DOCSLIB.ORG

Drones 15 February 2019

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

Thematic Research: Technology GDTMT-TR-S206 Drones 15 February 2019 Drones are on their way Unmanned aerial vehicles – UAVs or, more commonly, drones – have been Inside a regular feature in military applications, especially surveillance, for some . Players time. However, over the past three to four years, the rapid proliferation of . Trends consumer electronics, the emergence of cloud technologies, the declining . Industry analysis cost of server and bandwidth usage, the improving price-to-performance . Value chain ratio of hardware components, and a dramatic rise in demand for a “bird’s- . Companies section eye” view of the earth have steadily opened up the market for the civilian use . Technology briefing of drones both as recreational devices, and in commercial applications. Glossary Drones will find a place at the heart of the IoT ecosystem The ongoing development of the Internet of Things (IoT) combined with rising demand for drones among enthusiasts and enterprises – in addition to military organizations – is driving innovation in, and adoption of, drone technology. As the capabilities of drone technology improve on one hand, while the cost declines on the other, drones will become increasingly ubiquitous – playing an important role in the burgeoning IoT ecosystem. Drone adoption is being held back by regulation The enthusiastic adoption of drone technology by both individuals and enterprises faces regulatory barriers in many countries, driven by a combination of security and safety concerns. However, compelled by industrial demand, several governments are gradually undertaking regulatory reforms relating to the use of drones in commercial airspaces. This, in turn, is fueling investment for technological improvements and business prospects. As regulations mature, drones as a service (DaaS) providers are poised to take advantage of opportunities to offer industry-specific solutions, with interest in drone adoption growing in a number of key domains including drone delivery, drone-based internet services, disaster response, and medical assistance. As adoption grows, the market is becoming increasingly intense and competitive, with several leaders already emerging. Who is at the forefront in the drones industry? DJI is the dominant force in the civilian drones sector, both in commercial and consumer markets. The nearest competitors to DJI include Parrot and Yuneec, which are driving technological improvements to their offerings, but are struggling to compete with DJI’s aggressive pricing strategies. Report type In the government sector, General Atomics and Northrop Grumman are well . Single theme positioned, with Aviation Corporation of China (AVIC) progressing steadily . Multi-theme worldwide. Aerovironment, Elbit Systems and Insitu (Boeing) are also key . Sector Scorecard players competing in both the civilian and government sectors. [email protected] www.globaldata.com +44 (0) 207 406 6764 © GlobalData 2018 This document is authorized for use only by [email protected]. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Please contact your Account Manager or Client Services team for additional copies. GDTMT-TR-S206 Drones 15 February 2019 Contents PLAYERS ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3 TRENDS ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 Technology trends ............................................................................................................................................4 Macroeconomic trends .....................................................................................................................................7 Regulatory trends .......................................................................................................................................... 10 INDUSTRY ANALYSIS ......................................................................................................................................................................14 Market size and growth forecasts ................................................................................................................. 14 Competitive analysis ..................................................................................................................................... 17 Timeline ......................................................................................................................................................... 18 VALUE CHAIN ....................................................................................................................................................................................19 The hardware layer is a fundamental component in the drone value chain ................................................. 20 The software layer is getting increasingly crowded ...................................................................................... 21 DaaS providers are the new entrants in the industry .................................................................................... 22 COMPANIES SECTION .....................................................................................................................................................................23 Public companies .......................................................................................................................................... 23 Private companies ......................................................................................................................................... 28 TECHNOLOGY BRIEFING ...............................................................................................................................................................30 Anatomy of a drone ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Key technologies within a drone ................................................................................................................... 32 GLOSSARY ...........................................................................................................................................................................................37 APPENDIX: OUR “THEMATIC” RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 38 www.globaldata.com 2 This document is authorized for use only by [email protected]. Copying or posting is an infringement of copyright. Please contact your Account Manager or Client Services team for additional copies. GDTMT-TR-S206 Drones 15 February 2019 Players The government sector (including the military) is the primary market for drones, followed by the consumer segment. Commercial applications of drones are gradually increasing, and many enterprises are seeking regulatory permits for full-scale deployment of drones in their day-to-day operations. This optimistic outlook for drones is driving intense competition in the market with many companies, both established players and start- ups, vying for a share in a market that is set to enjoy strong growth over the next five years Technology giants such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Intel and Facebook are strengthening their focus on drone technologies as they look to cash in on the potential for drones to drive the transformation of traditional industrial operational systems and pave the way for Industry 4.0. The chart below identifies some of the leaders and challengers in the drones industry. Who are the big players in the drones industry by end user market? DJI is the most dominant player in the commercial and consumer drones industry, while General Atomics and AVIC command strong positions in the government segment. Drones market by Leaders Challengers end user Northrop Grumman Boeing AeroVironment CASC General Atomics Textron Elbit Systems Raytheon Military Aviation Industry Israel Aerospace Corporation of China Lockheed Martin BAE Systems Industries Government (AVIC) AeroVironment DJI General Atomics Northrop Grumman Homeland Security Insitu (Boeing) Schiebel InstantEye Lockheed Martin Elbit Systems Yuneec Aeryon Labs DJI Autel Robotics CyberHawk Kespry General purpose Parrot PrecisionHawk Aeryon Labs AgEagle Yuneec Measure Flytrex Ehang Trimble AeroVironment Intel Amazon Precision Agriculture DJI PrecisionHawk Timble AGCO SenseFly (Parrot) HoneyComb AgEagle enRoute AeroVironment Yamaha Delair-Tech Drone Volt Construction & Real DJI Trimble Aeryon Labs Yuneec Parrot Kespry Skycatch* PrecisionHawk Mining/Oil & Gas Lockheed Martin SenseFly (Parrot) Aeryon Labs Sky Future AeroVironment PrecisionHawk DJI Intel Commercial Meteorology & Northrop Grumman DJI Insitu (Boeing) Environment General Atomics SenseFly (Parrot) AeroVironment Power & Utilities SenseFly (Parrot) Trimble Delair-Tech CyberHawk PrecisionHawk AeroVironment Measure PrecisionHawk Betterview 3D Robotics Dronebase Insurance DJI Coverge Measure Airbus AeroVironment DroneDeploy Kespry Genpact DJI PrecisionHawk Autel Robotics Halo Media & Entertainment Yuneec Trimble Aerial MOB Revell SenseFly (Parrot) Aeryon Labs Hubsan 3D Robotics Amazon Flirtey FedEx Walmart Delivery & Logistics Google
Recommended publications
  • The Arms Industry and Increasingly Autonomous Weapons

    The Arms Industry and Increasingly Autonomous Weapons

    Slippery Slope The arms industry and increasingly autonomous weapons www.paxforpeace.nl Reprogramming War This report is part of a PAX research project on the development of lethal autonomous weapons. These weapons, which would be able to kill people without any direct human involvement, are highly controversial. Many experts warn that they would violate fundamental legal and ethical principles and would be a destabilising threat to international peace and security. In a series of four reports, PAX analyses the actors that could potentially be involved in the development of these weapons. Each report looks at a different group of actors, namely states, the tech sector, the arms industry, and universities and research institutes. The present report focuses on the arms industry. Its goal is to inform the ongoing debate with facts about current developments within the defence sector. It is the responsibility of companies to be mindful of the potential applications of certain new technologies and the possible negative effects when applied to weapon systems. They must also clearly articulate where they draw the line to ensure that humans keep control over the use of force by weapon systems. If you have any questions regarding this project, please contact Daan Kayser ([email protected]). Colophon November 2019 ISBN: 978-94-92487-46-9 NUR: 689 PAX/2019/14 Author: Frank Slijper Thanks to: Alice Beck, Maaike Beenes and Daan Kayser Cover illustration: Kran Kanthawong Graphic design: Het IJzeren Gordijn © PAX This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/4.0/deed.en We encourage people to share this information widely and ask that it be correctly cited when shared.
  • Base Defence Demonstration at Trident Juncture 2018 - TACT Unmanned Systems for Base and Force Protection

    Base Defence Demonstration at Trident Juncture 2018 - TACT Unmanned Systems for Base and Force Protection

    FFI-RAPPORT 19/00807 Base defence demonstration at Trident Juncture 2018 - TACT unmanned systems for base and force protection Kim Mathiassen Jens Inge Hyndøy Einar Østevold Sigmund Valaker Tone Danielsen Magnus Baksaas Lars Erik Olsen Marius Thoresen Else-Line Ruud Jarle Selvåg Jarle Sandrib Base defence demonstration at Trident Juncture 2018 – TACT unmanned systems for base and force protection Kim Mathiassen Jens Inge Hyndøy Einar Østevold Sigmund Valaker Tone Danielsen Magnus Baksaas Lars Erik Olsen Marius Thoresen Else-Line Ruud Jarle Selvåg Jarle Sandrib Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) 16 September 2019 FFI-RAPPORT 19/00807 1 Keywords Baseforsvar Soldatsystemer Ubemannede bakkekjøretøyer (UGV) Ubemannede luftfarkoster (UAV) Ubemannede overflatefartøyer (USV) Våpensystemer FFI-rapport 19/00807 Prosjektnummer 1371, 1463, 1382 ISBN P: 978-82-464-3174-1 E: 978-82-464-3175-8 Approvers Lorns Bakstad, Research Manager Halvor Ajer, Director of Research The document is electronically approved and therefore has no handwritten signature. Copyright © Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI). The publication may be freely cited where the source is acknowledged. 2 FFI-RAPPORT 19/00807 Summary Trident Juncture 2018 (TRJE18) was a high-profile military exercise held in Norway in the fall of 2018. The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) had a large demonstration venue close to Værnes airport together with NATO Allied Command Transformations (ACT). This report accounts for the base defence demonstration, which was a part of the venue. The demonstration was a Transformational Activity (TACT) under NATO ACT in the exercise. The demonstration showed a base defence concept using unmanned systems, where sensors and effectors were connected by a network to provide improved situational awareness and decrease the time from a threat is discovered to one is able to act upon or attack the threat.
  • Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: a Comprehensive Approach

    Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: a Comprehensive Approach

    Designing Unmanned Aircraft Systems: A Comprehensive Approach Jay Gundlach Aurora Flight Sciences Manassas, Virginia AIAA EDUCATION SERIES Joseph A. Schetz, Editor-in-Chief Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg, Virginia Published by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. 1801 Alexander Bell Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191-4344 NOMENCLATURE Item Definition A area; availability; ground area covered in a mission; radar antenna area, m2; conversion between radians and minutes of arc Aa achieved availability Abound bounded area for a closed section 2 Ad IR detector sensitive area, m 2 Aeff effective antenna area, length Ai inherent availability AO operational availability; UA availability 2 Ap propeller disk area, length ARate area coverage rate Ar effective collection area of optical receiver ASurf surface area AR aspect ratio ARWet wetted aspect ratio AR0 aspect ratio along spanwise path a UA acceleration; maximum fuselage cross-section width; speed of sound; detector characteristic dimension awa radar mainlobe width metric awr radar mainlobe width metric ax acceleration along the x direction (acceleration) B acuity gain due to binoculars; boom area; effective noise bandwidth of receiving process, Hz 21 BDoppler Doppler bandwidth (time ) BN effective noise bandwidth of the receiving process 21 BT radar signal bandwidth (time ) BSFCSL brake specific fuel consumption at sea level b web length; wing span; maximum fuselage cross- section height bw wing span b0 span without dihedral C cost of contractor
  • The International Forum for the Military

    The International Forum for the Military

    a 7.90 D 14974 E D European & Security ES & Defence 3/2018 International Security and Defence Journal ISSN 1617-7983 • www.euro-sd.com • April 2018 Regional Focus: The Black Sea Close Air Support Danish Turnaround Force Multipliers The new Defence Agreement suggests additional Combat drones have entered service in several funding for the armed forces. European armed forces. Politics · Armed Forces · Procurement · Technology MQ-9B SkyGuardian DESIGNED FOR EUROPEAN AIRSPACE • Sovereign capability and NATO interoperability • 40+ hours endurance • Modular payloads up to 2,177 kilograms • Enables European Basing Options • From a family of UAS with more than 5 million flight hours Multi Role - Single Solution www.ga-asi.com ©2018 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. Leading The Situational Awareness Revolution 1804_European Security and Defence (Apr)_v2_Engl.indd 1 4/5/2018 3:20:47 PM Editorial Following the Yellow BRIC Road A lot of water has flowed under the bridge make sure that both sides reach a balanced since the world, and not least the world’s resolution as to the “type” of Brexit we will defence industry, looked to Brazil, Russia, all enjoy. “Hard” or “soft” there will be peo- India and China as its economic saviours. ­­ ple who think they have won, and people The world still seeks truth and certainty who think they have lost. The fact remains in frightening and inconstant times, but it that the Brexit vote was never a vote against appears to us as interested but clearly un- Europe, but was a vote primarily against Brus- informed observers that our political elites sels, spiced with a reaction against German- engender hopelessness and disillusion: our driven refugee policies.
  • Unmanned Ambitions

    Unmanned Ambitions

    Unmanned Ambitions Security implications of growing proliferation in emerging military drone markets www.paxforpeace.nl Colophon juli 2018 PAX means peace. Together with people in conflict areas and concerned citizens worldwide, PAX works to build just and peaceful societies across the globe. PAX brings together people who have the courage to stand for peace. Everyone who believes in peace can contribute. We believe that all these steps, whether small or large, inevitably lead to the greater sum of peace. If you have questions, remarks or comments on this report you can send them to [email protected] See also www.paxforpeace.nl Authors Wim Zwijnenburg and Foeke Postma Editor Elke Schwarz Cover photo 13 Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 UAVs lined up in formation on a runway in 2017, © Bayhaluk / Wiki media Commmons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Graphic design Frans van der Vleuten Contact [email protected] We are grateful for the help and support of Dan Gettinger, Arthur Michel Holland, Alies Jansen, Frank Slijper, Elke Schwarz, and Rachel Stohl. Armament Research Services (ARES) was commissioned to provide technical content for this report. ARES is an apolitical research organisation supporting a range of governmental, inter-governmental, and non-governmental entities (www.armamentresearch.com) This report was made with the financial support of the Open Society Foundations. 2 PAX ♦ Unmanned Ambitions Contents 1. Executive Summary 4 2. Introduction 6 2.1 Dangerous Developments 6 2.2 Structure 7 3. Drone Capabilities and Markets 8 3.1 Expanding markets 9 3.2 Military market 10 4. Military Drone Developments 13 4.1 Drones on the battlefield 15 4.2 Loitering munitions 16 4.3 Other uses 16 5.
  • Air University Review: September-October 1973, Volume

    Air University Review: September-October 1973, Volume

    AIR U N I V E R S IT V PROFESSIONAl JOURNAlrcificw Of THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE T H E T he Threat, F oreicn Policy, and Cost Control: P.ARAMETERS FOR F o RCE P l ANNINC................................................................................................... 2 Col. Edward Stellini, USAF Keyn o t e of the 1970s: Joint Ven t c r es lnto Spa c e ................................................................16 Phillip O. Davis William G. Holder Air Force Review Swords, P lowsh.ares, .and Procress....................................................................................... 3 0 Lt. Gen. Kenneth W. Schultz, USAF D rone Remo t el y Pil o t e d Veh icl es and Aer ospac e Power...............................................44 Lt. Col. E. J. Kellerstrass, USAF SuPERSONIC D e LIVERY OF CoNVENTIONAL W ea PONS—F a CT OR F a NCY?.................................. 55 Charles S. Epstein Ner ve Cen t er for Spa c e Defen se...................................................................................................... 66 Maj. Sainuel C. Beainer, USAF In My Opinion T he Unit Co mma n der and the Bureaucracy............................................................... 63 Lt. Col. Arthur C. Mussman, USAF T he Nixo n Doctrine—a New Era in Foreign Policy? ...............................................89 Maj. H. A. Staley, USAF Books and Ideas W here There’s P.ain Theres Hope: M il it a r y Pr o fessio n a l ism in the Dock .......................................................................................................93
  • Tango 22, Tango 22

    Tango 22, Tango 22

    1/2020 Tango 22, Tango 22 – this is TANGO 21, OVER Tactical training of Czech soldiers in Afghanistan continues even in time of their deployment in a foreign operation The military will receive eight UH-1Y Venom multipurpose helicopters and four AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters New helicopters in 2023 Both new helicopters are part of the H-1 series. Their advantage is in the mutual conformity of up to 85% of identical components, so from the service point of view it is an ideal solution. The UH-1Y Venom and the AH-1Z Viper form the backbone of the US Marine Corps helicopter fleet. These are modern, proven aircraft. The Czech Republic will acquire them for 14.6 billion crowns by 2023, on the basis of an intergovernmental agreement with the USA. The price for helicopters is in the amount of UH-1Y Venom guns, calibre 7.62 mm, and GAU16/A, calibre 14.6 billion CZK without VAT and agrees with The UH-1Y can operate in the most demanding 12.7 mm, or with 7.62 mm GAU17/A rotary how much the US Army would pay for them. climatic conditions, from arctic cold to desert machine guns. It can very effectively eliminate Not only the helicopters by themselves are heat. In the front of the cockpit sits two pilots, ground targets even with unguided air-to- included in the price, but also equipment and side by side. At the rear of the cab, there is surface missiles Hydra 70, or missiles with ammunition, spare parts, training simulator space for transporting passengers or materiel.
  • Aerospace Propulsion

    Aerospace Propulsion

    Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Propulsion by Sean Brown A PROJECT submitted to Oregon State University University Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Honors Associate) Presented February 27th, 2015 Commencement June 2015 2 4 ©Copyright by Sean Brown February 27th, 2015 All Rights Reserved 5 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Propulsion by Sean Brown A PROJECT submitted to Oregon State University University Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Honors Baccalaureate of Science in Mechanical Engineering (Honors Associate) Presented February 27th, 2015 Commencement June 2015 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. 8 1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 12 2 Propulsion Systems ................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Piston-Propeller.............................................................................................................. 12 2.2 Gas turbine ..................................................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Turbojets ................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Turboprops
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Uninhabited Combat Aerial Vehicles

    Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Uninhabited Combat Aerial Vehicles

    Defense Science Board Study on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Uninhabited Combat Aerial Vehicles February 2004 Office of the Under Secretary of Defense For Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics Washington, D.C. 20301-3140 This report is a product of the Defense Science Board (DSB). The DSB is a Federal Advisory Committee established to provide independent advice to the Secretary of Defense. Statements, opinions, conclusions and recommendations in this report do not necessarily represent the official position of the Department of Defense. This report is UNCLASSIFIED. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE 3140 DEFENSE PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC 20301-3140 DEFENSE SCIENCE BOARD MEMORANDUM FOR THE ACTING UNDERSECRETARYOF DEFENSE (ACQillSmON, TECHNOLOGY AND LOGISTICS) SUBJEcr: Reportof the DefenseScience Board Task Force on UnmannedAerial Vehicles and UninhabitedCombat Aerial Vehicles I am pleasedto forward the final report of the DSB Task Force on UnmannedAerial Vehicles (UA V) and UninhabitedCombat Aerial Vehicles (UCA V). This Task Force was tasked to evaluatethe current statusof the UA Vs and UCA Vs and provide recommendationson how to betterintegrate UA Vs and UCA Vs into the force structure. The Task Force concludedit is time for the Departmentof Defenseand the Services move forward and makeUA Vs and UCA Vs an integral part of the force structure,not an "additional asset". To do so requiresappropriate planning, appropriate budgeting, and continuedmanagement attention from the Departmentof Defenseand Serviceleadership. The Task Force's findings and recommendationsfall into eight subjectareas: Introduction of UA Vs into the force structure VA V unit productioncosts UA V mishaprates Communicationsconstraints UA V interoperability and mission management Integrationof UA Vs into national airspace Focustechnology investments Reductionof UA V combatvulnerability I endorseall of the recommendationsof the Task Force and proposethat you review the Task Force Co-Chainnen's letter and the report.
  • Drone Flight and Failure: the United States’ Secret Trials, Experiments and Operations in Unmanning, 1936-1973

    Drone Flight and Failure: the United States’ Secret Trials, Experiments and Operations in Unmanning, 1936-1973

    Drone Flight and Failure: the United States’ Secret Trials, Experiments and Operations in Unmanning, 1936-1973 By Katherine Fehr Chandler A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and the Designated Emphasis in New Media in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in Charge: Professor David Bates, Co-Chair Professor Charis Thompson, Co-Chair Professor Samera Esmeir Professor Jake Kosek Spring 2014 Drone Flight and Failure: the United States’ Secret Trials, Experiments and Operations in Unmanning, 1936-1973 ©2014 by Katherine Fehr Chandler Abstract Drone Flight and Failure: the United States’ Secret Trials, Experiments and Operations in Unmanning, 1936-1973 by Katherine Fehr Chandler Doctor of Philosophy in Rhetoric and the Designated Emphasis in New Media University of California, Berkeley Professor David Bates, Co-Chair Professor Charis Thompson, Co-Chair I examine the precursors to contemporary unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAVs) to ask what is at stake in the designation “unmanned?” The apparent misnomer dissociates technologies and humans, occluding how international interventions, including surveillance, military support, signals intelligence, and targeted killing, are carried out through actions networked between humans and nonhumans. I use a genealogical approach to address how tensions and contradictions articulated by unmanning emerge, using the development, operation and failure of unmanned systems to complicate divisions between human and nonhuman; “us” and the enemy; immersion and distance; military and industry; and above and below. I identify two phases in the development of remote controlled and unmanned aircraft in the United States: targeting and reconnaissance.
  • Canada Aviation and Space Museum Aircraft

    Canada Aviation and Space Museum Aircraft

    CANADA AVIATION AND SPACE MUSEUM AIRCRAFT RYAN KDA-4 FIREBEE DRONE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE SERIAL KD-4788 INTRODUCTION The Ryan Firebee began as a series of target drones (now more commonly referred to as unmanned aerial vehicles or UAVs) 1 developed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company (later Teledyne Ryan), beginning in 1951. It was one of the first jet-propelled drones, and, eventually, one of the most successful and widely used target drones ever built. Generally referred to as the Firebee I, the initial versions possessed high subsonic speed, and were primarily intended for use in ground-to-air and air-to-air gunnery training. Later versions were developed into reconnaissance vehicles, as well as into attack and multi-mission platforms. More than 7,000 Firebee vehicles were built, with many variants being introduced. A Ryan publicity photo illustrating the first customers for the Ryan Firebee: the United States Air Force, the United States Navy, the United States Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force. - (Ryan Aeronautical Company Photo) The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) became one of the first customers for the Firebee intending the target drone to be used in particular for the planned weapons testing and training on the Avro Canada CF-105 Arrow fighter program. The Firebee has the distinction of being the first UAV in the RCAF. Cover Photo Caption - The Ryan Firebee was launched from a modified Lancaster bomber in RCAF service. - (RCAF Photo) 1 / 22 ______________________________________________________________________ FIREBEE DESIGN HISTORY 2 Q-2 / KDA-1 Firebee The Firebee was the result of a 1946 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) request for a jet-powered gunnery target.
  • RPV DRONES Make the Difference by Hank Basham

    RPV DRONES Make the Difference by Hank Basham

    RPV's Make the Difference by Hank Basham Air University Review, January-February 1974 Document created: 19 September 03 What will the fighter pilot s chances be when that bird out there is the real thing, a MIG-21 . or a supersonic bomber making a run toward targets within the United States . or some other modern jet making an attack? If he is a pilot of the Aerospace Defense Command, his chances will be good because he has experience resulting from weapons firing training and evaluation against remotely piloted vehicles (RPV) at the Air Defense Weapons Center. RPV's have been around a long time, down along the northwest Florida Gulf Coast area at Tyndall Air Force Base. Here the Teledyne Ryan Firebee jet has been in operation as the prime target for pilots sharpening their air defense skills. Because this remotely piloted vehicle is the nearest thing to a hostile aircraft, pilots who train against the Firebee will have a better chance against an actual attack. Not just a clay pigeon, this bird is a real jet aircraft. It flies like one. It maneuvers like one. Returning combat pilots confirm they must train against a maneuvering jet to be really prepared. Those pilots who train at the Air Defense Weapons Center will know just what to expect when the chips are down. They'll know because they have flown against, fired against, and scored against an RPV that strongly simulated an aircraft being flown by an enemy pilot. It was seventeen years ago when the Firebee entered the air defense picture at Tyndall Air Force Base, home of the Air Defense Weapons Center, and every pilot within the Aerospace Defense Command has at one time or another pitted his skill against the elusive high-speed and high- flying target.