engine. in 1999-2001, it has served almost constantly confi guration as a collaborative development, The avionics and the ground control station in Iraq in 2003. It is to be replaced by the with at least fi ve air vehicles built. BAE Systems remain common to Brumby series. First fl ights Watchkeeper system (see Elbit entry), based on Australia is the original equipment manufac- took place in mid-2005. The Kingfi sher is sup- the Hermes 450. turer for the Mk4 (also known as Kingfi sher porting the Australian DSTO’s current Project Mk1), which replaces the delta wing with a Air 5435 Future UAV for Reconnaissance and Raven conventional airframe employing twin tail- Interdiction UCAV technologies advanced con- UCAV/URAV demonstrator system developed booms. cept technology demonstration project. over a nine-month timeframe in 2003, culmi- Corax nating in a fi rst fl ight at the Woomera test range URAV/UCAV demonstrator system was fi rst OAV/IAV in Australia in December 2003. The second fl own in January 2005 at the Woomera test Developmental shrouded fan VTOL close-range demonstrator was built and fl own at Woomera range in central Australia. The vehicle was made tactical UAV being developed by BAE Systems in November 2004. The highly unstable fl ying public in late 2005. The fl ying wing confi gura- Platform Solutions, with at least three design wing airframe was used to explore develop- tion has a shrouded, above-fuselage engine. Its iterations over the past three years. The ini- ment of advanced fl ight-control systems, with modular fl ight-control systems were derived tial OAV confi guration was unveiled at AUVSI these subsequently ported to Corax and Herti from the Raven demonstrator system with Unmanned Systems North America in August systems. highly evolved air vehicle autonomous guid- 2004 and is based on an augmented ring wing ance and control capabilities. It is potentially design with duct reducing to four venturi on Skyeye R4E 50/100 the basis for a proposed UK Ministry of Defence the underside. Two side-mounted wings pro- Current versions of long-standing Skyeye series, UCAV demonstration programme under the vide additional lift. with the R4E fi rst fl ying in 1980 and introduc- Strategic UAV (Experiment) or SUAV(E) initia- A derivative of this design was selected in ing a twin-boom confi guration to the type. tive established in July 2005. December 2004 alongside rival proposals by Sales to the US Army, Thai army, Morocco and Aurora Flight Sciences and Honeywell for the Egypt were made during the 1980s. Herti DARPA/US Army Future Combat System Phase Egypt remains the main operator, with sys- UAV derivative of a glider airframe origi- 1 Class II Organic Air Vehicle (OAV) develop- tems upgrade contracts placed in 1999 for two nally developed and produced by Polish fi rm ment programme. operational squadrons. J&AS Aeronew, Herti is an acronym for High BAE Systems funding allocation for Phase 1 Negotiations took place during mid-2005 Endurance Rapid Technology Insertion initia- development totalled $2.53 million. Around for additional upgrades to existing fl eet and tive. The fi rst jet-powered Herti 1D prototype 100 tethered fl ights were made up to April the supply of enhanced capability air vehicles was built on a J5 glider airframe, with the 2005 using second confi guration designs with with improved avionics and sensor capabilities, UAV version built and readied for fl ights in a duct lip-mounted sensor suite. but the outcome remains unknown. Proposed seven-month period. The fi rst fl ight was at The fi rst untethered fl ight of 7min duration by BAE Systems North America as a potential the Woomera test range in central Australia in using a third confi guration air vehicle was platform for anticipated US Department of January 2005. announced in April 2005. Homeland Security northern border surveil- A second version, designated Herti 1A, and The company was advised by DARPA in lance requirement. Marketing in Middle East built on a J6 glider airframe, replaced the jet June 2005 that it had failed to be selected for continues. engine with a pusher propeller and two-cylin- the Phase II OAV Class II concept maturation der engine to improve endurance and became programme. The third confi guration concept Skylynx II the fi rst large UAV to fl y autonomously in introduced the IAV name at AUVSI Unmanned Signifi cantly scaled-up derivative of MiniFalcon UK airspace in August 2005 with a fl ight at Systems North America in July 2005. The IAV designed by Innocon of Israel (see separate entry) Campbeltown in Scotland. A limited manufac- demonstrator has an external duct of 0.86m with enhancements to provide a wider opera- turing programme for the Herti 1A confi gura- housing a 0.71m lift fan, with the sensor pay- tional envelope. Design rights were acquired by tion is expected to result in 10 air vehicles by load transferred to a pod mounted on a tripod BAE Systems to support evolution of the design the end of 2006. pylon above the duct mouth. Removable wing to form the basis of BAE’s bid for the current Concepts for a catapult launch have been and heavy fuel engine options have been pro- USMC Tier-2 tactical UAV competition. Two studied in conjunction with Robonic of posed to be continued as part of that same different demonstrators have been built with Finland. Weaponisation studies were revealed revised development plan. different powerplants. at the 2006 Farnborough air show. MALE deriv- The fi rst fl ight of the IAV demonstrator took The vehicle is catapult launched with a para- atives are under study. place in southern California in August 2005. foil recovery system, but conventional take-off The first waypoint navigation demonstra- and landing is also possible. Initial Skylynx II Kestrel tions were announced in September 2005. The fl ights took place in early 2006, with additional Blended wing body remotely piloted system fl ight demonstrations for the US Army carrying fl ights at the US Army Yuma proving ground in

38 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

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www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 39 Directory: unmanned air vehicles early August 2006. The full system comprises An initial three-way teaming arrange- development was begun by Frontier Systems, three air vehicles, ground control station, ment with Sagem of France and Rheinmetall which was acquired by Boeing in May 2004. launcher, remote receive terminal, and a crew of Germany was signed in June 2004 to pur- DARPA funding runs until September 2007. of six. sue European requirements and formalised in The US Army is considering the vehicle as December 2004. The teaming arrangement was a long- term Class IV system under its Future BELL HELICOPTER predicated on Bell supplying modifi ed air vehi- Combat System architecture, with potential Bell Helicopter Textron, PO Box 482, Fort cles, and Sagem and RDE providing ground and applications including gunship, psychological Worth, Texas 76101, USA. Tel: +1 817 280 2011; shipborne control stations, datalinks, payloads operations delivery, reconnaissance and surveil- fax: +1 817 280 2321; www.bellhelicopter.com and command and control system integra- lance, logistics delivery and special force inser- tion. A teaming arrangement was signed with tion and recovery. Core endurance technology Unmanned 407X Lockheed Martin and AAI in July 2004 to pur- is based on use of a rigid rotor. The fi rst of two Concept revealed by Bell Helicopter in October sue additional US military and homeland secu- prototypes fl ew in January 2002, with the ini- 2005 for an unmanned conventional confi gu- rity requirements. tial version using a three-blade rotor. The fi rst ration helicopter being planned as alternative A US Marine Corps budget allocation for fl ight with a four-blade rotor and Subaru four- solution US Army Future Combat System archi- a possible Eagle Eye purchase was incorpo- cylinder engine took place in November 2002. tecture Class IV UAV requirement, for which rated into the USN budget plan for fi scal year A DARPA contract worth up to $75 million for the Northrop Grumman RQ-8B Firescout has 2006, but no orders were made. An order for delivery of four more aircraft was announced been selected. No timeframes for development three production air vehicles from Evergreen in October 2003. Total Frontier Systems pro- have been revealed. International Aviation for use in firespot- duction comprised three aircraft, including ting roles was signed in 2003, with deliveries the fi rst two prototypes. Air vehicle one auto- Eagle Eye planned for 2007 rotated into the ground in an incident caused Tiltrotor technology-based high-speed tacti- by software errors and bearing failure. Air vehi- cal UAV. TR-911X, a 7/8th scale technology BLUE BIRD AERO SYSTEMS cle three crashed after a tail-rotor failure. demonstrator, fi rst fl ew in March 1998 and Blue Bird Aero Systems, 30 Hazait Street, Tel- Boeing resumed fl ight testing in September achieved 100h fl ying until its retirement in Mond 40600, Israel. Tel: +972 5 8509 580; fax: 2004 using air vehicle two. Four larger air- 2000. Eagle Eye was evaluated by the US Navy +972 9 8999 335; www.bluebird-uav.com craft, incorporating new six-cylinder engines, for its VTUAV requirement but not selected, but improved airframes and subsystems are being it was chosen in February 2003 as preferred tac- Blueye built by Boeing, with the fi rst fl ight taking tical UAV for the US Coast Guard’s Deepwater Medium parafoil-based tactical reconnais- place in November 2005. New aircraft will sup- programme. Construction of the full-scale TR- sance system designed for land and mari- port Phase 1 demonstration continuation until 918 production prototype was announced in time launched operations and unveiled in 2007. November 2003, with this originally planned early 2005. The avionics suite incorporates Sonex Research was contracted by DARPA to be fl ying by 1 November 2004. MicroPilot navigation and guidance systems. in October 2002 to develop a diesel engine TR918 ground testing was completed in Development partners include BES Systems, for the vehicle. Alternate turbocharged diesel December 2005. The fi rst fl ight took place in BKD Systems and Trudler. engine development work is being carried out January 2006 at Graford, Texas with two hover- Some systems were acquired by the USMC by Boeing and FEVEngine Technology with only fl ights within 1h. FAA experimental certi- warfi ghting laboratory via a second-party deal current plans calling for this to be fi tted to air fi cation for TR918 version was issued in early in May 2005 for use in supporting trials of an vehicle fi ve. Proposals to fi t air vehicles six and 2006. The TR918 demonstrator crashed in April airborne volumetric change detection system as eight with Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207 2006 after losing engine power in stable hover, a potential sensor to detect improvised explo- turboshafts were proposed by DARPA in April causing suspension of fl ying programme. sive devices. 2006 for funding in US fi scal year 2007. The Deepwater programme acquisition plan A turboshaft engine would extend endur- is based on 45 air vehicles and 33 ground con- Boomerang ance to beyond 24h. A US Army contract worth trol stations, with the variant designated TR916. Hand-launched mini-surveillance system. $10.3 million was awarded to Syracuse Research The original Deepwater plan called for deliveries Prototype systems have been built and devel- in May 2004 to develop and supply a purpose- from 2006 and the fi rst variant fl ight is sched- opment continues. developed A160 UHF foliage penetration radar uled for December 2008. Funding pressures have payload. forced initial entry into operational service to MicroB “approximately 2012”, with delays caused by the Catapult-launched mini fl ying wing with tip- Hydrogen-powered HALE lack of available funding within the Deepwater mounted tails unveiled in March 2006. Design Concept for a 10-day endurance hydrogen- pow- framework. The preliminary design review for draws extensively on larger Boomerang. Two ered HALE system that would reuse elements the TR916 version was passed in the fi rst quar- hundred autonomous fl ights were made up to of the former Boeing Condor HALE UAV pro- ter of 2004 and airframes will be produced by July 2006 gramme, including that vehicle’s 61m (200ft) Aurora Flight Sciences. The Telephonics RDR wing. The concept was announced in July 2006 1700CG X-band multimode radar is to equip Spy-Eye in parallel to the announcement of tests of pro- production systems and will also provide an air Reduced-scale version of Blueye parafoil UAV totype hydrogen-burning piston engine. traffi c sense-and-avoid function. for short-range reconnaissance missions. Discussions with Korea Aerospace Research MD 530F Unmanned Little Bird Institute took place in 2003 on a variant to meet BOEING INTEGRATED DEFENSE SYSTEMS Unmanned version of US Special forces com- the South Korean government-funded “smart Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, PO Box mand MD Helicopters MD 530F/AH-6 Little UAV” initiative, but no agreement has been 516 St. Louis, Missouri 63166. Tel: +1 314 232 Bird helicopter with one demonstrator fl ying. reached. Concepts for possible armed and logis- 0232; www.boeing.com The manned MD 530F confi guration aircraft tics derivatives were fl agged by Bell Xworx in was acquired from MD Helicopters in March January 2005. The vehicle is being marketed to A160 Hummingbird 2004 and delivered one month later. France and Germany to meet possible medium- Jointly under development with DARPA since The project was made public at the AUVSI term ship-launched VTUAV requirements. 1998 for potential US Army application. Initial Unmanned Systems North America exhibition

40 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles in August 2004. Its control system is derived August 2004 at NASA Dryden Flight Research pilot-operator in Seattle, Washington. The X- from unmanned mission control and autono- Centre at Edwards AFB. 45A achieved its 50th sortie in February 2005 mous fl ight systems developed for Boeing A160 Block 3 software testing began in August and ground trials of Block 4 software took place helicopter and X-45A UCAV demonstrators. 2004 with ground and taxi tests, with a single in April and early May 2005. The aircraft fi rst fl ew in an unmanned con- ship fi rst fl ight in October 2004. The fi rst air- The fi rst fl ight with Block 4 software was fi guration, but with a safety pilot aboard in borne test of an automated dynamic mission achieved in May 2005 and demonstration of September 2004. replanning function – allowing the vehicle to autonomous SEAD capability was conducted at A contract worth $1.6 million from US respond to pop-up targets – was conducted in Edwards AFB during fl ight 52 in the second quar- Army Aviation Applied Technology Directorate October 2004. The fi rst two ship fl ights with ter of 2005. A two-ship co-operative SEAD capa- was awarded in February 2005 to explore Block 3 software were conducted in November bility demonstration was carried out in August rotary-wing UAV weapons deployment using and December 2004 and the fi rst demonstra- 2005, and included simulated weapons release. Lockheed Martin Hellfire missiles and the tion of remote satellite control of the X-45 was The X-45B was proposed as an initial opera- GAU-19A gun system. Little Bird participated in December 2004, with air vehicles launched tional capability variant, but was cancelled in in a Boeing networked urban operations dem- from NASA Dryden then handed over to a February 2003 with the launch of the com- onstration in early December 2005, conduct- ing live tracking of moving vehicles. Plans were announced in February 2006 for a dem- onstration of in-fl ight control from a US Army Sikorsky UH-60M late in 2006. The vehicle’s potential fi tout with Boeing software-enabled control (SEC) was fl agged in March 2006, with this expected to allow autonomous nap-of-the- earth fl ight modes. A demonstration of an AH-64 to control the Unmanned Little Bird weapons payload was made in April 2006. Little Bird had achieved 450 fl ying hours with a safety pilot aboard by July 2006. Its fi rst fully autonomous fl ight with no safety pilot aboard took place at the US Army Yuma Proving Ground in June 2006. A new version based on the A/MH-6X airframe is to be unveiled in the third quarter of 2006 derived from the SOCOM mission-enhanced Little Bird.

X-45A/B UCAV prototype. The initial X-45 variant (X- 45A) was developed under the US Air Force/ DARPA UCAV ACTD programme award in 1999, with the fi rst fl ight of the Block 1 air vehicle in May 2002. The Block 1 trials pro- gramme was completed in March 2003, with 48 separate simulation, laboratory and actual fl ights performed to validate initial systems capability and performance. Two X-45As were fl ying by November 2003 with the addition of Block 2 software. Final testing of Block 2 air vehicle and mission soft- ware was completed in March 2004. The Block 2-equipped air vehicle was used to demonstrate the fi rst-ever air-to-ground mission by a pur- pose-developed UCAV in March 2004 with the dropping of a 250kg (550lb) inert Smart Small Bomb from an internal weapons bay on to a static target from 35,000ft (10,670m). The Block 2 campaign included air vehicles sharing data via Link 16 with an initial capability demon- stration using one X-45A and a manned surro- gate aircraft taking place in May 2004. Testing of Block 4 software started in April 2005, with the fi rst fl ight of a modifi ed X-45A in May. Twin X-45A ground taxiing trials controlled by a single operator were held in June 2004 as a prelude to airborne twin-ship trials. The fi rst two-air-vehicle co-ordinated fl ight demonstra- tion by a single pilot-operator took place in

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 41 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

516, St Louis, Missouri 63166, USA. Tel: +1 314 232 0232; www.boeing.com The Insitu Group, 118 East Columbia River Way, Bingen, Washington 98605, USA. Tel: +1 509 493 8600; +1 509 493 8601; www.insitugroup.net

Scan Eagle A15 Low-altitude long-endurance UAV, developed from the baseline Insitu Sea Eagle UAV (see sep- arate entry). An initial 15-month joint develop- ment programme with Boeing was announced in February 2002. The fi rst wholly autonomous Scan Eagle fl ight took place in June 2002. That same month the UAV was selected by the US Navy to support trials of co-ordinated operations between unmanned underwater vehicles with UAVs. These took place in February 2003 as part of the Giant Shadow experimentation programme in the Bahamas. The fi rst long- distance autonomous fl ight was conducted in September 2003 and the vehicle demonstrated a 20h endurance in May 2004. A USMC con- tract was awarded in July 2004 for two systems, comprising multiple air vehicles and ground control and support infrastructure for use in Iraq from August 2004. That contract was Boeing’s X-45C is awaiting new directions with the launch of the N-UCAS programme renewed in July 2005 and a separate US Navy award in April 2005 worth $14.5 million was bined USAF/USN Joint Unmanned Combat Air objectives, including carrier deck landing. made for systems to provide offshore oil plat- System (J-UCAS) programme, itself since can- form monitoring in the Persian Gulf. celled. X-45A air vehicle development is con- X-50A Dragonfl y Another USN contract award in September tinuing despite the J-UCAS cancellation. Canard rotor-wing technology demonstrator 2005 worth $13 million was to provide support being developed for potential application as a for a fl oating staging base and high-speed thea- X-45C/D manned or unmanned high-speed VTOL plat- tre support vessels. Combined USMC and USN The X-45C concept was unveiled in April form. Technology is based on the transition of systems had achieved 10,000 fl ying hours by 2003 as Boeing candidate for the former US the wing from rotary mode to fi xed mode dur- February 2006 with the loss of one air vehicle to Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) ing fl ight. The wing load is transferred to for- hostile action and 15,000 fl ying hours by July capability demonstration programme. The X- ward canard and tailplane surfaces during tran- 2006. A November 2004 contract was awarded 45D was proposed by Boeing in early 2004 as a sition to prevent stall. The propulsion system for support of the UK Ministry of Defence’s candidate for the US Air Force interim bomber uses direct thrust to exhaust nozzle for forward Joint Unmanned Experimentation Programme requirement. fl ight and diverted thrust to wingtip nozzles for (JUEP) with fl ight operations during 2005. Initial assembly of the fi rst of three X-45Cs rotary fl ight. A joint development programme Australia is considering a possible acquisi- began in June 2004 at Boeing’s risk, with the between Boeing Phantom Works and DARPA tion or lease as an interim tactical UAV. The lead aircraft to be completed in 2006. A $766 with initial funding was agreed in June 1998. proposed Scan Eagle B would have an endur- million contract award from DARPA was The prototype fi rst fl ew in December 2003, but ance of 48h. A heavy fuel engine with increased announced in October 2004 for three full- scale crashed in March 2004 on its second fl ight. payload capacity and 24h endurance is being X-47C demonstrators and integrated into the A second demonstrator began preparation explored under the designation Scan Eagle II. J-UCAS Common Operating System being sep- for testing in third quarter 2004, with ground A proposed Scan Eagle XL version would have arately developed under the leadership of the testing given initial precedence, including a 22.5kg (50lb) payload capability and 24h Johns Hopkins University Physics Laboratory. windtunnel testing to assist in identifi cation endurance. A Scan Eagle XS variant is proposed First engines were delivered by General Electric of the causes of the lead demonstrator loss. as a canister launched “daughter” UAV with an in November 2004. A system requirements That testing revealed a problem with a cross- endurance of 12h. review with DARPA was completed in May 2005 coupling phenomenon in wind conditions and and roll-out of the fi rst X-45C was planned for resulted in redevelopment work on fl ight-con- CODARRA March 2006, but halted after the J-UCAS pro- trol software. A second prototype was trans- Codarra Advanced Systems, Dunlop Court, gramme was terminated in February 2006. ferred to the US Army Yuma Proving Grounds Fernhill Park, Bruce ACT 2617, Australia. Tel: The fi rst X-45C demonstrator was displayed in early 2005, but fl ights did not take place +61 2 6264 0100; fax: +61 2 6264 0199; www. at the 2006 Farnborough air show, but remains until December 2005. Four further fl ights have codarra.com.au unfl own. Preliminary planning for the replace- been successful. A sixth fl ight in April 2006 ment US Navy N-UCAS programme is expected resulted in a crash 18min into a sortie with the Avatar to incclude a new tender process for demonstra- air vehicle in hover mode. Hand-launched, man-portable, close-range tions late 2006, with contract awards in April reconnaissance and surveillance system. Initial 2007, leading to a demonstration in 2012. BOEING INTEGRATED DEFENSE SYSTEMS CX-1 versions were based on a kit model air- Preliminary guidance from Boeing points to a - INSITU craft. Limited numbers of prototype CX-1 ver- modifi ed X-45C design to meet new programme Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, PO Box sion were sold to the Australian Army Special

42 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Air Service regiment and used operationally in fl ight and mission systems from the Eagle into a wing root. The remaining propulsors are at East Timor during United Nations operations in 2h endurance tactical system with an expected the rear of the fuselage on gimbals to enable 2000-1. Follow-on Avatar sales to the same cus- airframe weight of 100kg (220lb) and a payload rotation through at least 90°. Rear engines face tomer were made in 2001 with a further con- capacity of 25kg. downwards for vertical take-off and landing, tract worth A$345,000 signed in May 2002. The vehicle is nominally a twin tail boom but revert to horizontal for forward fl ight. A digital image capture and compression confi guration airframe with pusher propeller. Construction of the fi rst prototype began system derived from a sniper rifl e real-time A sensor package would comprise a thermal in late 2004 and the fi rst transition fl ight from command targeting system was fi elded by the imager and daylight camera as standard with hover to horizontal fl ight was achieved in May Australian SAS as part of Sydney Olympics a laser designator as an option. The produc- 2005. Work was launched in mid-2005 to mod- security in 2000. A standard production P-1 tion system would comprise four air vehicles, ify the design to accept a turbine powerplant Avatar introduced a purpose-built airframe and two half-tonne trucks and one towed cata- to replace the existing gas- powered engine. was used as a platform to support demonstra- pult launcher. The vehicle would have a rug- An armed version is proposed. Cyber said in tions of “Jack” autonomous guidance software ged undercarriage to support operations from August 2005 that it had begun “shipping” air developed by Agent Oriented Software at the unprepared strips. A demonstrator was planned vehicles to “unnamed government entities”, Australian Army Graytown experimental weap- to fl y in mid-2006. but no details were released. ons range in early July 2004. A P-2 confi gura- tion with up to 90min endurance was readied CYBAERO DARA AVIATION in 2004. CybAero, Westmanagatan 29, 582 16 Dara Aviation, 119825 141pl NE, Woodinville, Alternate payloads being explored include Linkoping, Sweden. Tel: +46 13 210 240; fax: Washington 98072, USA. Tel: +1 425 415 6052; a lightweight thermal imager, laser designa- +46 13 211 081; www.cybaerao.se fax: +1 425 527 1433; www.daraaviation.com tor and radio relay. Avaar is a candidate for an Australian Army special forces mini-UAV APID Mk 5 D1 acquisition project to be launched as part of a Development of the Autonomous Probe for Under development as a small, long-range, planned Joint Project 2097 re-equipment pro- Data Acquisition (APID) began in 1996, with low- to medium-altitude reconnaissance sys- gramme from late 2006. the fi rst prototype fl ights taking place in 1997. tem using a joined wing to provide increased The Mk5 version was unveiled in June 2003 and payload lift capability. It can use either rail or COMPOSITES TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH the overall series had achieved more than 500 vehicle-roof mounted catapult launcher sys- MALAYSIA fl ying hours up to June 2005. Primary market tem. Several variants are fl ying using the same Composites Technology Research Malaysia, focus is on homeland security and commercial basic airframe, with the lead air vehicle making No T-02 Third Floor, 2310 Century Square, Jalan aerial monitoring markets. A two-year contract its debut fl ight in August 2000. Usahawan, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor Darul was awarded by Mjosnett, a Norwegian electric A joint trial with University Wing of Ehsan, Malaysia. Tel: +60 3 8313 5100; fax: +60 utility, in January 2004 to undertake power Vancouver, British Columbia took place in 3 8313 5111; www.ctrm.com.my transmission line inspection functions. June 2003 of the D-1D version equipped with a magnetometer to perform magnetic mapping. Eagle APID 55 Funded trials of the D-1A version in an atmos- Optionally piloted version of the Eagle 150B New version of APID family unveiled at IDEX pheric monitoring role by Scripps Institute of light sports aircraft with avionics and con- exhibition in Abu Dhabi in February 2005, it Oceanography, San Diego, took place in June- trol systems sourced from BAE Systems North has a highly streamlined fairing over the modi- November 2003. America. The development programme was fi ed air vehicle. The vehicle is the result of a A D1-E variant, based on the D-1D airframe launched in late 2001 and an $8.5 million co-operative development effort with the UAE with a 255mm (10in) fuselage plug, was devel- production contract for three air vehicles was armed forces UAV research and technology oped to carry sensors for electromagnetic inter- signed by CRTM with the Malaysian govern- centre, with production systems testing for the ference and geomagnetic survey work, with at ment in June 2001. UAE special forces expected to be completed in least one demonstrator built. The D-1G version Prototype delivery to Malaysia’s ministry of 2006. The vehicle is the basis of the Saab V150 was unveiled in January 2004 to support atmos- defence was made in April 2002 for operational Skeldar system unveiled in June 2006 (see sepa- pheric survey work, using the D-1A airframe test and evaluation. The remaining deliveries rate Saab entry). with mid-span fi ns on the rear wing to improve took place in the third quarter of 2002, but airfl ow. More capable D2 and D3 variants are there have been no further orders for the vehi- CYBER DEFENSE SYSTEMS under development. cle. CRTM holds maintenance and in-service Cyber Defense Systems Inc, 10901 Roosevelt support contracts. Blvd, Suite 100D, St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, DASSAULT AVIATION USA. Tel: +1 703 753 3429; www.cyberdefens- Dassault Aviation, 78 quai Marcel Dassault, Tactical UAV esystems.com Cedex 300 92 552 Saint-Cloud Cedex, France. A co-operative effort by CRTM and Malaysian Tel: +33 1 4711 4400; fax: +33 1 4711 5660; www. firms Ikramatic and Systems Consultancy CyberScout dassault-avation.fr Services was launched in December 2005 to Developmental canard wing airframe with develop a new tactical UAV for the Malaysian three ducted fan propulsors. One propulsor is AVE armed forces. The system is aimed at leveraging located in the forward fuselage at the canard UCAV and low-observable TUAV technol-

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 43 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

DRAGONFLY PICTURES ogy demonstrator, it fi rst fl ew July 2000. The fi nancial contribution of €76 million over a demonstrator was made public in October 10-year period. The formal contract award to Dragonfl y Pictures, West Terminus of Second 2000. A modifi ed fl ight confi guration variant Dassault from the French DGA was signed in Street, Essington, Pennsylvania 19029, USA. designated Moyen Duc was revealed at the February 2006 with the collaborative funding Tel: +1 610 521 6115; fax: +1 610 521 3074; www. 2003 Paris air show, with this supporting the pool totalling €405 million. A three-year sys- dragonfl ypictures.com combined Dassault-Sagem Slow-Fast tactical tem defi nition and design phase is under way, UAV development programme (see separate with this to be followed by the development DP-4X entry). The proposed Grand Duc variant has and assembly phase. First study deliverables Medium-range and endurance helicopter UAV been superseded by the launch of the Neuron were handed to the DGA in May 2006 and the in development since 1994, with fi rst fl ights European UCAV technology demonstrator pro- fi rst fl ight is targeted for mid-2011, three years taking place in mid-1996. The vehicle is based gramme in 2004 (see separate entry). later than originally proposed. on modular airframe concepts that enable Workshare means Alenia has the lead on minor airframe changes to meet different oper- HALE/MALE the internal weapon bay (Smart Weapon Bay), ational requirements. It was selected in 2003 Concept for joined wing, high-altitude endur- the bay doors and their mechanisms, electrical by Metal Storm as a testbed for fl ight trials of a ance UAV to meet proposed future French power and distribution systems, air data sys- 40mm rapid fi re airborne gunnery system, with and other European air force requirements. tem, and ground and fl ight tests. Saab is second a revised agreement announced in June 2005 The design was unveiled at the 2003 Paris air in charge of the programme and is responsi- proposing demonstration by the end of 2006. show as a potential MALE UAV development ble for general design, fuselage, avionics, fuel The proposed DP-4XT version would link two programme. Those plans were set aside follow- system and fl ight testing. Hellenic Aerospace DP-4X airframes to carry heavier payloads over ing the launch of the EADS-led Euromale ini- Industries is responsible for the rear fuselage, an increased range. tiative in mid- 2004, but the collapse of that engine exhaust and demonstrator test rig. EADS programme in mid-2006 has seen Dassault Casa is responsible for wings, ground station DP-5X again fl ag interest in leadership of any revised and datalink integration. Ruag is responsible Redevelopment of DP-4X airframe to support European endurance UAV development effort. for weapons interfaces and windtunnel testing. increased air vehicle modularity, with funding Dassault is the programme lead, responsible for provided by DARPA. The airframe can be bro- DASSAULT/ALENIA/EADS/HELLENIC design authority, fl ight-control systems, fi nal ken down for transport by a two-person team. AEROSPACE/SAAB/RUAG assembly and ground and fl ight testing The fi rst fl ight of the company demonstrator Dassault Aviation, 78 quai Marcel Dassault, was believed to have taken place in early 2004. Cedex 300 92 552 Saint-Cloud Cedex, France. DENEL AEROSPACE SYSTEMS Funding worth $5.4 million was awarded by Tel: +33 1 4711 4400; fax: +33 1 4711 5660; www. Denel, Aerospace Systems, PO Box 8322, DARPA in July 2004 to support expansion of air dassault-avation.fr Centurion 0046, South Africa. Tel: +27 12 671 vehicle functionality as its candidate for the US 2700; fax: +27 12 671 2793; www.denel.co.za Army FCS Class III requirement. That funding Neuron ends in September 2006. European UCAV collaborative technology dem- Seeker MK II/III Contract award by US Army Communications onstration programme unveiled by the French Tactical UAV developed from 1982 to meet and Electronics Command worth $6.6 million government at the 2003 Paris air show and for- South African Army requirements. The Seeker to Harris was announced in June 2005 to inte- mally launched at Eurosatory 2004 under the II variant has been in operational service with grate the MIT-Lincoln Laboratories-developed name of Neuron. the South African military since 1991, with Jigsaw Laser Radar on to the DP-5X on behalf Dassault is the senior industrial partner and upgraded confi gurations nominally designated of DARPA and support test campaigns over an responsible for awarding 50% of workshare on Seeker III, but later standardised as the Seeker unspecifi ed period. The Pentagon Unmanned the project to other participating nation com- IIE, introduced in late 1999-early 2000. The Air System Roadmap released in August 2005 panies. The French government funding com- vehicle was certifi cated for use in South African advised that development and test milestones mitment currently totals $183 million and the civil airspace in 1994. At least two series of had been completed and the UAV was being remainder of the development costs are to be export sales to Algeria have been made since prepared to enter initial fl ight demonstrations, shared between other participating nations. 1990, with second series air vehicles carry- but there have been no subsequent announce- Government-to-government preliminary ing Saab-Grintek electronic support measures ments. A proposed DP-5XT variant would link agreements were signed between France and payloads. Conceptual work on the more capa- two DP-5X airframes to create a twin rotor Sweden in December 2003, and between ble MKIII was carried out between 2000 and air vehicle capable of carrying payloads of France and Greece in January 2004. Hellenic 2003, leading to a concept for a new develop- up to 70kg (154lb) over distances of 1,200km Aerospace Industry and Dassault signed an ini- ment MALE UAV (see below). (650nm). tial cooperation memorandum of understand- ing in March 2004 and a formal co-operation Bateleur DRS TECHNOLOGIES agreement in May 2005. Developmental low-cost MALE system fl agged DRS Unmanned Technologies, 6300 Columbia Initial government-to-government agree- at the 2003 Dubai air show, with mock-ups Street, Municipal Airport, Mineral Wells, 76067 ment was reached with Italy in January 2005 displayed at the African Aerospace exhibition Texas, USA. Tel: +1 817 850 3894; fax: +1 817 on fi nancial investment worth around $100 in Pretoria in September 2004 and the 2005 850 3880; www.drs.com million, with industrial involvement to be Dubai air show. The vehicle is expected to fl y led by Alenia. Spain formally joined the pro- in late 2006, with development pitched against Neptune gramme on 18 May 2005 with EADS Casa to expected South African maritime surveillance Water-landing UAV using Sentry fl ight control head Spanish industrial participation. The and Seeker UAV replacement requirements. The and navigation systems, it made its fi rst fl ight Spanish government contribution is expected Subaru EA-82T is proposed as the engine, with a in January 2002. A pneumatic launcher is built to total $24-30 million, with EADS Casa already three-blade variable pitch pusher propeller. The into the transport container. holding responsibility for design work on the vehicle is to have an all-composite airframe, with Ground landing is possible using a belly skid. Neuron wing structure. avionics derived from the Denel Skua aerial tar- Initial orders for fi ve systems were placed by A formal Swedish membership deal was get system and Seeker tactical UAVs. The ground the US Navy in March 2002 and initial deliv- announced in December 2005, with a total control system is derived from the Seeker. eries began in February 2004. The Pentagon

44 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles unmanned air systems roadmap released in returns to perform real-time cueing of an IR/EO August 2005 says 15 systems had been deliv- payload carried by the same air vehicle to pro- Surveyor 2500 ered out of 27 planned. vide positive target identifi cation. DynAero MCR S4 light aeroplane conversion The testbed UAV is the Galileo Avionica into a medium endurance TUAV proposed by Sentry/Sentry HP Nibbio (see separate entry). The flight pro- EADS as contender for former French army Short-range tactical UAV. Some air vehicles gramme was carried out in 2005 and demon- multi-mission, multi-sensor UAV programme. have been used by the US Air Force to sup- stration is complete. The concept was unveiled at the 2003 Paris air port a battlefi eld experimentation programme. show, but most work is now channelled into The Sentry HP has greater payload capability, Euromale development of optionally piloted MCR S4 including the ability to carry external stores. Former development programme for a com- surveillance aircraft after a proposed French The Sentry can be distinguished by a horizontal mon European MALE UAV initiated by the programme was cancelled. A manned demon- stabiliser joining twin tails, while a SentryHP French government in October 2002 to meet strator aircraft, but without the autonomous has a V-shaped tail. The SentryHP was used to common French and Royal Netherlands Air fl ight control system, has been fl ying with an deploy Textron BLU-108 submunitions in small Force requirements for a second-generation EO/IR sensor suite under the designation Fire UAV weaponisation trials conducted at Eglin MALE system that would enter service in 2010- Surveyor. AFB base in Florida in 2004. 2013. The design concept is based on the EADS- IAI Eagle, but the programme ran into trouble Tracker EADS DEFENSE AND SECURITY SYSTEMS in 2004-5, with all work ceasing by mid-2006. Close-range, hand-launched mini-UAV first EADS Deutschland, 81663, Munich, Germany. European-wide negotiations are under way on unveiled at the Unmanned Systems Europe www.eads.com its successor programme, with this expected to conference in Berlin May 2004. A €30 million be dominated by French, German and Spanish award for 160 systems for use as a close-range AOLOS-289/CL-289 military requirements. reconnaissance system was announced by the High-speed, low-altitude surveillance system French army in January 2005, with each system jointly developed between France, Germany Orka-1200 to comprise two air vehicles, interchangeable and Canada, the vehicles have been in opera- Unmanned derivative of the Helicopteres payloads, and a portable ground control station. tional service with the French and German Guimbal-produced Cabri two-seater heli- Tracker was demonstrated to the UK Ministry armies since 1991 and deployed in Bosnian and copter. The concept was fl agged at the 2002 for Defence in early 2004. Kosovo campaigns. Farnborough air show as a potential replace- At least one sale, believed to be to the French CL-289 is the basic variant, AOLOS-289 is ment for the cancelled EADS SEAMOS VTOL national police, has been made. The vehicle has the upgraded version with the fi rst unit rolled shipborne UAV programme. A mock-up was a twin fuselage confi guration, with electric pro- out in March 2003. unveiled at the 2003 Paris air show as a poten- pulsion, with the payload bay carried between The AOLOS upgrade focused on avionics tial candidate for the French navy VTOL UAV fuselages and above the main wing to protect and mission software. The total upgrade pro- requirement. sensors on landing. gramme will cover 160 air vehicles for France An agreement was signed at the 2005 Paris and Germany. The fi rst German army units air show with Helicoptres Guinbal to estab- EADS – ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES were handed over in April 2003, with fi nal lish a joint venture industrial vehicle called EADS Defence and Electronic Systems, 6 rue deliveries to both users in 2006. Vertivision to further progress development. Dewoitine BP 14, F-78142 Velizy Villacoublay The army variant was fl agged at the 2006 Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 3463 7000; fax: +33 1 Barracuda Eurosatory exhibition as a potential solution 3463 7070; www.eads.com URAV demonstrator publicly unveiled in May for a possible combined French army and navy Israel Aircraft Industries, Malat Division, Ben 2006 after launch of the develoment pro- tactical UAV requirement. Development is con- Gurion International Airport, 70100 Israel. Tel: gramme in 2003. Its fi rst fl ight, at San Javier tinuing. +972 3 935 7349; fax: +972 3 935 4175; www.iai. air force base in southern Spain in April 2006, com.il lasted 20min. It has an all-composite airframe, Scorpio but excludes low observability features. Lightweight VTOL UAV for urban or close- range Eagle The fuselage is built by EADS Germany and maritime surveillance, the vehicle has been eval- Interim medium-altitude, long-endurance, UAV the wing at EADS Casa in Spain. Its large inter- uated by the French army. Work is under way on ordered for the French and Royal Netherlands nal payload bay is being fl ight tested to include integration of communications relay and ELINT air forces. Based on the IAI Malat Heron simultaneous carriage of synthetic-aperture payloads. One air vehicle has been sold to the airframe, the prototype air vehicle fi rst fl ew in radar and electro-optic sensors. UK Ministry of Defence for trials and evalu- 1998, and demonstrated a range of 4,000km A weapons trial is possible, but there are no ation under the Joint UAV Experimentation (2,160nm) in trials the same year. The prototype plans to use the demonstrator in direct UCAV- Programme. Some sales have been made to has fl own demonstration missions in the USA, type roles. Future derivatives may include a undisclosed South American customers. Canada and Sweden and has been selected by UCAV, but the next likely development is a the UK to support its ongoing JUAP battlefi eld jet-powered MALE class system. An extensive Surveyor 600 experimentation programme. First production fl ight-trial programme planned for the second Full-capability LADP UAV based on the Galileo systems were delivered to a combined French air half of 2006 will extend into 2007. The vehicle Avionica Nibbio/Mirach 100.5 target drone force/Dutch air force unit in late 2004 for oper- is expected to participate in Germany’s Project proposed by EADS as the “fast” segment of a ational qualifi cation testing. Eagle II has been Agile demonstration of UAV operations in possible French army multi-mission, multi-sen- proposed as the basis of an EADS-led Euromale networked environments between 2007 and sor requirement to replace its AOLOS-289. The development programme, but all development 2010. Carapas demonstrator represents the baseline work on that ceased in mid-2006. capability version. Air vehicle capability was Carapas refi ned in 2003-4, with MTOW decreased from ELBIT SYSTEMS Concept demonstrator funded by the French 450kg (990lb) to 350kg. Development is on Elbit Systems, Advanced Technology Centre, DGA to explore potential use of a LADP UAV to hold pending decisions by the French ministry Haifa 31053, Israel. Tel: +972 4 831 7503; fax: map the electronic order of battle and use signal of defence on forward capability requirements. +972 4 831 5535; www.elbitsystems.com

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 45 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Hermes 180 an underbelly maritime surveillance radar and use the same ground control station. Unveiled at Asian Aerospace 2002 in Singapore, an EO/IR and ELINT payload, with maximum it is designed to perform reconnaissance and take-off weight rising to 1,750kg (3,850lb). EMT surveillance missions at brigade level. It made EMT Ingeneieurgesellschaft Dipl. Ing Hartmut its debut fl ight in May 2002 and was offered Skylark I Euer. Grube 29, D-82377 Penzberg, Germany. by Thales UK as part of the UK’s Project Close-range, hand-launched electrically pow- Tel: +49 8856 9225; fax: +49 8856 2055. www. Watchkeeper. However, the Hermes 180 com- ered UAV unveiled at the 2003 Paris air show. EMT-Penzberg.de ponent of the bid was set aside in favour of A Skylark IV variant has been promoted since Hermes 450 in February 2005. Hermes 180 has early 2005. Skylark was selected in February Aladin no known customers, but international mar- 2004 to equip Israeli army units, with deliver- Short-range, electrically powered UAV in pro- keting continues. ies in May 2005. It is in service with Australia, duction for the German army, it was designed which acquired four systems in September to operate in conjunction with Fennek recon- Hermes 450S 2005 with a follow-on purchase of six systems naissance vehicle units. An LRIP version was The vehicle entered initial operational service in November 2005 for use in Afghanistan and ordered in August 2002 and has been used in with the Israeli defence force in 2000 follow- Iraq. Additional purchases by Australia were Afghanistan since 2003. A modifi ed “robust” ing purchase initiated in July 1997 and is now made in mid-2006. The system set an unoffi cial version was developed in response to lessons the main operational tactical UAV system. It world altitude record for small UAVs with hand from Afghanistan operations. was used extensivly in the 2006 Israeli military launch from an altitude of 13,785ft (4,200m). A German army order worth $32 million operations in Lebanon. Flight operations to 15,000ft were carried out for 115 aircraft was made in April 2005 with in west Asia in May 2005. It is a candidate for a deliveries starting in August 2005. Five systems Hermes 450 current Israeli army platoon level requirement were acquired by the Netherlands ministry Twin-engined version of 450S. Contracted by with downselect due in late 2006. of defence under a deal announced in April the US Armed Forces Joint UAV joint test and 2006, with systems to support operations in evaluation programme in July 2003 to enable Skylark II Afghanistan, with the German army providing extended evaluation after initial trials fl ights Enlarged version of Skylark 1 with larger training support. conducted in May-June of that same year. Two airframe and increased endurance, but the vehicles were leased by the US Department of same basic confi guration, it is intended for Fancopter Homeland Security in mid-2004 under a $10 use at brigade level. Unveiled at the 2006 Developmental lightweight “open” ducted fan million deal to perform monitoring trials of Eurosatory exhibition, it uses the same ground VTOL UAV designed for use in urban terrain, the US-Mexico border, with services starting in control station as Skylark 1, enabling combined including indoor fl ying operations. A remote- August 2004. operations of both air vehicle types. First fl ight piloted prototype incorporating twin counter- Undeclared sales were made to Botswana, was in mid-2005, with the development pro- rotating propellers and veins located within with systems now operational. It was selected gramme initiated in 2003. Five systems were the frame to allow for guidance was fi rst fl own by the UK in July 2004 as the basis of the sold to Canada in June 2006 to equip units in late 2003. Watchkeeper joint services ISTAR programme. deploying to Afghanistan. A revised confi guration was unveiled in May The primary acquisition contract from the UK 2006, introducing three mini-steering rotors MoD worth £700 million was signed in August EMIT AVIATION to provide improved directional control. The 2005. An eight-year subcontract worth £317 EMIT Aviation Consultants, 8 Bergman Zvi revised version participated in German min- million was awarded by Thales UK to a UK Street, Petah Tivka 49277, Israel. Tel: +972 3 934 istry of defence VTOL UAV demonstration in based joint venture between Thales UK and 8758; fax: +972 3 934 8757. www.emituav.com July 2006. All-composite construction. Elbit, with the fi rst systems to enter operational service in 2010. Blue Horizon Luna Thales is also offering the UK variant to Medium-endurance tactical system designed Short-range tactical UAV, with pre-production France as a potential solution to an emerg- and manufactured by EMIT, it has a canard systems in operational service with the German ing joint services UAV requirement. Catapult wing with twin outboard tails. It takes off and army since March 2000 and fi rst deployed launch capability was demonstrated in April lands on runways, but catapult launch capabil- operationally in Kosovo in April that year. 2005 and a demonstration was made to the ity is available. It requires a three-person crew. LRIP systems, comprising 12 ground control Israeli police in September-October 2005. Licensed variants have been developed by stations and 28 air vehicles, were ordered in Demonstration fl ights were made at the 2006 Singapore Technologies, under a 1998 commer- August 2002 with deliveries in 2003. Luna was Asian Aerospace air show in Singapore. A cial agreement, and by US-based EDO. A prob- deployed with the German army in Afghanistan Hermes 450 with a Tadiran advanced capabil- able sale was made by Singapore Technologies and used as a testbed to demonstrate an EADS ity ELINT payload to support detection of fre- to the Philippines armed forces in 2001 to miniature synthetic-aperture radar in February quency hopping mobile emitters was displayed provide counter-terrorism reconnaissance and 2004. German army use had exceeded 1,800 at the 2006 Farnborough air show. surveillance. missions by March 2006.

Hermes 1500 Sparrow X-13 First fl ew in June 1998. Its development was Catapult launched UAV intended for extended Flying wing UAV under development as a pos- jointly sponsored by the Israeli ministry of short-range tactical missions, it has a com- sible maritime TUAV to be carried by small defence as a concept technology demonstrator bined parachute and airbag recovery system nd warships. A prototype was built in early 2004 for large mission payloads. A $47 million turn- a three-person crew. it uses a waypoint-based but fl ight testing and further development was key services contract based on the Hermes 1500 autonomous guidance system and its standard suspended by late 2004. was awarded to Elbit by the Israeli MoD in June payload comprises a day-night camera. The 2003. A maritime patrol confi guration aircraft loitering missile derivative was shortlisted for FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ws unveiled at the 2005 Paris air show, incor- a UK MoD requirement in July 2006 with EMIT Fuji Heavy Industries, 1-7-2 Nishishinjuku, porating wing-mounted fuel tanks to extend teamed with Ultra UK. The derivative would Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8316, Japan. Tel: + 3 endurance to 50h. This variant would carry retain the existing Sparrow sensor payload and 3347 2111; www.fhi.co.jp

46 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

RPH-2 GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS and variable pitch propeller options available. Upgraded version of earlier RPH-1 agricultural General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, 16761 helicopter initially developed against expected Via Del Campo Court, San Diego, California, Ignat/Ignat ER Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force require- USA 92127. Tel: +1 858 455 2810; fax: +1 858 455 Advanced version of GNAT-750 unveiled in ment for a forward fl ying observation system. 4247. www.uav.com 1998. Has a 113kg (250lb) external payload Basic RPH-2 in limited series production with capability in addition to nose payload. A turbo- at least 17 systems built since 1998. Altair charged Rotax 914 engine option is available. Extended-range variant of the Predator B devel- Has been in service with the US intelligence GALILEO AVIONICA oped on behalf of NASA as a high-altitude sci- community since at least 1997. The US Army Galileo Avionica, Via Albert Einstein 35, 50013 entifi c research platform. A contract with NASA ordered three air vehicles and ground control Campi Bisenzio, Italy. Tel: +39 5 589 501; fax: was signed in January 2000 and the vehicle fi rst systems in May 2003 to support force trans- +39 5 589 506; www.galileoavionica.it fl ew in June 2003. The UAV incorporates multi- formation experimentation, but those aircraft ple redundancy systems to support certifi cation were subsequently deployed to Iraq in March Falco for operation in US national airspace. The pro- 2004 and and had achieved 4,000 fl ying hours New-generation medium tactical UAV devel- totype made its maiden fl ight in June 2003 and in theatre to March 2005. Follow-on Army con- oped in expectation of a generational change being used as a surrogate for General Atomics’ tract worth $4.21 million was announced in in existing tactical UAV marketplace. It was Mariner (Predator B-ER) system, with a series February 2005 for two additional air vehicles to designed and developed to be rapidly certifi - of trial fl ights taking place in 2004. Sole-source be built in extended-range confi guration. The cated for operations in non-segregated airspace. solicitation by NASA for extension of UAV order also supported production of upgrade kits It has a short take-off and landing capability, demonstration system services was issued in for existing three air vehicles and integration of hardpoints for carriage of external stores. The September 2004. Demonstrations in support the tactical automatic landing system into all vehicle was unveiled at the 2002 Eurosatory of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric fi ve aircraft by February 2006. Satellite commu- exhibition and fi rst fl ew in December 2003. Administration were fl own in April and May nications equipment was integrated into the US Proposed by Galileo as replacement for the 2005. One-year FAA experimental certifi ca- Army in early 2006 and army aircraft had fl own Italian army Mirach 26 system, the basic sys- tion was awarded in August 2005 allowing less 858 missions and totalled 10,000 fl ying hours tem development was largely complete by late restrictive operations in non-segregated air- by 10 May 2006. The company was awarded a 2004. Proposals for aircraft carrier-based version space. The UAV was used by the US National $21 million support contract in June 2006. were revealed in June 2006 with the basic mari- Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration time confi guration aircraft planned to be rolled for science research fl ights in late 2005. This Mariner out by mid-2007. Plans to base two aircraft at deployment saw a new endurance record set Extended-range version of the Predator B and Parc Aberporth in theUK were announced in for the type with an 18.4h fl ight conducted in originally designated Predator B-ER. The con- July 2006, with these to be used to conduct November 2005. Aircraft are supporting fi re- cept was unveiled in April 2003 and is similar payload clearance for the mature Falco system. watch operations in southern California. to the Altair, including reuse of the Altair wing. Studies of catapult launch options in conjunc- Addition of conformal tanks on fuselage above tion with Robonic of Finland were announced Altus I/II wing root makes room for an additional 272kg in August 2006. A derivative of the Predator A developed to (600lb) of fuel. Maximum external stores load support NASA and US Department of Energy is 907kg. It is on offer to the US Navy as a solu- Nibbio atmospheric research missions, the Altus II fi rst tion for its persistent unmanned maritime air- High-speed battlefi eld reconnaissance and sur- fl ew June 1998. Being marketed as a potential craft requirement in a teaming arrangement veillance system derived from Galileo Avionica commercial communications relay platform. with Lockheed Martin. A modifi ed Altair has Mirach 100.5 target drone, it has close concep- Altus I has a ceiling of 45,000ft (13,700m); fl own as a Mariner demonstrator since March tual parallels with the EADS CL-299 series and Altus II has a ceiling of 65,000ft. 2004 with a large sensor pod beneath its fuse- an integrated electronic warfare self-protection lage to accommodate maritime surveillance capability with winglet-mounted pylons carry- Gnat 750 radar. The Mariner demonstrator became the ing chaff and fl are dispensing system. First-generation MALE system has been in oper- fi rst UAV to fl y above the Arctic Circle with Recovery is via parachute and airbag sys- ational service since at least 1989, with launch over the horizon control in August 2004 as tem from Mirach 100/5. Nibbio II is proposed orders from the US intelligence community. part of a Canadian Atlantic littoral intelligence, as an enhanced version using more powerful Export sales have been made to to Turkey and surveillance and reconnaissance experiment. engine. possibly one other country. Rotax 912 engine Variant is on offer to Australian Coastwatch

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 47 Directory: unmanned air vehicles organisation in joint teaming arrangement integation and clearance is expected in 2006. research, development, test and evaluation, with National Jet Support of Adelaide. Potential armament options include the Initial system development and demonstration Raytheon AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9X phase runs until August 2009. An army order MQ-1 Predator / RQ-1 Predator A Sidewinder. Combat confi guration air vehicle is expected to comprise 11 systems. Developed Developed from 1994 in conjunction with has an endurance of 16h. by GAASI under quick reaction prototyping the US Defence Advanced Research Projects The US Department of Homeland Security programme initiated in July 2004, it fi rst fl ew Agency as an advanced concept technology tested the vehicle for border surveillance in in October 2004. Follow-on funding increment demonstrator programme. Transitioned to a US 2004 and sined a $14.1 million, two aircraft award worth $67 million was announced in Air Force programme in 1997. Has been used acquisition deal in September 2005. The fi rst March 2006. Subsystem preliminary design operationally in all major confl icts since 1995, DHS aircraft was unveiled in September 2005 review for production systems was completed including Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and and achieved 1,000h surveillance time on US- in May 2006. Iraq and is operated by the US Air Force, US Mexico border before a vehicle was lost in an Navy and US intelligence agencies. Produced operator induced crash in April 2006. Second GENEVA AEROSPACE since 1998, the 100th air vehicle was manufac- DHS aircraft is due for handover in October Geneva Aerospace, 4240 International Parkway, tured in February 2004. There are more than 2006. Plans for purchase of two additional air- Suite 100, Carrollton, Texas 75007, USA. Tel: 120 systems in USAF inventory. Initial opera- craft were fl agged by the DHS in June 2006. +1 469 568 2376; fax: +1 469 568 2101; www. tional capability was declared by the USAF in A USAF system development and demon- genaero.com March 2005. The fi rst export sale to Italy in stration phase contract award worth $68.2 August 2001 involved fi ve air vehicles, with million was announced in March 2005, and Dakota four assembled by Galileo Avionica. Four air- included additional weapons carriage and tar- Originally developed by Daedalus Research for craft remain after one was lost in a mishap in geting capability development, and retrofi t the US Naval Research Laboratories as a rugged the USA. Italian aircraft deployed operationally of four MQM-9 airframes to the revised SDD UAV testbed. Rights were acquired by Geneva to Iraq in January 2005. confi guration. Total USAF inventory at August Aerospace in July 2001. UAV was used to sup- A weaponised MQ-1 version was developed 2005 was planned to total 60 aircraft with six port demonstration of multiple air vehicle con- in 2000 and tested in 20001 using a combina- air vehicles delivered by then. One aircraft is trol by a single operator on behalf of the Offi ce tion of integrated laser designator and Hellfi re deployed in Iraq. Flights with prototype elec- of Naval Research and US Air Force Research missile. Variant has larger wing and increased tronic attack suite were carried out by the US Laboratory in January 2003 as part of ONR’s endurance. The MQ-1 was used to support DoD and the CIA in the fi nal quarter of 2005. autonomous operations future naval capabil- anti-terrorist strikes in Sudan and in the war in A contract worth $5.2 million for the upgrade ity programme. A new-generation autono- Afghanistan in 2002, and in Iraq. Its ability to of fi ve USAF aircraft to incorporate improved mous guidance system, designated fl ightTEK, carry and deploy “daughter” UAVs was demon- landing gear to support weapons and special announced in November 2004. Limited produc- stated in a trials programme with US Naval mission payloads was announced in June 2006 tion of aircraft got under way in January 2005 Research Laboratory Finder UAVs (see separate with work to be completed by June 2007. A for unspecifi ed customers. Plans for modifi ed entry) in August 2002. Some older RQ-1s were maritime demonstration carrying Elta 2022 aircraft to be fi tted with pontoons to support used as sacrifi cial radar decoys during open- Seawatch radar was made as part of a US Navy Vought (see separate entry) seaplane UAV concept ing phases of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Heavy Trident Warrior 2006 experiment off southern demonstrations for DARPA was announced in fuel engined version, using Thielert Centurion California in July 2006. A US Navy launch order April 2005. Dakota was used to support demon- as a replacement for Rotax 914T, was fl own in worth $8.29 million was announced in August stration of autoland suite at the US Army Yuma October 2004. 2006, with a system to support ongoing experi- proving ground in February-March 2006 for US Total GAASI production Predator fleet mentation in the use of endurance UAVs in Naval Air Systems Command. reached 100,000 fl ight hours on 27 September performing broad area maritime surveillance. 2004; 150,000h by August 2005, and broke One aircraft is to deploy to Australia to support HONEYWELL 200,000h (10,961 combat missions fl own) on contracted demonstration of maritime surveil- Honeywell International, 101 Columbia Road, 22 July 2006. Specifi cation data is for MQ-1. lance applications. On offer to Netherlands as Morristown, New Jersey 07962, USA. Tel: +1 a candidate for anticipated MALE competition 973 455-2000; fax: +1 973 455-4807; www. MQM-9 Predator B in early 2007. honeywell.com Enhanced capability version of MQ-1/RQ-1 air vehicle. First fl ights of turbojet-powered ver- Predator C Organic Air Vehicle sion was in February 2001 using a Williams FJ- Jet-powered evolution of Predator B airframe Selected as the US Army’s Class I Organic Air 44-2A turbojet, but the demonstrator was con- with enhanced low observable features. Vehicle (OAV) requirement under the Future verted to a turboprop. A USAF initial order was Demonstrator initially expected to be make Combat Systems programme in May 2006 placed in December 2002 for two air vehicles debut fl ight late 2005, but development slowed with initial funding award worth $61 mil- and these were delivered for operational test- to allow existing Predator A and B and Warrior lion. Shortlisted in June against Aurora Flight ing in 2005. The fi rst pre-production turboprop delivery schedules to be met. Likely fi rst fl ights Sciences Golden Eye OAV for FCS Class II OAV version fl ew in October 2003. in late 2006 or early 2007 were announced in requirement with current phase – Phase III GA-ASI was awarded a $17 million contract June 2006. – running until February 2009. in March 2004 to further develop specifi ca- Both Class I and Class II designs are based tions for a weaponised production MQ-9 vari- Warrior on scaleable VTOL lift-augmented ducted fan ant. Maximum external stores load is 1,360kg MQ-1 Predator hybrid able to carry four AGM- airframe technology with development under (3,000lb). Flight tests of carriage and clearance 114 Hellfire missiles, compared with basic way since 1999. This same airframe type is also requirements for Boeing Joint Direct Attack Predator ability to carry only two. Successful known as a ring wing, with the duct acting as Munition (JDAM), Lockheed Martin Hellfi re contender for the US Army Extended Range lift surface during horizontal fl ight missile and Small Diameter Bomb began in Multipurpose (ERMP) programme, with selec- Initial development was carried out in co- 2004. The Predator B prototype demonstrated tion announced 8 August 2005. Initial award operation with Allied Aerospace as a DARPA an ability to drop a GBU-12 Paveway II laser- was worth $214.4 million and structured as ACTD initiative. Selected in June 2001 by guided bomb in trials in August 2004. JDAM a cost-plus-incentive-fee contract covering DARPA to progress as prototype Class II sys-

48 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles tem for demonstration purposes with 250 test has fl ying wing with winglets and suspended Hawk Mk V fl ights completed by Kestrel variant up until central fuselage carrying sensors and pusher Robust conventional configuration UAV July 2002. A modifi ed version, developed in propeller system. Catapult launch system has derived from target drone design. Has all-com- co-operation with Allied Aerospace and known recovery using vertical wire, which is caught posite wing. Has steel composite undercarriage as iStar successfully performing autonomous by a wingtip-mounted grapple. Plans for trans- to allow for rough fi eld operations, but with fl ight for the fi rst time in March 2004. pacifi c fl ight were announced in August 2001, option of parachute recovery. Honeywell derivative of iStar was shortlisted but has never fulfi lled. A teaming arrangement in December 2004 for the fi rst phase of the with Boeing (see separate entry) was announced Shadow Mk-1 DARPA FCS Class II Organic Air Vehicle (OAV) in February 2002 to develop a military version Twin tail pusher propeller confi guration air development programme. Honeywell funding known as A15 Scan Eagle with the prototype vehicle with close visual parallels to Pioneer allocation for Phase 1 development totalled making its fi rst wholly autonomous fl ight in RQ-2C Pioneer. Has two-piece all-composite $3.99 million. Honeywell team members June 2002. GeoRanger derivative of basic A20, wings. Detachable all composite tail structures. include AAI, which is responsible for airframe carrying magnetic anomally detectors, devel- Options for extended endurance by fi tting of manufacture, AVID LCC, and Techsburg. oped between 2002 and 2004 in conjunction additional internal tank in fuselage. FCS Class 1 system based on a 333mm (13in) with Fugro Airborne Survey and introduced diameter micro air vehicle (MAV) version was into service with that company in October Vision Mk-1/Vision Mk-11 unveiled by Honeywell at the 2004 AUVSI 2004. Forest fi re monitoring capability with Conventional airframe design with pusher Unmanned Systems North America exhibi- A20 model demonstrated for NASA in June propeller at back of main fuselage. Mk-11 is tion. A version was developed via $40 million 2006 in conjunction with Evergreen Aviation. extended-range version. Low-slung, carbon- DARPA MAV advanced concept technology Sale of a single A20 system, comprising one air fi bre reinforced tail boom support T-tailplane demonstration contract, with the demonstrator vehicle, was made to the University of Alaska is on both versions. Mk-1 has two-piece all- starting a three0month fl ight-test programme Geophysical Institute in August 2006. composite wing. Mk-11 has two-piece hollow in December 2004. MAV is distinguishable by composite wing. Vehicles have steel composite twin outboard fuel and payload capsules and INTA undercarriage. Runway or parachute recovery, its four-leg sprung undercarriage. Initial proto- Instituto Nacional de Technica Aeroespacial types built for DARPA to transfer to US Army Ctra. De Ajalvir, km4, Torrejon de Ardoz 28850, ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES for operational use during fi scal year 2007, Madrid, Spain. Tel : +34 91 520 13 09; fax: +34 91 Israel Aircraft Industries, Malat Division, Ben with fi rst Honeywell FCS programme produc- 520 16 32; www.inta.es Gurion International Airport, 70100 Israel. Tel: tion units to be delivered in December 2008. +972 3 935 7349; fax: +972 3 935 4175; www.iai. MAV development and manufacture team is ALO co.il the same as for the Class II OAV variant. The Avion Ligero de Observacion (or ALO) is a lightweight, short-range tactical surveillance Bird Eye 100 INNOCON system intended for use in homeland security Hand-launched, mini surveillance system Innovative Control Solutions, 5 Zvi Bergman missions and small military unit reconnais- intended for military and paramilitary market. Street, Petach-Tikkva 49297, Israel. Tel: +972 sance roles. The system has been under devel- Released onto international market early 2004. 3 934 7470; fax: +972 3 934 6992; www.inno- opment since the early 1990s. INTA is offering conltd.com extended-range variant in its international Bird Eye 400 marketing since mid-2003. Flying wing UAV with development completed ASIS early 2005. Unveiled at Aero India in February Optional piloted Aerial Surveillance and INTEGRATED DYNAMICS 2005. Pusher propeller. Uses deep stall landing Intelligence System (ASIS) is derived from the Integrated Dynamics, 250/1 NC-24, Korangi system with upper wing surface incorporating P-92 Echo Super two-seat light aircraft. A dem- Creek Road, Karachi, Pakistan. Tel: +92 21 509 shock absorbers for upside down touchdown. onstrator has been built. Payload is controlled 1881; fax: +92 21 509 1883 Night sensor suite qualifi ed during 2005. by mission control station in manned mode. Conversion kit is also available for other air- Border Eagle Bird Eye 500 craft types. Twin tail boom pusher-propeller confi guration Hand-launched mini surveillance UAV. short-range system unveiled at 2005 Dubai air Common avionics and control system with Mini Falcon show. Has all-composite wing with reinforced Bird Eye 100 but in a completely different Lightweight catapult-launched tactical UAV tricyle undercarriage to support rough fi eld airframe. Under evaluation by civilian police in with parafoil recovery system and a POP200 operation. Intended for use in border surveil- the Netherlands and fl own in low-level demon- surveillance payload. Range can be extended lance roles by civil authorities. stration fl ights over Amsterdam in June 2004. up to 8h by fi tting additional 15 litre fuel tank. Two concepts for dedicated civilian deriva- Production rights for larger derivatives sold to Desert Hawk tives developed under European Commission- BAE Systems North America to provide basis of Hand-launched all-composite system intended funded UAVNET thematic project and unveiled its Skylynx II tactical UAV system. for use by both civil and military authorities. in June 2005. Bird Eye 500M would have 2.4m Similar in design to L3 BAI Aerosystems Javelin (7.8ft) wing and parachute landing system, INSITU with engine mounted above forward fuselage with maximum take-off weight rising to 5.6kg The Insitu Group, 118 East Columbia River Way, on elevated pylon to allow for forward-facing (12.3lb). Bird Eye 500D would have 2.4m wing Bingen, Washington 98605, USA. Tel: +1 509 EO payload. but use deep stall landing techniques, with 493 8600; +1 509 493 8601; www.insitu.com The initial development began in 2003 in maximum take off weight capped at 4.9kg. response to Pakistani army requirement for A20/GeoRanger/SeaScan close-range system, with prototype making its Ei-Tan (Strength) Low-altitude, long-endurance UAV initially debut fl ight in early 2004. Communications Prototype HALE system with possibly two dem- developed under the designation SeaScan with relay capability using two air vehicles dem- onstrators built and fl ying with the Israeli air fi rst prototypes unveiled in 2001. A20 is the onstrated in early 2005. Unveiled at the 2005 force. Take-off weight reported to be 4t. Span basic civilian market confi guration. Vehicle Dubai air show. reported to be 26m.

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 49 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Heron intended for use in frontline military opera- propeller and detachable joined tail. Catapult Medium-altitude long-range surveillance sys- tions, including high load absorbing undercar- launcher and parachute recovery options are tem. In operational service with Israeli defence riage. Basic version is designated I-View 50 with available. The option of increased size fuel tank forces, with variants including highly modifi ed this evaluated by Israeli army in March 2006 as is available to increase endurance. Twin fi xed electronic intelligence gathering aircraft. Forms candidate for platoon level system with source fi eld of view cameras mounted on common baseline air vehicle for joint France-Netherlands selection decision due late 2006. I-View 150 gimbal chassis. Ground crew of 3-4. Eagle MALE programme (see separate entry under made debut fl ight in early 2005. I-View 250 is EADS-IAI). Autonomous take-off and landing largest version reusing wing from Searcher II. Silent Eye system developed in conjunction with EADS. Successfully offered by IAI in conjunction with Hand-launched, backpackable system unveiled Heavy fuel version, designated Heron ERMP, Boeing Australia for Australian Army JP129 in 2005. All-electric, with waypoint based navi- was fl ight tested in January 2005. Acquired by tactical UAV requirement with source selec- gation. Has daylight and low-light cameras in India in 2003 and operated by Indian air force, tion announced December 2005. Protracted nose- mounted ball. Flight simulator built into with operations included supporting 2005 contract negotiations expected to be fi nalised ground control station. Crew of two. Indian Ocean tsunami surviver relief operations during August-September 2006 for two-system using thermal imaging payloads. Potential fol- purchase. K50 and K125 are proposed civil KALEBAYKAR low-on Indian order for up to 50 aircraft was derivatives based on concepts developed by Kale Holding, Sefakoy, Tevfi k Bey Mah, Istiklal fl agged early in 2005, but there have been no European Commission-funded UAVNET the- Cad, No 1334295, Kucukcekmece, Isanbul, eported sales. A $180 million order for 10 air- matic project. Fuel cell powered versions also Turkey. Tel: +90 212 624 0670; fax: +90 212 579 craft and ground systems was placed by Turkey studied. 5529; www.kaleaero.com in April 2005 with deliveries believed to be under way. Israeli air force order for multi- Searcher II Bayraktar ple systems to replace Searcher was signed in Basic Searcher operational with Israeli air force Hand-launched close-range UAV powered by September 2005, with the order worth $50 mil- since 1992 with some air vehicles equipped twin wing mounted electric engines. First fl ight lion. Air force aircraft are known as Mahatz 1 with electronic warfare payloads, but now was in October 2005. Autonomous guidance with initial deliveries from late that same year. being progressively replaced by Heron. Ordered system has been under development since Some aircraft may have weapons capabilities by India in 1996 and used operationally dur- 2002. Has a fi rm order for 19 systems from with that service using armed UAVs as part of ing border clashes with Pakistan. In opera- Turkish army, with deliveries from mid- 2007. forces deployed against Hezbollah forces in tional service with Singapore with Singaporean Ordered systems will each comprise four air sSouthern Lebanon and Palestinian forces in navy having ground control systems installed vehicles, plus ground control station and sup- the Gaza Strip during July-August 2006. in larger ships. Searcher II selected by Israeli port equipment. Demonstrator proto type was minister of defence in August 2003 to under- made public at the 2006 Farnborough air show, Hunter take special surveillance missions as a turn- with production air vehicles to incorporate Currently in operational service with armies key service based on payment per fl ight hour optional parachute recovery system. Kalebaykar of Belgian, French and the USA. Single Hunter with operations starting in September 2003. is jointly run by the Ankara-headquartered system acquired by France in 1998, with this to Unknown number of aircraft sold to India in Baykar Machine and Kalekalip Aerospace com- be replaced by 2010 with Euromale. Belgian air- follow-on deal negotiated in late 2003 and panies. craft designated B-Hunter to refl ect assembly by early 2004. Indian aircraft used operationally Belgian Eagle Consortium. System selected by in January 2005 to support search for survivors KAMAN Belgium in December 1998 with initial deliv- of Indian Ocean tsunami. Technical data is for Kaman Aerospace, Helicopters Division, Old eries in 2001. B-Hunter is based on standard Searcher II. Windsor Road, Bloomfi eld, Connecticut 06002, Hunter confi guration, but has 8.9m wingspan. USA. Tel: +1 860 242 4461; www.kamanaero.. At least two Belgian aircraft lost during 2006, Swallow com one in an accident and the second to ground Hand launched mini-UAV under development fi re in the Democratic Republic of Congo dur- as a low-cost/expendable surveillance system. Burro/Burro+ ing support operations for European peace Large nose mounted sensor pod. Development unmanned version of the K- keeping force. Extended-range Endurance Max heavylift helicopter. Name is an acronym Hunter (E-Hunter) is capable of 30h endur- JARS emerging from US Marine Corps requirements ance and replaces existing wing, boom and Jordan Advanced Remote Systems, PO Box in the late 1990s for broad area unmanned tail assembly with modules from Heron. US 815570, Amman 11180, Jordan. Tel: +962 6 556 responsive resupply operations. Initial devel- Army Hunter designated RQ-5A with Northrop 0511; fax: +962 6 5560 0514; www.jars.jo opment was supported by a $4.2 million USMC Grumman programme prime contractor (see contract award in 1999 to build an optionally separate Northrop Grumman – IAI entry). Arrow/Trans Arrow piloted demonstrator with follow-on funding Basic Arrow developed as a target drone for worth $2.7 million in May 2000. Debut fl ight I - See training short range air defence units with was made in early 2000. Demonstrations con- Hand-launched mini-UAV unveiled at Trans Arrow concept was unveiled in 2005 as a ducted by the USMC during 2001 to support DEFEXPO 2004 in India. Close range, pusher “mother ship” to carry and deploy smaller elec- exploration of autonomous over-the-shore propeller above glider type airframe. Initially tric powered “leave behind” mini UAVs – these deployment of weapons systems and logistics developed as candidate for Israeli army interim were designated “I-Wing”. Each Trans Arrow supplies. Separate demonstrations for US Army close-range UAV requirement in 2004-5, but would carry two I-Wings, one on each wing. Aviation Applied Technology Directorate took unsuccessful. Nominal mission range for Trans Arrow mission place at Fort Eustis, Virginia, in 2003. Follow- is 50km (27nm). Basic Arrow target drone has on demonstration for US Army in November I-View crew of fi ve. Nominal range for I-Wing is 10km. 2005 in the form of a “robots moving robots” Catapult-launched tactical UAV family built experiment. New generation Burro+ developed around common core fl ight control system Falcon in early 2006 and incorporates large underbelly and scaled airframe confi guration with guided Short-range tactical UAV was unveiled in early fuel tank to increase endurance. Demonstrator parafoil recovery. Robust airframe structure 2004. Has all-composite airframe with pusher conducted 12h endurance flight in April

50 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

2006 from Kaman airfield at Bloomfield, ally in Afghanistan. Snake Eye is a Dragon Eye Tern-P Connecticut. A $3.1 million contract from modifi ed for use by US Navy SEALS. Snake Eye Evolved version of basic Tern system unveiled US Army Material Research Development uses the Dragon Eye airframe, but incorporates in August 2004 at AUVSI Unmanned Systems and Engineering Command announced 17 new fl ight-control systems from MicroPilot North America exhibition. Twin tail boom with July 2006 with this supporting development and Northrop Grumman and carries an infra- pusher propeller integrated into rear fuselage, of more advanced autonomous fl ight control red nose camera. See Aerovironment for main rather than overwing engine mount as with system before five-week flying demonstra- entry on Dragon Eye. Evolution XT (Extended basic Tern. Retains high undercarriage to sup- tion at Fort Benning, Georgia, in October and Time) demonstrated 90min fl ight for the fi rst port slung loads. November 2006. time in October 2004 with development con- tinuing. LOCKHEED MARTIN KOREA AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, PO Box 748, Fort Korea Aerospace Industries, Seosomun-dong, Isis Worth, Texas 76101, USA. Tel: +1 817 777 2000; Jung-gu, Seoul 100-737, South Korea. Tel: +82 Medium tactical UAV with ongoing devel- www.lmaeronautics.com 2 2001 3114; fax: +82 2 2001 3011; www.kore- opment. Was unveiled at the 2003 AUVSI Lockheed Martin Systems Integration, aaero.com Unmanned Systems exhibition. Intended to be 1801 State Route 17C, Owego, New York , able to take off and land from semi-prepared 13827-3998, USA. Tel: +1 607 751 2000; www. Night Intruder 300 strips. Common avionics with Tern. Baseline lockheedmartin.com Initial development started in 1991, with the system uses gasoline engine. Heavy fuel engine full-scale production version ready from 2000. option extends range to 3,200km with endur- Desert Hawk/Desert Hawk III Production contract from South Korea defence ance of 24h. Original air vehicle system developed by the US ministry came in September 2001. Initial oper- Air Force Electronic Systems Centre and manu- ational capability achieved with South Korean Javelin factured under licence by Lockheed Martin. army in November 2003. Production ended Lightweight close-range UAV intended for com- System briefl y known as Sentry Owl with this in 2004, but concepts have been proposed for mercial and paramilitary application. Remotely a brand name assigned by Lockheed Martin. maritime surveillance version. Extensively mar- operated rather than autonomous, it is com- Systems produced for the USAF as operational keted since 2004, but no follow-on orders as at bustion engine powered with a 2h endurance. Force Protection Airborne Surveillance System August 2006. System is being offered for both sale and short from late 2001 with initial deliveries starting term lease. in 2002. The system was deployed to both L3 BAI AEROSYSTEMS Iraq and Afghanistan. Total USAF acquisition L3 BAI Aerosystems, 9040 Glebe Park Drive, Tern order by August 2005 stood at 21 systems, each Easton, MD 21601, USA. Tel: +1 410 820 7500; Air vehicle optimised for rough fi eld operation comprising six air vehicles. Acquisition of 60 fax: +1 410 820 8500; www.baiaerosystems.com with engine mounted above wing to ensure air vehicles, 10 ground control stations and propeller remains free, and high set tricycle fi ve remote viewing terminals approved by UK BQM-147A Exodrone/Dragon Drone. undercarriage with large main wheels. Height Ministry of Defence in late 2003/early 2004 Originally developed by Johns Hopkins also enables fi tting of slung payloads of up with those systems deployed in Afghanistan as University as an expendable electronic war- to 10kg, with precision dispensing identifi ed at August 2006. Desert Hawk III confi guration fare jamming drone. In series production since as a mission option. Undercarriage incorpo- is for larger, more robust air vehicle with larger mid 1980s for the United States Marine Corps rates disc brakes to reduce landing footprint. fuselage supporting modular payload bay. and Army with extensive operational usage in Additional fuel tank can be fi tted externally to Three standard payload modules as at July 2006 a variety of confl icts. USMC variants include increase endurance. In service with US Special – comprising low light black and white, low electronic warfare jammer. Development of Forces Command and used operationally in light colour and infrared cameras; wide fi eld of Dragon Drone version funded by USMC in Afghanistan in 2002 to support distribution view and narrow fi eld of view low light black 1997 with 30 Exodrones converted to this of unattended ground sensors and achieved and white cameras and non-visible illuminator; confi guration ahead of standard series produc- 225 operational hours in that theatre. Selected and colour wide and narrow fi eld of view cam- tion. Dragon Drone selected by Bahrain with by US Army in December 2003 to support tri- eras. All sensors have fi xed focal length. Table deliveries taking place in late 1999. Evaluated als of beyond line of sight combat identifi ca- data is for basic Desert Hawk aircraft. under loan by Australian Army in 1999-2000, tion system as a surrogate for the Organic Air with this including deployment to East Timor. Vehicle still being developed. Catapult launch Morphing Wing technology demonstrator Marinised version designated Condor was capability intended for small fi eld or shipborne Subscale demonstrator for testing of morphing tested by US Coast Guard in 2000. Replaced in deployment demonstrated in March 2004 using wing concepts with at least two air vehicles USMC service by Aerovironment Dragon Eye. Dragon Drone launcher. Version equipped with built. The design is based on a fl ying wing with skids and tail-hook in place of tricycle under- two stream-wise folding joints located in wing Evolution/Evolution XT/Snake Eye carriage for shipboard landings demonstrated structure on each side of central body. This Evolution is a modifi ed version of the US Offi ce in April 2004. Small number of systems oper- allows wings to be raised vertically to act as a of Naval Research’s Dragon Eye close-range UAV ated by US Naval Air Systems Command as tail surface, as well as fully fold in against the supplied to US Special Forces Command. Some experimentation testbeds. Total SOCOM inven- body to reduce the overall air vehicle profi le. A 20 air vehicles were built and used operation- tory at August 2005 was 65 systems. development contract award from US Air Force

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 51 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

MLB Research Laboratories was made in January on behalf of US Special Operation Command 2003 worth $9.3 billion following open solici- MLB, Suite B 2551 Casey Avenue, Mountain (SOCOM) as a candidate for production as tation in September 2001. Project funding View, California 94043, USA. Tel: +1 650 966 a testbed for trials of mission payloads and ends November 2006. Air vehicle prototype 1022; www.spyplanes.com concepts. Air vehicle was unveiled at AUVSI was unveiled at the 2004 AUVSI Unmanned Unmanned Systems North America exhibition Systems North America exhibition. Windtunnel BAT 3 August 2004. The airframe is derived from the testing was carried out between August and Short-range UAV being promoted for small Titan Aircraft Tornado 912 kitplane. Prototype November 2005. Two vehicles crashed dur- unit surveillance, urban surveillance and force fi rst fl ew April 2004. Initial development con- ing take-off attempts in the fi rst half of 2006 protection missions. Also being offered for tract award was made in early 2003, with addi- because of fl ight control issues. DARPA funding agricultural monitoring and wildlife mapping tional $9.25 million funding awarded in June is continuing. missions. Uses vehicle-roof mounted catapult 2004 to allow further work on enhancing the launcher. basic system capabilities. Two full production Multipurpose UAV standard aircraft were scheduled to be delivered Submarine-launched and recovered UAV con- MMIST to SOCOM in June 2006, but current status is cept being jointly advanced by Lockheed and MMIST, Unit 4B, 190 Colonnade Road South, unclear. A fourth prototype air vehicle was in DARPA. The vehicle would be carried and Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7J5, Canada. Tel: +1 613 assembly at June 2005. Concepts for ambu- deployed from standard ICBM missile launch 723 0403; fax: + 1 613 723 8925; www.mmist.ca lance version, incorporating satellite datalink tubes on Ohio-class submarines converted to and telemedicine system with 5h endurance, carry cruise missiles. CQ-10A Snowgoose and gunship version equipped with twin 0.5 Its primary role would be surveillance and Parafoil-based logistics UAV. Ground launched, calibre machine guns with 16h endurance were reconnaissance for cruise missile strikes, but but demonstrated to be air launchable in trains revealed in June 2005. UAV arming concepts fl agged by Lockheed of four from a single Lockheed Martin C-130 include the Boeing Small Diameter Bomb and during trials by US Special Forces command in NORTHROP GRUMMAN the Lockheed Martin LOCAAS loitering mis- April 2002. Production contract award made by Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, sile. Has potential technology links with the US SOCOM in early 2005. Total SOCOM inven- Unmanned Systems, PO Box 509066, San Lockheed Martin morphing wing UAV dem- tory as at August 2005 was 15 systems. Larger Diego, California 92150-9066, USA. Tel: +1 858 onstrator programme. Water landing would systems are being proposed, including capabil- 618 4355; www.is.northropgrumman.com be either by stall manoeuvre or parachute. ity for a 455kg (1,000lb) payload and endur- Submarine would recover UAV underwater with ance of more than 30h. Derivatives of basic sys- BQM-34 Firebee the assistance of a remotely operated vehicle. tem also being proposed for use as surveillance In production since the mid-1960s with a Powerplant options being considered include platform. Performance and payload data is for wide variety of variants fl own operationally, modified Honeywell AS903. Initial DAPRA ground-launched system. including weaponised and target drone types. funding approvals came in April 2003. DARPA Employed in radar decoy roles against Iraqi air announced a two-year, $7.87 million risk- NAVMAR defences during Operation Iraqi Freedom in reduction demonstration contract to Lockheed Navmar Applied Sciences, Suite 220, 1450 2003. Rapid prototyping project was launched Martin in May 2005, with initial allocation Edgemont Avenue, Chester, Pennsylvania at the request of US Special Forces Command worth $4.22 million and funding ending in 19013, USA. Tel: +1 610 619 7440; www.navmar. in third quarter 2002 to modify BQM-34S March 2007. Testing from November 2006 to com Firebees to carry modular payload canisters for January 2007 will see full-scale, non-folding airborne delivery mission. Canisters manufac- model dropped into the water to simulate para- Mako tured by Grove Aircraft, California. Unknown chute recovery. Underwater recovery is to be Low-cost, modular tactical UAV designed to number of air vehicles upgraded with new fully tested seperately be expendable depending on mission require- autonomous navigation system. Test fl ights ments. Developed under contract to USN Air began in December 2002 and the programme P-175 Polecat Systems Command for US Special Operations was made public in January 2003. Payload can- High-altitude long-endurance flying wing Command. Development supported by L-3 BAI isters unveiled by Northrop at AUVSI-USN UAV UAV technology demonstrator with basic Aerosystems, with air vehicle unveiled at AUVSI demonstration at Webster Field in August 2003. low observable features. It was developed and Unmanned Systems North America exhibition A $48.2 million order was placed by the USN fl own by Lockheed Martin Skunkworks over an August 2004. Total SOCOM inventory at August in April 2005 for 60 aircraft and logistics sup- 18 month period at a total cost of $27 million. 2005 was 30 aircraft. System used operationally port with deliveries to be completed in 2006. First fl ight in late 2005. during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Order contains options for 60 further aircraft The system was made public at the 2006 in 2007. Farnborough air show. Follow-on fl ight pro- Tiger Shark gramme is planned for September 2006 to Tactical UAV with close design parallels to RQ-4A Global Hawk/Block 10 study contrail suppression. Mako. At least one prototype has been built High-altitude long-endurance system devel- under contract to USN Air Systems Command. oped out of DARPA Advanced Concept Sky Spirit /Sky Spirit ER First unveiled at AUVSI Unmanned Systems Technology Demonstration project launched Developmental LALE system under develop- North America exhibition August 2004. in 1995. Initial order was placed with Teledyne ment by Lockheed Martin MS2 Tactical Systems Ryan for seven air vehicle demonstrators, division in conjunction with the University of NEANY with the company later acquired by Northrop Minnesota for at least two years with demon- Neany, Suite A 44010 Commerce Avenue, Grumman. First air vehicle was rolled out in strators fl ying. Has pusher propeller confi gura- Hollywood, Maryland 20636, USA. Tel: +1 301 February 1997 and it made its fi rst fl ight late tion, with airframe having close visual similari- 373 8700; fax: +1 301 373 6405. www.neanyinc. that same year. Military utility trials began in ties to the US NRL/Advanced Ceramics Manta com 1999. First crossing of the Atlantic Ocean was system, but with central fuselage fl attened to made in April 2000, with this including the operate as a lifting surface. Development is Arrow fi rst demonstration of air vehicle control being continuing. Developed for USN Air Systems Command performed from another continent. Entered

52 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

vehicles to be converted to Eurohawk SIGINT confi guration by EADS. Candidate for planned USN Broad Area Maritime Surveillance system requirement.

RQ-8A/RQ-8B Firescout Derivative of Schweizer Aircraft Model 333 manned helicopter. Selected as the winner of the US Navy’s VTUAV competition, the fi rst fully autonomous flight was made by the Model 379 VTUAV prototype in January 2000. Northrop Grumman was awarded a $93.7 million contract in February 2000 to perform Model 379 engineering and development work and produce three initial systems. Model 379 was named Firescout and given the designation of RQ-8A. USN dissatisfaction with the pro- gramme in 2001 led to cancellation of planned production contracts and the ending of the programme from July 2003. The prototype RQ-8A made its fi rst fl ight in May 2002, with Northrop Grumman RQ-4A Global Hawk has fl own 10,500h the fi rst engineering and development variant making its debut fl ight in November 2002. engineering, manufacturing and develop- RQ-4B/ Block 20+ series. USAF RQ-4A fl eet had RQ-8B concept was publicly released in ment phase of programme in March 2001. First achieved 10,500 fl ying hours up until August November 2002 and the following month UAV to cross Pacifi c Ocean on deployment to 2006. the USN revealed it was exploring funding Australia in April 2001. Used operationally development of a more robust version tenta- in Afghanistan and Iraq confl icts. Air vehicle RQ-4B Global Hawk/Block 20+ tively designated RQ-8B Sea Scout. Four-blade 1 was refurbished by Northrop Grumman in Standardised production version of Global rotor test was fl own on a manned Schweizer early 2003 for use as trials aircraft and deployed Hawk. Key external changes to RQ-4A comprise Model 333 test-bed aircraft in March-April to Germany in October-November for joint extension of forward and rear fuselages through 2003. Programme funding restored by US German air force/USAF demonstration of pro- the introduction of plugs; larger tail fi n sur- Congressional committee in July 2003. The posed German Eurohawk SIGINT version. Final faces; and relocation of undercarriage to retract USN announced in January 2003 that Firescout prototype RQ-4A was built under Advanced into conformal pods on the inboard wing to would be developed to support the Littoral Concept Technology Demonstration pro- provide increased internal fuselage space. Combat Ship programme. gramme delivered to USAF February 2003. First USAF awarded a $147 million contract in The RQ-8B was selected as the preferred LRIP production contract worth $101 million March 2003 to launch a spiral development Class IV UAV for the US Army’s Future Combat was awarded by USAF in February 2002 to sup- programme leading to RQ-4B confi guration. Systems (FCS) programme in September 2003. ply two air vehicles. A $307 million contract Funding worth $30.1 million for long lead LRIP An eight-year, $115 million contract was award was made in January 2003 for LOT 2 items for four LOT 3 air vehicles was awarded awarded to Northrop Grumman by FCS prime LRIP of four RQ-4As. A $185 million contract in June 2003 with this supporting fi nalisation contractors Boeing-SAIC in January 2004 to was awarded in February 2003 to build two RQ- of RQ-4B design confi guration and construc- build seven RQ-8B Firescout air vehicles and 4As for the USN to support maritime surveil- tion of three out of the four air vehicles to that ground systems to support FCS programme lance experimentation. standard. development and testing up to 2008. Test fi r- The fi rst production standard RQ-4A (LRIP Funding worth $50.6 million for long lead ing of the RQ-8A with Hydra folding fi n rockets LOT 1 air vehicle) was delivered to the USAF LRIP items for four LOT 4 RQ-4B air vehicles was carried out in February 2004 as part of con- in August 2003. The US FAA granted national was awarded by the USAF in March 2004. An tinuing weaponisation experiments. certifi cate of authorisation for the RQ-4 system additional $143 million was awarded in April A US Navy contract award worth $49 mil- in August 2003 enabling routine operation of 2005 to compensate for cost overruns in EMB lion was made in March 2004 to supply two system in US national airspace. First fl ight of phase. A LOT 5 funding award of $60.2 million RQ-8B confi guration systems by October 2005 USAF Lot 2 air vehicle was made on 1 July 2004 in August 2005 was based on fi ve RQ-4Bs, four to support continued test and development and delivered to Beale AFB in October 2004. with advanced sensor suite and one with basic of naval variant. First shipboard landing dem- First fl ight of USN aircraft – designated N1 sensor suite. A funding award of $22.5 million onstration was carried out with USS Denver in – occurred in October 2004. in June 2006 was made for interoperability January 2006. Follow-on USN funding award Both USN aircraft were delivered to US NAS standardisation to support the beginning of worth $135 million was announced in July Patuxent River, Maryland in August 2005 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) 2006, with this supporting development until with trials to run until fi scal year 2009. RQ-4A in November 2008. Total USAF production to August 2008. became the fi rst US military UAV to achieve 2009 baselined on 51 air vehicles, including a A revised fuselage confi guration for army USAF military airworthiness certifi cation in number of SIGINT variants. Flight test of pro- aircraft, designated MQ-8B and featuring large January 2006. The start of fl ight tests of High duction RQ-4B deliveries from LOT 3 order is sponsons, was unveiled in late 2004. A con- Band System Production Confi guration Uni scheduled to start in November 2006. tract worth $11.74 million, covering eight air signals intelligence system were announced The RQ-4B was selected as the preferred plat- vehicles and support equipment for US Army in January 2006, with these continuing across form for the unmanned segment of the NATO requirements, was awarded by the USN in April 2006. Final Block 10 production air vehicle was Alliance Ground Surveillance programme in 2005. The fi rst MQ-8B airframe was delivered handed over to the USAF in June 2006 with all April 2004. A German air force order for RQ- by Schweizer Aircraft to Northrop Grumman current and future production aircraft to be 4Bs is expected in late 2006 with those air in January 2006. The fi rst two MQ-8Bs are

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 53 Directory: unmanned air vehicles scheduled for delivery in November 2006. Full expected to see new tender process for dem- awarded to Oerlikon Contraves in September rate production orders for US Army aircraft are onstrations late this year with contract awards 2003 with deliveries made in the third quarter expected in 2008, with initial operational capa- in April 2007, leading to a demonstration in of 2005. Version incorporates larger fuel tanks bility aircraft to be fi elded from 2010. 2012. to provide increased range. Range and endurance information in techni- cal data supplied by Northrop Grumman com- NORTHROP GRUMMAN - IAI PATRIA pares maximum effective 272kg payload being Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, Patria Systems, Naulakatu 3, FI-33100, carried on same mission by three blade RQ-8A Unmanned Systems, PO Box 509066, San Tampere, Finland. Tel: +358 20 4691; fax: +358 and four blade RQ-8B versions. Diego, California 92150-9066, USA. Tel: +1 858 20 469 2690. www.patria.fl 618 4355; www.is.northropgrumman.com Killer Bee Israel Aircraft Industries, Malat Division, Ben Modular Airborne Sensor System Developmental flying wing system first Gurion International Airport, 70100 Israel. Tel: Small hand-launched UAV with design paral- unveiled June 2005 based on initial air vehicle +972 3 935 7349; fax: +972 3 935 4175; www.iai. lels with Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk, it was design from Swift Engineering of California. It com.il unveiled in June 2006 at the Eurosatory exhibi- is being developed as a multi-mission, joint- tion in Paris. It has a foam airframe with elec- service family of scalable size UAVs, and was Hunter/E-Hunter tric pusher propeller. Payload options include designed to provide surveillance and force pro- Interim US joint tactical UAV that has gone minaturised NBC detectors and sampling sys- tection for military bases, shipping lanes, bor- on to boast an impressive operational history tems. The system comprises one to three air ders or convoys. The vehicles were intended to in service with the US Army. The vehicle fi rst vehicles. The vehicle dismantles into eight pri- incorporate networking and swarming capa- fl ew in 1991. An automatic take-off and land- mary modules for transport and storage. bilities to allow for more sophisticated tacti- ing system was retrofi tted into US Army air- cal level operations. The variant is currently craft in 2002 and a number of air vehicles were PIASECKI being offered for US Marine Corps Tier-2 UAV deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Piasecki Aircraft, PO Box 360, Second Street requirement with downselect for that require- Freedom and upgraded in theatre in mid-2003 West, Essington, Pennsylvania 19029, USA. ment imminent. A demonstration was carried to partial E-Hunter standard to provide endur- Tel: +1 610 521 5700; fax: +1 610 521 5935; www. out for the US Air Force Battlelab at Creech ance of above 15h. piasecki.com AFB, Nevada, in March 2006 using 2.74m RQ-5A test fl ights with a heavy fuel engine (8.9ft) wingspan aircraft. Data is for KB-2 mid- were completed in July 2004 with implemen- Air Scout sized variant. tation on 40 air vehicles from October 2004. Tandem shrouded rotor short-range tactical A standard Hunter was used to support border UAV. The vehicle has a “fi lled” fi gure of eight X-47 surveillance demonstrations by US Department confi guration with a sensor turret mounted on UCAV demonstrator and prototype operational of Homeland Security between November 2004 a pylon rising vertically from the right hand UCAV programme. The X-47A, also designated and January 2005. The aircraft deployed to Iraq side of the vehicle (as seen from top down). Pegasus, was developed under former US Navy had recorded 8,000 operational fl ying hours The vehicle fl ight profi le is based on the DAPRA maritime UCAV feasibility demonstra- up until March 2005 and the fi rst fl ight of US constant hover mode design of the Piasecki tion programme. An X-47A demonstrator was Army aircraft modifi ed to full E-Hunter stand- PA-59KAir Geep. Development team members fi rst rolled out in February 2001 and made its ard took place in March 2005. The total number include Lockheed Martin System Integration maiden fl ight in February 2003. of aircraft delivered to the US Army through all Owego, Georgia Tech and Geneva Aerospace. The X-47B was developed as the Northrop orders was 62, with 35 remaining in service as Collision avoidance sensors are being devel- Grumman candidate for the former US Joint- at August 2005. Planned to be withdrawn from oped by Drexel University. Sole system short- Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) pro- operational service in 2009. listed by Boeing and SAIC for US Army Future gramme, now cancelled pending launch of Combat System Class II UAV requirement in the N-UCAS successor programme. The X-47B OERLIKON CONTRAVES - RUAG AEROSPACE July 2005, with system now in funded devel- development was launched in May 2003 with – ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES opment phases. Final selection for FCS remains a $160 million contract awarded from DARPA Oerlikon Contraves, Defence, Birchstrasse 155, dependent on comparative evaluation by US to build and demonstrate two X-47B confi gura- CH-8050 Zurich, Switzerland. Tel: +41 44 316 Army against DARPA funded candidates with tion air vehicles. A full-scale mock-up unveiled 2211; fax: +41 44 311 3154; www.rheinmetall- this to occur by 2008. No specifi cation data has for the fi rst time at the 2004 Farnborough air detec.de yet been released. show. A DARPA follow-on contract award worth Ruag Aerospace, PO Box 301, CH-6032 Emmen, $1 billion was announced in August 2006 to Switzerland. Tel: +41 412 684 121; fax: +41 412 Air Guardian design and develop three X-47B demonstrators, 682 024; www.ruag.com Autogyro UAV with demonstrator aircraft mak- mission control stations and common operat- ing fi rst fully autonomous fl ight, with Level 4 ing system components to meet USAF and USN Ranger control, on 12 July 2006. The fl ight-control sys- requirements by September 2009. Enhanced version of original Ranger tactical tem was jointly developed by Lockheed Martin Low-speed windtunnel testing involving system developed by IAI for Israeli defence System Integration Owego, Georgia Tech, and 750 test runs using a high-fi delity model was force use. Ordered by the Swiss armed forces Geneva Aerospace. completed in September 2004. An X-47B sys- in December 1995 with the prime contract The system was shortlisted for the US Army tem integration laboratory opened at Northrop awarded to a consortium headed by Oerlikon Future Combat System Class III tactical UAV Grumman’s San Diego facility on 15 October Contraves. Twenty-eight air vehicles were pro- requirement by Boeing and SAIC in July 2005 2004. Manufacture of the forward fuselage by duced by IAI, but modifi ed and integrated by as one of three designs to receive 10-month GKN Aerospace began in June 2005 and the Ruag. The system entered initial operational risk-reduction studies pending fi nal downselect fi nal assembly of lead aircraft under way at service with the Swiss air force in June 1999 and of one system to evaluate against DARPA can- Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California was formally accepted into service in December didate for acquisition phase system selection. facility when the programme was terminated 2001. Oerlikon Contraves was selected to sup- Current development and trials plans are in February 2006. Preliminary planning for the ply Ranger to the Finnish army in September based on near-term demonstration of Level 5 replacement US Navy N-UCAS programme is 1999. A follow-on Finnish army order was autonomous take-off and landing. No specifi -

54 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Zephyr Development solar and electrically powered high altitude long endurance UAV. It was originally developed between 2001 and 2003 as an orbiting camera system to record a proposed balloon-based manned altitude record attempt by Qinetiq. The vehicle secured UK Ministry of Defence interest with funding from 2004 to develop a demonstra- tor. The fi rst fl ight of the ground-launched HALE version took place at the Woomera test range in central Australia during 2004. Between seven and nine different confi gurations have been built to date, with the average wingspan measuring 16m (52ft) and an all-up air vehicle weight of below 30kg (66lb). A civil version, dubbed Mercator, was ordered by the Flemish Institute for Technological Research in June 2005 and the vehicle was ready for delivery as at July 2006. Two demonstrator fl ights took place at the US White Sands missile test range in New Mexico in December 2005. A follow-on fl ight of three aircraft at White Sands at the end of July 2006 set a type endurance record, with one UAV achieving 18h. The demonstration also included tests of the UAV in communication relay roles. Development work is continuing, with Proxy Aviation plans a new future for the Velocity Aircraft Velocity XL as a UAV plans to stage a three-month fl ight demonstration in 2008. cation data has yet been released. FCS Class III USN inventory as at August 2005 from total downselect was imminent as at August 2006. orders of 175, with the type expected to be RAFAEL withdrawn from service in 2010. Rafael Armament Development Authority, Missile PIONEER UAV Division, PO Box 2250 / 37 Haifa, 31021 Israel. Tel: 9 Schilling Road, Hunt Valley, Maryland 21030, PROXY +972 4 9908 558; fax: +972 4 9908 811; www.rafael. USA. Tel: +1 301 862 7707; www.puav.com Proxy Aviation Systems, Suite 250, 12850 co.il Middlebrook Road, Germantown, 20874 RQ-2C Pioneer Maryland, USA. Tel: +301 515 2799; fax: +301 SkyLite/Skylite B Standard US Marine Corps surveillance system 540 9356. www.proxyaviation.com Reuseable mini-UAV derived from design by for 17 years. Formerly in USN and US Army Bluebird UAV. The original design was based on service but now withdrawn. Pioneer UAV is a Skywatcher launch from a shoulder-mounted canister using joint venture between AAI and Israel Aircraft Development effort unveiled in June 2005 for a a small booster rocket with pop-out wings acti- Industries. USMC air vehicles were progres- multiple UAV surveillance system based on the vated once airborne. It was originally released in sively upgraded over their service lives, with Velocity Aircraft Velocity XL canard wing kit- July 2003 as the Skylark, but was renamed Skylite designation evolving through RQ-2A, 2B and plane rebuilt as an optionally piloted aircraft. in April 2004 due to marketplace confusion. It is current 2C version. The core concept is for up to 12 aircraft to designed for use in urban warfare environments Upgrades have included fi tting with auto- operate in a self-co-ordinating consetallation and complex terrain with severe restrictions on matic take-off and landing systems after an ini- providing airborne intelligence to a network of launch space. tial capability demonstration in January 1997 up to 20 ground nodes. The vehicle was offered for an Israeli army and re-engine programme from March 1997. A The programme is a self-funded development interim close-range UAV requirement in 2003, Pioneer improvement programme was funded effort with at least three UAVs built during but not selected. The Skylite B confi guration was in 2003 to sustain the system for the remainder 2006. A sponsored demonstration was carried unveiled in November 2005 and introduced a of the life of the type in USMC service up until out for the US Air Force Battlelab in November lightweight catapult launcher, parachute recovery, 2010. 2005 using two air vehicles. Development is improved ground control system and advanced A contract worth $6.8 million for production continuing. imagery processing tools. Air and canister launch of replacement ground control stations and concepts remain under consideration as potential new modular avionics systems was placed by QINETIQ future evolutions. the Pentagon in August 2005, with deliveries to Qinetiq, Cody Technology Park, Ively Road It is a candidate for a current Israeli army pla- be completed by July 2007. Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 OLX, UK. Tel: toon level requirement, with source selection due A total of 35 aircraft remain in the USMC/ +44 8700 100 942; www.Qinetiq.com in late 2006.

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56 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

RHEINMETALL DEFENCE ELECTRONICS developed by EADS. The airframe details are Research Configuration (SHARC) concept Rheinmetall Defence Electronics, Brueggeweg the same as for the KZO. Full-scale develop- technology demonstrator for future Swedish 54, Bremen D-28309, Germany. Tel: +49 421 457 ment began in 1997, but the programme unmanned combat air vehicle and high speed- 3670; fax: +49 421 457 4752; www.rheinmetall- slowed due to the re-evaluation of the techni- low observable tactical UAVs was launched in de.com cal requirement after the collapse of the former 1998. Soviet Union. Funding has been provided via the Swedish Carolo P70/T140 The development programme was suspended National Aeronautics Research Programme. Mini UAV under development as part of a by mutual agreement between the German Low-speed windtunnel testing of the basic family that also includes two micro-UAVs. It defence procurement agency BWB in August design began in March 1999 and the exisence was unveiled in February 2004 at the Asian 2003 to enable additional technical develop- of the programme was announced in September Aerospace exhibition in Singapore. The P70 ment activities to take place, based on slaving 2000. The vehicle was developed to commercial was fl ying as a remote system during the fi rst a pencil beam infrared imaging system to the certifi cation standards to assist development of half of 2004, with the development of a fully millimetric seeker and modifi cations to the a certifi cation regime that would enable UAVs autonomous guidance system under way. datalink to allow real-time operator involve- to operate in non-segregated airspace. ment in terminal mission phases. First fl ights of a 1/8th scale SHARC demon- KZO The programme was originally known as strator took place in early 2002 in the USA, with German army tactical surveillance UAV now Taifun, but was renamed Tares in 2005 to refl ect the air vehicle remotely controlled. The vehicle in series production and in operational service a changed operational concept. The techni- was publicly revealed in July 2002. Three fl ight since late 2004. It has an extensive develop- cal development programme and trials for a campaigns were conducted in total, with a sec- ment history, with the initial design jointly revised seeker head are continuing until late ond occurring in August 2004. This included developed as a French-German co-operative 2006. German army user trials are planned for the fi rst fully autonomous fl ight, including acquisition programme. However this was later 2007 and depending on the outcome, produc- take-off and landing. The fi nal campaign took terminated. The baseline version vehicle was tion is planned to begin in 2008 for an initial place in late 2004 and the air vehicle was then previously known as both Brevel and Tucan, operational capability in 2009. retired. Development work on autonomous with development jointly undertaken by The vehicle was offered for the UK Ministry navigation and fl ight control system was trans- Rheinmetall and the former Matra company. of Defence loitering munitions demonstra- ferred to the Filur programme. The initial fl ight trials of the German army tion requirement in September 2005 in a air vehicle took place in 1994. Pre-production teaming arrangement with Thales UK, but Tactical UAV systems were delivered to the German army in failed to be shortlisted. It is on offer for the US Proposed new-generation, multi-role tacti- 1998 to support evaluation campaign. The fi rst Army FCS Class III requirement by Teledyne cal UAV. Development plans were unveiled at fl ight of the production standard version took Brown Engineering under the designation of the Eurosatory exhibition in June 2004, with place in March 2004. A current production Thunder. initial concepts suggesting a new platform order is based on six systems, each comprising development effort. A formal project offi ce to 10 air vehicles, two ground control stations, SAAB AEROSYSTEMS oversee development was raised within Saab in two launchers and associated support equip- Saab, Aerosystems, SE-581 88 Linkoping, early 2004. Saab offi cials confi rmed at the 2006 ment. One system is being delivered every six Sweden. Tel: +46 13 18 00 00; www.saabaer- Farnborough air show that discussions were months up until mid-2007. osystems.com taking place with a variety of existing UAV Variants developed for potential German manufacturers about co-operation options that army service include the Mucke, fi tted with an FILUR would allow air vehicle development to be fast electronic countermeasures payload, and the The Flying Innovative Low-observable tracked by evolving an existing system. The Fledermaus, carrying electronic support meas- Unmanned Research (FILUR) air vehicle is a fi rst demonstration fl ight of a new demonstra- ures, but development has been suspended due reduced scale demonstrator to support devel- tor is proposed for 2007. to diffi culties with the EW payload capabilities. opment of next-generation Swedish manned The system is expected to form the basis of a The baseline KZO is on offer to Norway for its and unmanned combat air vehicles. Saab bid to replace the Swedish defence force’s army tactical UAV requirement and was fl ight Funding of $6.2 million was awarded in existing Sagem Ugglan (Sperwer) tactical UAV tested on Norwegian ranges in late 2003/early September 2003 to facilitate development. system from 2010. 2004. Initial development work was launched in 2001 with feasibility studies completed early 2003. V-150 Skeldar Prospector One fl ying wing demonstrator has been built to Short-range VTOL UAV system unveiled at the Modifi ed version of the KZO, with a heavy fuel date, with initial demonstrator radar cross sec- Eurosatory exhibition in Paris in June 2006. it engine, is currently on offer by Teledyne Brown tion testing completed in February 2005. is based on the CybAero Apid 55 airframe with Engineering for the US Army Future Combat The fi rst fl ight was carried out at Sweden’s the addition of streamlined fairing to improve System Class III. The bid plan was announced Vidsel test range on 10 October 2005, with a air handling, with new avionics derived from in November 2004. The system was shortlisted sortie lasting for 10min and with a demonstra- existing Saab autonomous systems develop- for the US Army Future Combat System Class tor-carrying vertical tail. A second fl ight cam- ment efforts and reuse of existing Saab UAV III tactical UAV requirement by Boeing and paign is in preparation with this to explore how ground station designs. SAIC in July 2005 as one of three designs to low-observable air vehicles can operate against The basic system would comprise two air receive 10-month risk-reduction studies pend- a networked surveillance environment, and vehicles and one ground control station. The ing the fi nal downselect of one system to evalu- how such an environment can defend against forecast cost of a production system is €3 mil- ate against the DARPA candidate for acquisition new-generation strike platforms. Three follow- lion per air vehicle. It is a candidate for an phase system selection. FCS Class III downselect on fl ight campaigns are planned as develop- anticipated Swedish army VTOL UAV require- is imminent as at August 2006. ment proceeds, with the tail to be removed in ment in the medium term. Sensor suite devel- the more advanced stages of the programme. opment includes plans for SIGINT capability. TARES This is expected to be explored from mid-2007. Attack version of the KZO guided by an SHARC Civil market applications are being pursued in advanced millimetric wave radar seeker head Development of the Swedish Highly Advanced parallel to military sector.

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 57 Directory: unmanned air vehicles

SAIC and by the French army in August 2001 as its maritime surveillance roles, with deliveries Science Applications International interim tactical UAV system (SDTI) to replace completed in 2002. Corporation, 10260 Campus Point Drive, San the Crecerelle systems in service since 1995. Diego, California 92121, USA. Tel: +1 858 826 Initial trial fl ights of the SDTI system were S-100 6000. www.saic.com conducted in December 2002 and continued Substantially upgraded version of Camcopter through 2003. SDTI deliveries to the French unveiled at IDEX 2005 and developed in a Vigilante army were completed in the second half of two-year co-operative programme funded Tactical VTOL UAV initially developed as a can- 2004 and it was declared fully operational in by the UAE Armed Forces UAV Research and didate for the USN’s VTUAV requirement (later the fi rst half of 2006 after initial problems with Technology Centre. A revised confi guration won by Northrop Grumman). The airframe is software. supports highly a streamlined skin with dash based on the UltraSport 496 sports helicopter. It was ordered by Greece in October 2001. speed of 100kt. The UAE version is known as An initial development contract award from Sperwer long endurance (LE) and high velocity Al Sber. First deliveries of demonstrator systems the US Navy’s Joint Programme Offi ce for (HV) variants were unveiled mid-2001, with the to the UAE Army were made in October 2005 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles worth $4.8 million LE version making its fi rst fl ight in December for acceptance trials, with full-rate production was announced in January 1998 to support 2001. The Netherlands awarded its air vehicles of a 40-system, 80 air vehicle fl eet expected demonstrations for VTUAV competition. Two airworthiness certifi cation in December 2002, to start in mid-2006 with composite aircraft versions are available – Model 496, an option- enabling operation in non-segregated air- skins and fi nal assembly to occur in the UAE. A ally piloted air vehicle, and the Model 502. It space. Studies of armed Sperwer variants were demonstration by the European NATO navy is was used as a testbed for two live-fi re demon- launched in early 2003 with weapon options planned for September 2006. strations of a 2.75in folding fi n rocket launch including modifi ed GIAT Bonus 155mm anti- from a hovering UAV at the US Army Yuma armour artillery rounds and Javelin anti-tank SINGAPORE TECHNOLOGIES AEROSPACE Proving Ground in December 2004. Payload missiles. Singapore Technologies Aerospace Ltd, 540 control for demonstrations is provided by A Canadian Army order worth C$27.5 mil- Airport Road, Paya Lebar – HQ, Singapore operator aboard a Bell UH-1N helicopter fl ying lion was placed via Oerlikon-Contraves of 539938. Tel: +65 6287 1111; fax: +65 6280 9713; in loose formation with the UAV. Canada in September 2003 with four air vehi- www.staero.aero cles, ground control systems and support infra- SAGEM DEFENCE structure delivered directly to Canadian opera- Fantail 3000/5000 Sagem Défense Sécurité Division, Le Ponant de tional units in Afghanistan. A second Canadian Mini-tail sitter UAV with centrally mounted Paris, 27 rue Leblanc, 75015 Paris, France Tel: order came in late 2003 for two additional air lift-fan in short depth duct. It is an evolution of + 33 1 40 70 63 63; fax: + 33 1 40 70 66 40. www. vehicles. A Greek order for two additional sys- the Lutronix MAV-3AS/GF and XQ-138 Helispy sagem-ds.com tems was announced June 2003. Canada nego- systems. The initial variant was launched on tiating the acquisition of Danish army ground to the market in early 2004, but suffered from Busard control stations as at August 2006 as part of noise and endurance problems. The larger, Optionally piloted MALE demonstrator based that nation’s retirement of its systems. revised Fantail 5000 version was unveiled at on the Stemme S10 glider airframe. A proto- the 2006 Asian Aerospace exhibition. type system is being developed in conjunction Sperwer B with the French research agency Onera under Evolved version of the Sperwer, originally desig- MAV -1 a French regional government-funded pro- nated Sperwer-LE, but now designated Sperwer One-third scale low-observable, high-speed gramme to explore potential civil UAV applica- B. The demonstrator made its fi rst fl ight in short-endurance surveillance UAV demonstra- tions of MALE technology and airspace integra- February 2004, and a revised confi guration was tor. It was unveiled at the 2004 Asian Aerospace tion issues. At least one demonstrator has been unveiled at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris air show with development work under way for built and was rolled out at the 2005 Paris air in June 2006. The airframe now incorporates some two years. It is intended for use in explor- show. This incorporated a surveillance sensor a double delta wing and canards, with satellite ing parameters of low-observable technologies suite derived from the Sagem Sperwer UAV and communications antenna on the roof of the in UAV design, with the potential to evolve mounted in a large underwing pod. The vehi- forward fuselage. An extensive fl ight testing into a small unmanned combat air vehicle cle would have an endurance of 20h in a UAV campaign was conducted in Finland in June acknowledged by the development team as a confi guration. 2006 to qualify system on a Robonic pneumatic factor driving the programme. The fi rst fl ight launcher, with further fl ights planned, again in is expected during the second quarter of 2004, Merlin Finland, in October 2006. but development was suspended after a failure Close-range, hand-launched system unveiled to secure international development partners. at the Eurosatory exhibition in June 2004. It SCHIEBEL was developed as a candidate for a French army Schiebel Elektronische Geraete GmbH, Skyblade series close- range competition (later won by EADS). Margaretenstrasse112, Vienna, A-1050, Austria. Close/short range system under development It is a twin fuselage, twin wing airframe in for- Tel: +43 1 546 2611; fax: +43 1 545 2339; www. for the Singaporean army. Its existence was ward and rear layout. The rear wing is semi- schiebel.net made public by the Singaporean ministry of swept. A pusher propeller is located between defence in April 2004. The prototype Skyblade the wings and fuselage with the engine on the Camcopter system was of conventional monoplane design forward wing. Short-range purpose-built UAV helicopter. It with electric propulsion. was extensively trialled by the US Air Force in The Skyblade II hand-launched close-range Sperwer 1998 as an airfi eld perimeter surveillance sys- system was unveiled in April 2005 and the Most successful European-developed tactical tem. It was tested by the US Army and German Singaporean army ordered four systems. Initial UAV in market penetration terms with six users. Federal Office of Defence Technology and deliveries began in January 2006. A variant Its launch order came from the Netherlands Procurement (BWB) as an airborne mine detec- included signifi cant airframe redesign and is army in November 1995 and it was ordered tion platform. A maritime demonstration for gasoline powered with a large underslung sen- by Sweden in June 1997 under the designa- the US Coast Guard was performed in 2000. It sor pod. tion Ugglan, by Denmark in February 1999, was ordered by the Egyptian navy to perform The Skyblade III is an all-electric system and

58 22-28 AUGUST 2006 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL www.fl ightglobal.com Directory: unmanned air vehicles

Vought continues to develop its Kingfi sher II concept was unveiled at the Asian Aerospace air show Geneva Aerospace as a future technology can- East Asia and Australia. in Singapore in February 2006. The shift in didate for the USN Littoral Combat Ship pro- Some sales into academic research sec- propulsion systems has allowed for extensive gramme. Potential applications include surveil- tor for use in other UAV development pro- redesign of the fuselage, including removal of lance and reconnaissance, sensor placement, grammes have been made. the large underslung sensor pod. special operations support, and deployment The RMAX Type II is used as testbed for The Skyblade IV, also unveiled at Asian platform for autonomous underwater vehicles. autonomous navigation research by the Aerospace 2006, is a signifi cantly larger air A DARPA funding award of $497,000 in March University of Linkoping, Sweden, as part of vehicle in the short-range tactical class with a 2005 was made to demonstrate autonomous the Saab SHARC UCAV development pro- maximum take-off weight of 50kg, including water take-off and landings over a nine-month gramme. Northrop Grumman had acquired a 12kg payload. The airframe is conceptually period using Geneva Aerospace Dakota UAV at least one RMAX as a testbed for helicopter similar to the EMIT Aviation Sparrow UAV and modifi ed with pontoons as a surrogate. UAV concept research with that aircraft fl y- like that system, uses catapult launch and a ing at least 60 missions up until November combined parachute and airbag recovery sys- YAMAHA 2004 in support of the former US Army tem. Full air vehicle development is planned to Yamaha Motor Company, Aeronautic Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft be completed by the end of 2006. Operations, 2500 Shingai, Iwata-shi, Shizuoka- project. ken, 438-8501, Japan. Tel: +81 538 32 1170; fax: The Georgia Institute of Technology VOUGHT +81 538 37 4259; www.yamaha-motor.co.jp announced in February 2005 that it had Vought Aircraft Industries, 9314 West Jefferson fl own a modifi ed RMAX fi tted with an inte- Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75211, USA. Tel: +1 RMX Type II/Type II G grated autonomous navigation suite that 972-946-2011; www.voughtaircraft.com Third-generation agricultural UAVs in large- included fl ight-control fault identifi cation, scale series production. The RMAX Type II G adaptive control and agile manoeuvring Kingfi sher II was introduced into the marketplace in March capabilities. The Georgia Tech team includes Seaplane confi guration tactical UAV concept 2003 with the air vehicle incorporating GPS Draper Laboratories, Honeywell and Boeing made public at the Unmanned Systems North navigation and improved ground control sta- with funding from DARPA. Research into America exhibition in August 2004 along with tion designed to reduce operator workload. co-operative UAV and unmanned land and proposals for a conventional wheeled undercar- Type IIG has a minor payload increase. maritime systems was announced by Yamaha riage version designated Desert Owl. Japanese domestic farmers form the main in June 2005 but no subsequent statements Initial discussions with Lockheed Martin market, but emphasis is increasing on the have been made. about co-operative development took place development of exports with the establish- FOR MORE DETAILED TECHNICAL DATA ON in mid-2004. The Kingfi sher II is currently ment of subsidiary operations in the USA and ALL OF THE UAVS IN THIS DIRECTORY, VISIT being proposed by Vought in conjunction with the launch of a marketing campaign in South- FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM/UAVDIRECTORY

www.fl ightglobal.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 22-28 AUGUST 2006 59