Capability and Beyond Future Enhancements for Next-Generation UAS

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Volume 16 Number 4 August/September 2011

Capability and beyond Future enhancements for next-generation UAS

NO MORE MODULAR THE LIGHTER DISMOUNTS? MINIATURES SIDE UGVs for force protection The demand for SUAS ISR aerostats in focus www.UVonline.com UV_AugSep11_IFC.indd 2 01/08/2011 09:13:18 UV_AugSep11_p01_Contents:Layout 1 1/8/11 09:35 Page 1

CONTENTS

Editor 3 Editorial comment Darren Lake. [email protected] Industry is becoming increasingly frustrated with the +44 1753 727022 lack of regular access to civilian airspace. Darren Lake Deputy Editor Andrew White. [email protected] outlines the hurdles to finding a short-term solution. +44 1753 727023 North America Editor News analysis Scott R Gourley. [email protected] Editorial Assistant 4 SMSS to deploy to Afghanistan Beth Stevenson. [email protected] A review of some of the latest developments from Contributors around the unmanned systems industry. Claire Apthorp, Gordon Arthur, Adam Baddeley, Pieter Bastiaans, Angus Batey, Rahul Bedi, 11 The burden of proof 40 The Air Mule cometh Peter Donaldson, Denis Fedutinov, José Higuera, William F Owen, Continuing Unmanned Vehicles’ series on opening As developers struggle to convince military Richard Scott, Tom Withington up civil airspace to UAVs, Angus Batey reports on customers of new applications for unmanned aircraft, Production Department Manager David Hurst. [email protected] the complexities and challenges currently being Andrew White and William F Owen discover how an Sub-editor faced in the US. Israeli company is developing a twin-fan design to Adam Wakeling. [email protected] solve some of the current problems surrounding Head of Advertising Sales 16 Tomorrow’s world VTOL UAVs. Mike Wild. [email protected] +44 1753 727007 As industry works on the next generation of CEO UAS, end users can look forward to a much 42 No more dismounts? Alexander Giles greater range of capabilities, finds Darren Lake. The British armed forces are learning lessons about Chairman Nick Prest how unmanned systems can be used in the force Subscriptions 21 Modular miniatures protection role, reports Andrew White. Annual rate £65 Tel: +44 1858 438879, Fax: +44 1858 461739 Despite defence budget cutbacks, small UAS [email protected] www.subscription.co.uk/shephard manufacturers are confident that their products 46 The lighter side Unmanned Vehicles is published six times will remain in demand, reports Beth Stevenson. Aerostats have proven themselves as the unblinking per year – in February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, eyes of the battlefield, and now industry is October/November and December/January – by 30 Meeting the demand developing them further, Claire Apthorp discovers. The Shephard Press Ltd, 268 Bath Road, Slough, Berks, SL1 4DX. As the changing nature of the country’s military The 2011 US Institutional subscription price 51 Replicating the threat is £65. Air freight and mailing in the USA by operations calls for a reassessment of service fleets, agent named Air Business, Scott R Gourley discusses the latest tactical UAS After several false starts, the USN has selected c/o Priority Airfreight NY Ltd, 147-29 182nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11413. Periodical postage developments in the US. CEi’s BQM-167X to meet its requirement for a new paid at Jamaica, NY 11431. US Postmaster: Send address changes to Air Business subsonic sea-skimming missile surrogate, Richard Ltd/Priority Airfreight NY Ltd, 147-29 182nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11413. 35 Shrinking sensors Scott reports. Subscription records are maintained at CDS Global, Tower House, Lathkill Street, The miniaturisation of radar is expanding the Sovereign Park, Market Harborough, Leicestershire, LE16 9EF, UK. capabilities of smaller UAVs, reports Peter Donaldson. 56 Interview Air Business Ltd is acting as mailing agent. Darren Lake talks to Frank Pace, president of Articles contained in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the Front cover: The X-47B UCAS-D is one of a number of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, about his written permission of the publishers. promising new-generation UAVs in testing or under development. frustrations regarding export sales and the current © The Shephard Press Ltd, 2011. (Photo: Northrop Grumman) ISSN 1351-3478 lack of civil airspace integration. DTP Vivid Associates, Sutton, Surrey, UK Print Williams Press, Maidenhead, Berks, UK Subscriptions Shephard’s aerospace & defence publishing portfolio incorporates six titles; Defence Helicopter, Digital Battlespace, Land Warfare International, Military Logistics International, RotorHub and Unmanned Vehicles. The Shephard Press Ltd, Published bi-monthly, each have become respected and renowned for 268 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4DX covering global issues within their respective industry sector. Tel: +44 1753 727001 For more information, including editorial content in the current issues visit; Fax: +44 1753 727002 shephard.co.uk/magazines.

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EDITORIAL COMMENT

No change in sight

As the biggest annual gathering of the on board their aircraft in order to continue to unmanned systems community in North fly and be more integrated into the airspace. America rolls around once again, it is a good That may be difficult for some – nobody time to take the temperature of the industry likes their hobby to become more expensive. on one of the most important issues – However, there is surely a safety and airspace access. responsibility case that could be made. If What is clear to Unmanned Vehicles is the FAA’s remit is to make airspace safer, that there is an increasing level of frustration then asking GA users to meet more stringent regarding the slow pace of change. Regular safety requirements should not be an issue. access to airspace continues to be off the Yet, this does not seem to be the line that cards for the unmanned community, is being taken by the authority. UAS are still despite years of discussion with regulators. seen as being inherently dangerous (despite Currently, and despite good work by millions of successful flight hours by various the industry association AUVSI, the Federal types) in a way that GA is not. Aviation Administration (FAA) will only begin UV is reminded of a comment made in this tackling the issues in the 2018 timeframe. publication by a great unmanned aviation That is far too slow for some industry leaders, advocate, the late Laurence Newcome. In such as General Atomics Aeronautical that particular instance, he conjured up a Systems (see interview, p56). future in which it was manned flight, reliant However, the FAA feels that it is justified on the individual aptitudes of pilots, that was in taking things slowly. As a regulator, its restricted to small areas of the sky, while the main responsibility is to ensure that the safer unmanned airliners and transport airspace is safe for everyone to use – aircraft plied their trade in regular airspace. although one industry official told UV that That future may be some time off, but there if this remit was taken to the extreme, then are reasons to begin a frank debate on how it would be safest if nobody was allowed future airspace changes could afford regular to fly. access to unmanned systems. For the military, One of the main stumbling blocks in there is the pressing concern of how to operate the US case seems to be the large and once forces return from current operations – powerful general aviation (GA) lobby. and for the unmanned community, there is This group appears to be worried about its the question of market entry. freedom of movement if unmanned systems Despite some windows of opportunity, were allowed more regular access to the the current restrictions make it difficult, if national airspace. not impossible, to develop and sell UAS for Those concerns cannot be totally civil applications. The lack of airspace access disregarded. It is likely that any effort to makes it difficult to justify investment and to integrate UAS into the air traffic control grow the business. system would entail changes for the GA The UAS community certainly think it’s community. Potentially, they would need time for things to change, but the regulators to have, for example, the Traffic Collision still seem in no hurry to get things done. RESPONSE Avoidance System (or its successor) fitted Darren Lake, Editor Unmanned Vehicles’ editorial team is always happy to receive comments on its articles and to hear readers’ views on IN THE I Utility UGVs I Micro UAVs the issues raised in the magazine. NEXT I Middle East market I Target systems Contact details can be found on p1. ISSUE

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NEWS

SMSS to deploy to Afghanistan

A small number of SMSS will be deployed to Afghanistan later this year for tactical operations. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

Following several years of testing in Dallas, providing analysis and additional soldiers can disengage those, put on the tow multiple domestic user assessment scenarios, support to the field service rep in-country. bar – the vehicle comes equipped with this – Lockheed Martin’s Squad Mission Support The army plans to begin the Afghanistan and attach it to the HMMWV [High Mobility System (SMSS) has been selected as sole assessment later this year, after a period of Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle], the 2.5t winner of the Project Workhorse UGV evaluation and training.’ A government safety truck or whatever they have, and they can competition, managed through the assessment in advance of soldier training tow it at highway speeds.’ Robotics Technology Consortium on behalf began on 29 June 2011. The Block 1 prototypes also feature of the US Army Rapid Equipping Force. Asked about changes between Block 1 fewer sensors than earlier designs, an The programme will result in the SMSS platforms that will be deployed and alteration made possible through the deployment of a small number of the those previously displayed at various defence combination of technologies, such as FLIR platforms on tactical operations in venues, Nimblett highlighted a number of and camera in a single module, and the Afghanistan later this year. alterations to the new prototype designs. temporary elimination of autonomous According to Don Nimblett, business ‘First and foremost, the autonomy vehicle convoy requirements. development manager for unmanned capability on the system is much more ‘We now are able to [control] the systems at Lockheed Martin Missiles and reliable and robust, particularly the follower vehicle by voice,’ continued Nimblett. ‘All Fire Control, the recently finalised contract capability, where you tell it to [track] a soldier remote-control functions we can command, will result in ‘a three-month military utility and it “locks on” and follows him around,’ he and we are growing the capability to assessment of four vehicles, and a field explained. ‘Internally, the system has been [manage] the autonomous features. We service representative with a spares package hardened for the environment we expect have demonstrated that you can order it to support dismounted infantry in-theatre, to encounter in Afghanistan. to follow someone by voice command – as the service evaluates how these vehicles ‘Each wheel now has lockout hubs. This we will grow that vocabulary over time.’ can support or ease the equipment burden is a hydrostatic system – skid steer. It can Additional enhancements include noise of deployed troops. basically spin on a dime, but the problem dampening and the demonstrated ability ‘We have a fifth vehicle and an engineering with that is you can’t tow it. So we put for SMSS to tow its own trailer. team that will remain in the US at our plant in lockout hubs on each wheel, so now the By Scott R Gourley, California Sperwer withdrawn from Dutch Army service

On 29 June, Dutch forces launched the (285 flights were made totalling 713 flight with a total of ten to twelve systems likely SAGEM Sperwer short-range tactical UAV for hours). Following this, Aeronautics from to be acquired. its final flight. The UAV is one of the victims of Israel started to provide services to Dutch In addition to tactical UAVs, the Dutch the current wave of defence budget cuts that ISAF troops with its Aerostars until the DoD is reviving the long sought after are affecting the Netherlands. drawdown of forces in Uruzgan Province purchase of a MALE UAS consisting of four Sperwers were first taken into service in in late 2010. aircraft. With Predator variants in service with 1999 and were operated by 101 RPV Battery, As an interim solution, a limited number a number of European NATO partners, it is which conducted 601 flights with the UAV, of Insitu ScanEagles will be used, which are expected that the country’s government will amounting to a total of 1,151 flight hours. planned to arrive in 2012. A permanent follow suit and acquire a General Atomics Until 1 March 2009, Sperwer was replacement for Sperwer is expected to product in the near future. operational with Dutch forces in Afghanistan be inducted into service in 2014 or 2015, By Pieter Bastiaans, Roosendaal

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NEWS

Russia tests manned/ On the web unmanned integration Anglo-French UAV In June, an experiment integrating manned sector involved an ADS-B station manufactured partnership expected to move forward by end of year aircraft and UAVs took place in the airspace over by NITA. 18 July 2011 Siversky, a Russian air base located to the south All the aircraft made their manoeuvres executing of St Petersburg. the air traffic controller’s commands using voice US sees implications of The flights demonstrated the use of Automatic communication. The crews participated in the UAS roadmap Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) flights, and the UAV ground operators observed 29 June 2011 systems provided with ‘mode 4’ communication each other on ADS-B situation displays. links for the organisation and management of Conflict situations were quickly resolved Canadian Army plans for expansion of UGV capabilities manned and unmanned air traffic control. The by flight controllers, aircraft crews and UAV 29 June 2011 experiment was run by Russia’s State Research operators. Vladimir Voronov of Transas told Institute of Aviation Systems, with the Unmanned Vehicles the experiment showed that UK still trusts ageing participation of Transas and NITA. use of International Civil Aviation Organisation- systems for EOD missions The manned aircraft used in the test accepted methods and facilities technically 29 June 2011 included Mi-171 and Mi-8 helicopters and allow the operation of UAS flights in ‘A’ and Portugal further advances into an АС-5МР powered glider. The unmanned ‘C-class’ airspace, and under certain conditions UAS market element was provided by a Dozor-100 and in ‘G-class’ airspace. 24 June 2011 a Zala 421-04M mini-UAV. The ground support By Denis Fedutinov, Moscow Elbit nears WAAPS completion UAVs assist 23 June 2011 Empire Challenge highlights US Army VTOL shortages Arctic 23 June 2011

research Saab remains hopeful for Skeldar UAV sales 23 June 2011

UAVs have been used for environmental Russia and the US participated in the project. Raytheon moves into next phase of STM tests monitoring by an international scientific expedition The research involved several unmanned systems, 23 June 2011 in the Arctic region of Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen. including a Manta UAV equipped with devices The decision to carry out such a mission was designed to measure aerosol concentrations, a WAAS widens its stare taken in October 2010 at the Russian Arctic and CryoWing UAV equipped with a payload designed 22 June 2011 Antarctic Research Institute in St Petersburg, during to measure albedo and an Eleron-10 UAV equipped an Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme with a television, IR, photographic equipment and Elisra developing SIGINT capability for Skylark II conference devoted to the exploitation of UAS for a meteorological measurement device. 22 June 2011 researchers in Arctic areas. Flights were performed at ambient temperatures The central aim of the initiative is to improve ranging from -12 to +5°С and in moderate snow, Hermes 450 customers sought understanding of the processes controlling with wind speeds reaching 18-19km/s and cloud 21 June 21 2011 the distribution of black carbon in the Arctic ceilings ranging from 200m upwards. atmosphere and its deposition onto snow and A total of 38 flights was completed, although one Visit ice surfaces, and the impact this has had on CryoWing was lost and two vehicles were forced to www.UVonline.com the climate. make emergency landings due to engine failures for the full stories and Representatives of nine scientific and research and loss of electronic guidance. latest news. organisations from France, Germany, Italy, Norway, By Denis Fedutinov, Moscow

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NEWS

Insitu reveals car boot-sized VTOL UAV Insitu has debuted its 1.6kg Inceptor ‘The Inceptor is fully automated, we could ‘We don’t see this as a system for VTOL UAS at the ALEA 2011 convention in train police officers to fly it in just a couple gathering evidence, but a way for police New Orleans. of hours,’ said Donald Shinnamon, business officers to see what is going on behind a The miniature helicopter has a 30-minute development executive at Insitu and a retired wall or hedgerow, and assess a situation endurance and features the option to fit police officer. ‘We see a wide range of roles. before they go into harm’s way,’ explained plug-and-play payloads, including daylight A regular incident is where officers are called Paul McDuffee, business development and IR cameras, in the nose. to look for elderly people who have gone executive at Insitu. The whole system has been designed missing from their care home – they usually ‘We envisage not just a role in police to fit in the back of a police patrol car haven’t gone far, but systems like this could work but parapublic agencies as well,’ added and be flown from a handheld touchscreen really help find them much more quickly.’ Shinnamon. ‘Firefighters could use it to find device, which allows the operator to Production models of the Inceptor will the hotspots in a blaze – with a [maximum] indicate the location they need the UAS feature a carbon-fibre body, which Insitu says altitude of 400ft, it gives you a really good to sight. will be robust enough to withstand regular overview of an incident scene.’ Development of the Inceptor has been operation. Furthermore, if extra flying is Insitu is pricing the Inceptor at the ongoing for just over two years through required, fresh batteries can be clipped on same cost as a typical police patrol car – Insitu’s work with Adaptive Flight, which quickly, allowing the UAS to get airborne around $50,000. developed the flight control system. again as soon as possible. By Tony Osborne, New Orleans French patrol vessel prepares for UAS trials The Camcopter S-100 will begin sea trials on each other,’ he explained. The OPV is board the French Navy’s Gowind class of understood to have a single landing deck, offshore patrol vessel (OPV) in the next few and it is capable of storing a Lynx-size months, according to Neil Hunter, managing helicopter and two Camcopters. director of Schiebel. ‘Europe is a very stringent place to fly UAVs Speaking at the Paris Air Show, where and a much more difficult place to sell them, the VTOL UAV was flying for the second but we are getting interest from navies and time, Hunter said that the move signalled are moving more and more into that domain,’ the company’s presence in the maritime said Hunter. ‘This is the first step in integrating domain, and described ongoing negotiations Camcopter into the ship and maritime with the French Navy as to how its future domain in Europe. business model would progress. Whether ‘Globally, there is a continual demand the S-100s are bought or leased has yet to know more about and understand to be decided. the movements and actions of potential The navy’s L’Adroit OPV, manufactured by threats at sea, especially from this size DCNS, is the first European vessel to be of vessel.’ Hunter said there was future designed and built to carry both UAVs and potential for UAVs collaborating with USVs, Hunter stressed. The OPV, complete satellite-based reconnaissance, radars with UAVs, will be handed over to the end and other sensor systems. The French Navy’s L’adroit will be able to carry two Camcopter UAVs alongside a user by late 2011. In 2010, Schiebel completed Camcopter manned helicopter. (Photo: DCNS) ‘The French Navy is already looking trials with the French DGA agency, achieving at how it can operate both manned and a total of 150 flight hours. Taking place in a and littoral locations, utilising the Thales Agile unmanned helicopters from the vessel, and ‘desert environment’ on the French island 2 EO/IR payload. they will be able to do this independently of of Levant, tests covered surveillance in urban By Andrew White, Paris

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com Safe conduct www.schiebel.net

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NEWS ANALYSIS

CAA designates area for unmanned flight

For the first time, an area in the UK has been designated solely for UAS flight by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The airspace change proposal (ACP) for West Wales Airport in Aberporth was announced on 15 June following sponsorship from the Welsh government, and was implemented on 28 July. The government worked with the CAA on the effort, and QinetiQ was contracted to provide technical advice on the application of the ACP. The company also manages the MoD’s ParcAberporth unmanned aircraft facility, and in turn can manage the airspace if needed. Ray Mann, the airport’s managing director, told Unmanned Vehicles that he felt the project had the backing of the UAVs are allowed to fly outside the ‘danger zone’ at ParcAberporth over civilian-populated areas. government, as it sees unmanned flight as (Image: Welsh Government) a growth business and a more economic choice, and believed that the decision had entering service with the British Army. Due to System training will be split between been thought through carefully. its civil certification, as well as the opening up Boscombe, the primary training ground, ‘We’re looking at any customers – all UAS of the airspace, Watchkeeper is the only UAS and ParcAberporth. The airspace is operators will be able to use this airspace, allowed to fly in military/civil airspace. designated as a danger zone by the CAA, and in principle, it serves both civil and Nick Miller, business director of ISTAR and discussions about the new ACP military,’ he explained. ‘We’ve been pressing and UAV systems at Thales UK, said that started some three to four years ago, for a particular airspace for some time – equipment has already been delivered to according to Mann. I think it’s huge.’ Aberporth for training, and the Watchkeeper Aircraft are allowed to fly outside of the Mann felt this was beneficial to the system ‘will be in-theatre at the end of danger area over civilian urban-populated whole of the UK, not just Wales, but did not this year’. areas, a first for UAVs, and this is due to envisage the size of the available airspace the safety nets surrounding the newly changing in the future. However, he said that II DANGER ZONE designated zone. it was still able to deal with almost any type Speaking at the Paris Air Show, Miller said: The airspace will be subject to safety of flight or system. ‘Nobody wants to restrict ‘We have established dedicated facilities. We requirements imposed and regulated by airspace, but this is a necessity – it is as have an integrated training facility at Larkhill the CAA and the Military Aviation Authority, flexible as can be,’ he urged. in the UK, and training is now commencing. and unmanned flight will only be activated According to Mann, this opens up new We have two bits of airspace, which is in the new airspace when scheduled. avenues for civil unmanned flight, which crucial – Watchkeeper has developed this, The airspace, alongside military flight test before had encountered difficulties. ‘While and it is the only UK UAS that has done that. permits, represents ‘a major breakthrough for many systems are military, civilian [ones] are ‘We have ParcAberporth, which has UAV systems, and Watchkeeper is taking that restricted,’ he explained. our flight test centre, and we have just forward’, according to Miller. The sanctioned The airport has a 1,200m runway and is in established a dedicated airspace [at] ‘corridor’ of airspace, as he described it, will be a ‘leading position’ in unmanned flight due Boscombe Down, which is going to be centred on the airport, and will extend inland to its licensing by the CAA. It is home to the used for collective training, [and] is right 74km to the east, covering an area of 1,300 MoD’s Watchkeeper UAS that is currently over the top of where the Royal Artillery square kilometres. undergoing tests and evaluations before are operating.’ By Beth Stevenson, London

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com

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UV_AugSep11_p10.indd 10 01/08/2011 08:22:10 TauAd_Shepards_UV_Mag_fp_0711.indd 1 7/27/11 11:50 AM UV_AugSep11_p11-14_Integration:Layout 1 1/8/11 09:41 Page 11

NON-SEGREGATED AIRSPACE

Continuing Unmanned Vehicles’ series on opening up civil airspace to UAVs, Angus Batey reports on the complexities and challenges currently being faced in the US. The burden of proof

NASA’s Ikhana platform is restricted to airspace defined by mission-specific certificates of authorisation. (Photo: NASA)

he complex patchwork of multinational If one complaint is constant in assessing military platforms, convincing all aviation initiatives, experimental projects and the move towards integrated airspace in stakeholders that they can be flown in T piecemeal progress towards airspace the US, it is a belief widespread among non-military airspace requires more than integration in Europe (see UV, Jun-Jul, p13) unmanned aircraft manufacturers that the simply pointing to successful missions over is mirrored in the US, where compelling slow speed of progress is hindering the Afghanistan or Iraq. yet sometimes competing imperatives are sector’s overall development. ‘The US has a very large general aviation both driving airspace integration forward community,’ said Les Smith, manager of the and holding progress back. COMPLEX CONSIDERATIONS FAA’s Flight Technologies and Procedures The key difference may be that while Looked at from the FAA’s perspective, Division. ‘It’s of the order of probably 250,000 Europe’s regulators work together in though, the problems are complex enough aircraft. We still have to accommodate that coalitions, in the US a single body, the Federal to require considered consultation and community, which has been flying for a Aviation Administration (FAA), holds sway. development. While manufacturers are number of years, all the way from the surface This has the effect of simplifying the challenge understandably keen to develop civil markets up to 18,000ft. by removing localised differences for aircraft already long ‘It’s a challenge to integrate unmanned and idiosyncrasies, but because since proven as aircraft into that airspace, especially when it is the uncontested sole some of those other aircraft don’t even have authority, a single regulator transponders. But we’re working with the can also act as a stronger industry to find the solution, and the goal, barrier to change. some day – it’s not going to be in the near future – would be to have full file-and-fly This imaging sensor capability for unmanned aircraft. But it’s package is used by Ikhana going to take a lot of work, both on our to map the spread of side and on the industry’s side, to come wildfires in the western US. (Photo: NASA) up with the technology that will allow that to happen.’

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NON-SEGREGATED AIRSPACE Airspace restrictions are deterring potential customers from using Ikhana as a research platform. (Photo: NASA)

of individual projects, run by different companies at different sites using different platforms, and with different goals and outcomes, are gradually helping to build a solid information base that will prove the ability to safely integrate UAS into civilian airspace. ‘Our goal here, long-term, is to integrate, not segregate,’ said Roberts. ‘We’d like to get to the point where we can integrate these aircraft into the NAS. But there is a lot of To understand the forces shaping Grumman’s Global Hawk. ‘It is impossible technology and a lot of safety work that airspace integration in the US, it is necessary today for any unmanned system to certify needs to be done so that we can assure to examine the present regulatory framework, as a civil aircraft – because, by definition, it that we are able to reach and maintain the and how the operator, manufacturer and has to have a pilot.’ appropriate levels of safety.’ regulatory communities are working within ‘We don’t believe that’s true,’ responded it. The FAA, as ultimate arbiter of what can Smith. ‘The requirement is that it has to have SPOKE TOO SOON fly in US airspace, looks essentially at two a pilot, but the fact is there is a pilot, there is a While the existence of the CoA regime does elements – the airworthiness of the vehicles, cockpit. That cockpit just happens to be on at least make experimental programmes and the operation of the airspace they fly in. the ground. Now, the data links between that possible, the nature of the process has often cockpit and the aircraft would probably have put significant brakes on even the most CERTIFIED SYSTEMS to meet a fairly high reliability standard, but demonstrably beneficial projects. Since 2007, Before any aircraft – manned or unmanned, the fact is that we do have standards out NASA’s Dryden Research Center, at Edwards remotely piloted or autonomous – can fly there today.’ AFB, California, has flown a modified General legally in US national airspace, the FAA has Atomics Predator B (Reaper), which it calls to certify it as airworthy and, just as with a SEGREGATION LAWS Ikhana, as part of the Western States Fire manned platform, that certification process Once an unmanned system has been Mission project to map the spread of wildfires applies to the entire system. certified, it can still, under present legislation, that threaten homes, businesses and people Just as, for example, a fly-by-wire system only fly in segregated airspace – typically, the every summer. The mission is a perfect fit for that electronically transfers pilot instructions boxes that exist over military air ranges. Flying the unmanned platform, which can fly over to control surfaces on a conventional airliner UAS in the national airspace (NAS) is therefore fire-hit areas without the smoke inhalation would have to achieve FAA certification in achieved by temporary segregation – for and other risks that affect manned platforms, and of itself, so a UAV’s data links will have to example, allowing a high-flying UAS to transit and with much greater on-task persistence. achieve subsystem certification before they lower-level NAS en route to and from its However, the initial plans for a series of can be approved for use. The versatility of UAS operating altitude – or by the issuance of segregated airspace ‘spokes’ radiating from makes this process perhaps more frustrating certificates of authorisation (CoAs), which turn the military ‘hub’ of Edwards had to be scaled for manufacturers than is the case for manned boxes of normal airspace into restricted zones back during initial CoA negotiations, meaning aircraft – every time a new sensor payload is for the duration of a particular project. that the number of places Ikhana could fly to integrated into an airframe, new safety ‘Once those UAS are within those special- and over were fewer than mission planners certification has to be issued. use areas, then what we call range rules apply,’ had initially hoped. Furthermore, each CoA is At present, the military self-certifies its said Dennis Roberts, director of airspace mission-specific, and while the speed of aircraft, manned and unmanned alike. An services for the FAA’s Air Traffic Organization issuance has increased, Ikhana is still not as absence of rules to define civil certification (ATO). ‘Range rules are the DoD and operators’ quickly responsive to developing wildfires for UAS appears to be one area where rules of engagement. But that is very as a manned platform, with its file-and-fly airframers and regulator have yet to segregated airspace that non-participating capability, could be. harmonise their interactions. aircraft are not authorised within.’ ‘Ikhana has successfully obtained renewals ‘We could certify under civil rules if they At the moment, therefore, efforts are [of its CoA] from the FAA,’ said Mauricio Rivas, were defined,’ said Ed Walby, business proceeding through the collection of data NASA Dryden’s Ikhana project manager. ‘If development manager for Northrop from experimental flying under CoAs. A series called upon, Ikhana can be ready to

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com That’s the date the world’s first It’s part of our broader strategy airspace dedicated for unmanned to develop competitive advantage systems went live. through the exploitation of increasingly converging technologies. Wales is bringing manned and unmanned integration one step closer Not bad for a country with the creation of a unique overland that’s smaller than and marine operating environment, New Jersey! making possible routine UAS test and Find out how this small, demonstration, multiple operations and clever country can help accommodating different aircraft types. your business grow and This represents the latest building make linkages with block the Welsh Government is putting other sectors. in place to support the growth of intelligent systems through the creation of facilities like ParcAberporth – Europe’s Meet us at AUVSI 2011, booth 1841, only unmanned systems technology or contact: [email protected] park with a UAS enabled airport.

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NON-SEGREGATED AIRSPACE

AAI and GE are using a Shadow UAS to trial a flight management system that could clear the way to unmanned flight in national airspace. (Photo: AAI)

support within 48 hours, and the FAA has Inherent in such an approach is a there needs to be sufficient flight testing in a proven most co-operative to help us operate rethinking of the single largest obstacle relevant environment.’ within the extensive CoA-approved airspace currently blocking the path to airspace Yet under the CoA system, flights are we have. integration – the lack of a technical solution to by definition taking place outside the NAS, ‘Though the CoA renewal process has the ‘sense-and-avoid’ problem. Conventional as the CoA applies temporary and carefully worked for us as far as being ready to support wisdom has held that until unmanned defined restrictions to airspace usage. The the fire mission, the nine-to-eleven-month systems can be fielded with a sensor suite process seems analogous to declaring a expected duration of the new CoA application capable of replicating the situational new land vehicle roadworthy – extensive process has deterred some customers from awareness of a pilot in the cockpit – and testing on private land will prove its utility choosing Ikhana as their research platform. thereby offering the same ability to move and durability – but the platform’s safe The CoA is not just specific to a platform, but the aircraft out of danger in real time, in the interaction with other road traffic cannot also to the payload and the flight paths to be event of a near-collision situation – airspace be definitively proven until that interaction used, so a new CoA has to be obtained for integration will remain an impossible dream. starts to take place. any new mission.’ But Mooney is among those arguing that a significant rethink is already under way. ACCEPTANCE CODE GET SET FOR DATA ‘I believe that there are multiple ways to The stakes are even higher for Another recent example of a CoA-enabled solve the sense-and-avoid problem,’ she said. unmanned aircraft, where widespread integration test programme is one undertaken ‘In my opinion, it’s going to be a multi-sensor public understanding of the vehicles and by AAI and General Electric (GE), where a solution, and at this point, the window is acceptance of their routine civilian use have Shadow UAS has been flying from Hatch opening up for multiple solutions. In my yet to be achieved. The difficulties will only Municipal Airport, New Mexico, in CoA-defined opinion, there’s not going to be one solution be overcome by concerted efforts of all airspace. While this is just one of several such that will solve sense and avoid. It depends on stakeholders – but it will take time. efforts taking place in the US, AAI’s director of the size of the aircraft, the class of airspace ‘We’re working with the DoD to take UAS airspace integration, Rose Mooney (who you’re flying in, and the mission you’re trying advantage of the gains that they’ve made is also president of the industry-wide UAS to perform. It’ll end up being a combination with unmanned aircraft over the years,’ said lobbying body, UNITE), points out that the of things like the GE FMS solution, along Smith. ‘They’ve done a phenomenal job flying flights are helping produce a rich and coherent with some kind of visual solution and radar. those aircraft on the specific missions they data set from which binding national Although it’s been the holy grail of the were designed for. It’s to our advantage to standards and procedures can be built. unmanned world, I do believe people are take the operational experience, safety data ‘Although they do appear to be islands,’ starting to open up their minds to a multi- and the work they’ve done on developing she said of the many seemingly isolated sensor solution.’ the standards they deem necessary to fly experimental projects, ‘the tests are being fed those aircraft. It’ll be a collaborative effort to the FAA, and there is an overall plan that OUTSIDE THE BOX with both the military and industry to bring they’re developing on how to utilise all these The dilemma at the heart of airspace this to a conclusion.’ places and not duplicate efforts, but actually integration is summed up neatly by Yet the question remains as to whether, push the initiatives forward.’ Chuck Johnson, project manager for NASA in the present economic climate, airspace The purpose of the Shadow project is to Dryden’s UAS Integration in the National integration is a sufficiently desirable goal. It is validate and prove the safe utility of a flight Airspace project. clearly something developers, manufacturers management system (FMS) developed by ‘In order to obtain routine civil and users of UAS need urgently, but there is GE, which proves that even a relatively small access,’ he said, ‘a body of data – analysis, acceptance even within the unmanned unmanned platform could be controlled simulations and flight data collection – community that a wider public appetite using the same practices and procedures that must be generated and delivered to the may not be there. While the establishment apply to manned aircraft. ‘One of the very FAA. This body of work must be enough of an Unmanned Systems Caucus in the US encouraging things was we could show that to convince the FAA, and the public, that Congress suggests the country’s legislature even the Shadow could be flown with routine UAS operations are at least as safe has earmarked wider UAS usage as a key standard RNAV and RNP [instrument flying] as manned aircraft. The UAS community has national issue, even influential industry approaches, and four-dimensional algorithms,’ done a lot of analysis and some simulations, leaders are cautious about ascribing a high said Mooney. ‘It’s predictable, and you know but very little flight testing. In order to federal priority to airspace integration. what it’s doing.’ validate the analysis and simulations, (See also interview with Frank Pace on p56.) UV

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FUTURE TECHNOLOGY Tomorrow’s world

As industry works on the next generation of UAS, end users can look forward to a much greater range of capabilities, finds Darren Lake.

n recent years, people have become and the inherent John Boyd “observe-orient- accustomed to seeing UAVs being used decide-act” loop execution process,’ said Alton I for military applications and, increasingly, Romig, VP and general manager of advanced in civilian roles. Unmanned systems have development programmes at Lockheed begun to creep into the popular Martin Aeronautics. consciousness as newspapers regularly As well as the aircraft itself, the programme report ‘drone strikes’ and academics and ENTER THE UCAV covers a number of elements that look at deck commentators struggle to conceptualise The majority of the current generation of handling and carrier landings. To prove some how the technology could impact on a military UAS were designed primarily as of the software, the first underway carrier variety of human endeavours. surveillance assets. However, as they were recovery using an F/A-18D as a surrogate for However, even as the general public deployed the obvious step of arming some the X-47B was achieved on 2 July. gets used to the activities of the current of the larger platforms became clear – but Speaking recently to Unmanned Vehicles generation of UAVs, industry developers this represented no more than ad-hoc (June-July 2011, p44), navy programme are beginning to look at what advances in development of existing aircraft types. manager Capt Jaime Engdahl stated: ‘We technology will allow them to achieve in Only as military planners have begun must demonstrate this inside the concept of the future. The next wave of UAS are, to look at the next generation of UAS has operations used around the aircraft carrier in many cases, already off the drawing there been a concerted effort to analyse today. This gives us the capability to do what board and beginning to manifest the potential of developing dedicated strike we want.’ themselves in various test programmes platforms, and there are a number of major The X-47B is not the only UCAV design and special projects. UCAV projects now under way. in the works in the US. Boeing lost out to With that in mind, it is timely to reflect In the US, the main declared Northrop on the navy project, but recognising on how these systems will expand the government-funded activity is centred the value of continuing with development envelope in which UAS operate, and what on the USN’s Unmanned Combat Air System of its competing design, the company’s new capabilities they will be able to deliver Demonstration (UCAS-D). The airframe for Phantom Works advanced projects division to both military and civilian communities. the project, the X-47B, is being developed by achieved the first flight of its Phantom Ray ‘The challenge as we move forward is defence industry giant Northrop Grumman. prototype in April this year. reducing the manpower required to operate The first flight of the aircraft was ‘We have to innovate to compete,’ stated unmanned systems. Reducing manpower successfully undertaken on 4 February Darryl Davis, president of Phantom Works, will help increase the affordability of these this year at Edwards AFB, California and the and he sees the continuing work with systems overall. The key question is: “Where is company is in the middle of further flight Phantom Ray as part of that process. ‘We’re the best place, for a given mission, to position trials. The primary purpose of the project is to using that platform as a testbed for a number the man in the loop?” The answer to this prove the viability of operating a large UCAV of opportunities.’ The company is hopeful it question is driven by connectivity, autonomy from an aircraft carrier. can elbow its way back in with the USN on

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FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

A second Global Observer will be ready to fly later this year after the crash of the first aircraft. (Image: AeroVironment)

the Unmanned Carrier-Launched Airborne UV at the Paris Air Show, IAI Malat’s general However, in the US the major development Surveillance and Strike (UCLASS) system, manager Roni Segal said that the company houses are now focused on what comes after which is likely to follow on from UCAS-D. was continuing to develop its Heron TP UAS. Predator B in the MALE class. UCLASS is one In Europe, UCAV activities are centred ‘The UAV is operational with the Israeli Air of the projects of focus, alongside the USAF’s on two main projects. The first of these is Force, and we are in discussion with a number MQ-X initiative. the collaborative Neuron effort, which of European countries on acquiring the According to Frank Pace, president of involves a number of countries. The first aircraft. Our philosophy is to cooperate with GA Aeronautical Systems, the company is flight of the UAV, which is being jointly local industry,’ he stated. continuing the development of its jet-engined developed by Sweden’s Saab, Dassault However, in some cases local industry Avenger. ‘Avenger is a key airplane for us. Aviation in France, the Spanish arm of EADS, has its own ideas. The competition to provide It’s our first step in to a jet aircraft,’ he stated. Ruag in Switzerland, Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica the next generation in Europe is beginning Moving from prop-driven to jet-propelled and Greek aerospace manufacturer HAI, is to take shape, with local aerospace giants MALEs would give added benefits in terms of expected to be in the middle of next year. looking to be well placed. BAE Systems has range and speed, but at the probable expense UK industry is going it alone with joined forces with Dassault to develop the of operating endurance. the MoD-funded Taranis demonstrator Telemos UAS to offer against a nascent programme. The aircraft was officially unveiled Anglo-French MALE requirement. Cassidian, FUTURE LONGING at BAE Systems’ Warton facility in July. Team the EADS defence and security division, is also The current generation of larger UAS have Taranis, which comprises BAE, GE Aviation, keenly aware that it needs to have a presence impressive levels of endurance, in many QinetiQ and Rolls-Royce, won a £124.5 million in this market and is developing its own cases being able to stay aloft for more than 24 ($204 million) contract in December 2006 to Talarion MALE platform. hours. However, industry believes it can do design and develop the UCAV, and flight Despite these nascent capabilities, there even better. In the US, the pursuit of ever trials are scheduled to begin this year. are currently only a small number of true greater endurance is being led by MALE UAS available. Beyond IAI’s Heron AeroVironment and Boeing. MALE SURVEILLANCE TP, the other major system is the General AeroVironment has developed a hydrogen- Future MALE systems are also garnering Atomics (GA) Predator family. GA recently powered UAS dubbed Global Observer increased interest on both sides of the closed its Predator A line, but is continuing under a DARPA joint capability technology Atlantic, as well as in the other UAS development of its Predator B models (Reaper demonstration. The first flight of the type development heartland of Israel. Speaking to and Sky Warrior) for the USAF and US Army. was conducted last year, but early in 2011

www.UVonline.com Volume 16 Number 4 | August/September 2011 | UNMANNED Vehicles UV_AugSep11_p16-18_Next_Gen:Layout 1 1/8/11 15:51 Page 18

FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

The jet-propelled Avenger is General Atomics’ next-generation MALE offering. (Photo: General Atomics)

the project suffered a setback when an aircraft SMALL BUT PERFECT future market everywhere from agriculture crashed during a test mission on 1 April. One of the things that will decide whether and environmental monitoring to commercial However, speaking to UV at the Paris Air small, light UAS like Zephyr have a future transport. The kind of intelligent automatic Show, Roy Minson, AeroVironment’s VP is whether they can be fitted with useful flight being developed by companies such business development and deputy general payloads. It is not enough just to stay aloft as Rockwell Collins will be key to making manager for UAS, said that Global Observer for days – the aircraft has to be able to this a reality. would be back in the air by the end of the year, perform some useful task while airborne. with a new aircraft ready to go in the hangar. Fortunately, advanced payload design is WHERE NEXT? 'We are just working through the safety case taking into consideration the issues of both There are a number of exciting next- with the USAF and we are sure that it wasn't power and weight. There is a rapid move generation UAS starting to visibly take shape. a technical problem,' he stated. towards the miniaturisation of a variety However, like the tip of an iceberg this is Boeing is hot on the endurance heels of sensor and communications payloads only a small fraction of overall activity. The of AeroVironment with its Phantom Eye that is benefiting tactical and small UAS. existence of the Lockheed Martin Skunk hydrogen-powered UAS. ‘That airplane was Relatively small aircraft can now be fitted with Works-developed RQ-170 UAS remained built with about 12 people. We’re trying to sophisticated EO/IR gimbals or radar payloads. under wraps for an extended period, so it prototype not just the solution itself, but how Similarly, the weight and power of will be interesting to see what other systems would you deliver it, how would you field it communications systems is also being break cover in the future following lengthy and how would you sustain it creatively,’ Davis reduced. One of the hopes for projects such as secret development. stated. As UV went to press, the first flight of Global Observer and Zephyr is that they could ‘We see the UAS marketplace continuing Phantom Eye was announced for August, with act as communications relays, either to plug to evolve, with the constant being the need the expectation that the test programme gaps in SATCOM coverage or replace that for affordable solutions. We are focused would ramp up to a 96-hour demonstration capability in a satellite-denied environment. on a balance of capabilities to maximise flight at over 60,000ft by the fourth quarter. usefulness across the spectrum of operations Turning to a different kind of long- GREATER AUTONOMY and strive to deliver them at reduced cost. endurance solution, QinetiQ is one of the Beyond the various aircraft platforms For example, we see a need to balance companies taking a serious look at the themselves, a lot of attention is also being ISR/persistence/actionable information potential of solar-powered UAVs. By necessity, devoted to how to make systems smarter. and data with minimal manpower. All that such aircraft are currently a lot smaller than Greater levels of autonomy are seen as a key being said, affordability will continue to be a hydrogen-powered systems. Last year, the discriminator for future UAS. However, one of significant driver in the definition of future company achieved a world record when it was the big issues that may limit the operation of capability. Any capability must buy its way able to keep its Zephyr UAV aloft for 336 hours. autonomous aircraft is trust from the rest of into the force structure,’ stated Romig. the aviation community. ‘[We have] been working software reuse, a Already, UAS flight is constrained by competition producing open/plug-and-play regulators and powerful lobbies such as the architectures, autonomy development and US general aviation community (see p11-14). demonstrations and an advanced composite Asking such interest groups to trust systems to thrust which promises to dramatically reduce pilot themselves and make decisions on flight programme costs across all acquisition paths and other critical issues may be a leap phases, including design, tooling, fabrications, too far for some people. assembly, test, maintenance and sustainment, If UAS are to really break through into all with total system affordability in mind. widespread civil use, greater levels of both The mission characteristics of persistence, automatic flight and autonomy are required. stealth and speed are always kept at the Few civilian organisations can afford the kind forefront of [our] thinking.’ of detailed training that is necessary for the In the meantime, the unmanned systems current generation of military UAS pilots. community and the wider public can look Already some civilian sectors, such as forward to a future that is likely to include fully law enforcement, are clamouring for the developed strike platforms, long-endurance A Lockheed Martin concept for an advanced type of capabilities provided by UAS. systems, and UAVs that will begin to take VTOL UCAV. (Image: Lockheed Martin) Manufacturers also see a potentially large many of their flight decisions themselves. UV

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UV_AugSep11_p20.inddUVindia11_fp_UV.indd 1 20 ASIA01/08/201128/07/2011N 08:27:5810:34:34 MILITARY REVIEW UV_AugSep11_p21-26_SUAS:Layout 1 1/8/11 09:49 Page 21

21 Despite defence budget cutbacks, small UAS SMALL UAS manufacturers are confident that their products will remain in demand, reports Beth Stevenson. Modular miniatures

Lockheed Martin’s Desert Hawk is leading the way in miniaturised payload technology with a 360° IR turret. (Photo: Lockheed Martin)

mall UAVs (SUAVs) receive far less the constant ISR coverage previously a ‘unique’ 360° IR turret payload to the aircraft attention than their larger counterparts, handled by larger aircraft. in its effort to integrate technology typically S despite there being many more of ‘In the future, depending on what seen on larger systems. them in day-to-day use, according to Daniel feedback we get back from the user, a lot of ‘You can pull out that modular payload of Goure, VP of the Lexington Institute. payloads in larger UAS could be miniaturised 360° colour EO and 10x zoom and plug in a 360° ‘These SUAVs provide most of the to fit into a Desert Hawk III-type aircraft,’ Bill IR turret, and that’s pretty unique in a hand- route surveillance for US convoys in Iraq Daly, business development lead for the launched SUAS,’ claimed Daly. ‘Desert Hawk is and Afghanistan, spy on hostile forces Desert Hawk at Lockheed Martin, told the first aircraft in its class to crack that nut. and even support naval operations,’ he Unmanned Vehicles. ‘Our engineering team came up with that explained. ‘They are relatively simple and ‘With all the defence budget cuts, one about a year and a half ago, and it has been cheap to operate and provide critical thing that will always remain a requirement flying in-theatre with UK forces since last year. information to warfighters in direct is to have overhead ISR coverage of troops on It has significantly increased mobility and contact with hostile forces.’ the ground. An inexpensive yet effective way operational effectiveness at night since Although each company deems its of doing that is to have unmanned assets, receiving 360° IR capability.’ products to have the advantage, they all because manned assets, helicopters and The system previously had an IR camera seem to be reading off the same hymn fixed-wing aircraft, can be expensive for a inside, but not one with full coverage. Due sheet when it comes to acknowledging the government or service to not only purchase, to the design of the aircraft and the surface necessity of small UAS (SUAS) capabilities. but maintain.’ area of the wings, the SUAS can fly in winds With platforms of this kind having been of up to 25kt, which is advantageous in produced internationally for the recent A BETTER VIEW Afghanistan and a feature Daly considered conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, smaller, Lockheed Martin, which has provided the to be essential to the system. more affordable systems with modular current configuration (the third) of its Desert Despite the confidence he has in both the capabilities are now equipped to provide Hawk to UK forces since 2006, has introduced system and the market, he also added

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SMALL UAS

that Lockheed Martin has cut the cost of the Desert Hawk by 14% over the past year, and is planning on further reductions over the next 12 months. Since its first deployment in Iraq, Insitu’s ScanEagle small tactical UAS (STUAS) has flown some 500,000 combat hours, collecting high-quality video images from an operating distance of up to 160km, and has the ability to remain airborne for 24 hours. This is more than twice the time of the average mission, according to Insitu, so the system can respond to the unexpected, capturing ‘superior’ image coverage at Elbit is enhancing the operability of its Skylark with the introduction of the new Forward GCS. relatively low altitudes. (Photo: Elbit) Riding on the success of the ScanEagle, the company won the USN and USMC ‘Right now we have a big programme enough range of capabilities to deal with the competition to develop a new STUAS in with a new generation of the Skylark I LE for budget cutbacks. 2010, and its offering, the Integrator, is the IDF, in which we are introducing some ‘I think for value and capability, SUAS expected to be delivered some time this year. advanced capabilities, in terms of flying in are very capable systems if you look at The USMC deems it imperative to coordinate GPS-denied areas, coping with adverse it from a value proposition, and at the same air and ground operations, as well as having weather conditions and other features.’ time the value is definitely there. [If] you start communications relay, EO/IR, laser designator The system has been deployed in trading off other weapon systems – and I and rangefinder capabilities, which will be theatres such as Afghanistan, Iraq and won’t name them – you could buy quite a key features of the Integrator. Lebanon in a close-range surveillance and few SUAS that potentially give you maybe intelligence-gathering role at battalion level. not the same capability, but in some cases MOVING FORWARD It has a three-hour endurance, 30km range even better capability based upon the In a further example, Israeli company and some 20 customers worldwide, with mission requirements. So I think we’ll Elbit Systems recently announced a new the IDF being the largest user. continue to see a growing market.’ capability for its Skylark I LE, the Forward ‘The Skylark is a mini-UAV that benefits In the SUAS category, the company has Ground Control System (FGCS). from capabilities we can bring from the the Raven, Puma AE (All Environment), a GCS ‘It is a very small ground control system bigger systems with very advanced and its micro-UAV, the Wasp. It has delivered which is fully integrated into the soldier’s properties and features,’ Israeli commented. some 6,000 of its Raven systems to the US suit, and it provides a very convenient, ‘So that’s also an advantage we have as a Army, equivalent to 18,000 aircraft. lightweight operational GCS for highly leading UAV manufacturer – I think our Minson said Raven has been in production deploying and manoeuvring units,’ Danny size is an advantage.’ ‘for quite some time. We’re just completing Israeli, VP of business development and most of our digital data-link upgrades to the marketing for UAS at Elbit, told UV. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT Raven. I think next year we’ll finish the whole The new system is 15kg lighter than the Israeli said that AeroVironment is its biggest transition of the family over to digital.’ standard Skylark ground control system, and competitor in the US, as it is a ‘big [supplier] The newest UAS, the 5kg Puma, is used at uses the company’s Dominator hardware to to the US Army’. Despite defence cuts, the high altitudes in Afghanistan, and a total of control and operate the UAS. US company deems SUAS to be ‘very capable 72 systems have so far been delivered to the The Skylark was first developed in 2004, systems’ that are required whether or not US Army. It is the first system with an EO/IR and although it is now in its third generation, the budget is there. camera that has a full gimbal on it, and it Israeli said of the programme: ‘We have just Roy Minson, VP of business development provides auto-tracking and a two-hour scratched the top level. I believe we are still in and deputy general manager of UAS at duration with an AeroVironment payload. the first stages of the UAV market – most of AeroVironment, said he is confident the Minson said that there are ‘no major issues’ the countries worldwide do not yet have company, which specialises in the smaller with the platform, and the video produced operational UAV systems. end of the UAV market, has a wide by the system is ‘near Predator-class’

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SMALL UAS

because of the ‘near-HD quality’ of the Peru signed a contract for the system in camera. ‘In general, I think we’re really seeing December, with deliveries expected to start a good pool for Puma,’ he said. ‘[It is] setting ‘Hyperspectral is a very in August, and it was announced at the Paris the stage for expanding the ISR missions popular thing to talk about Air Show this year that testing had been for the warfighter – the first platform that’s completed on the systems that are headed all-environment.’ in terms of sensing.’ to that country. Follow-on orders are a Expanding on how smaller systems are possibility, depending on how the UAV now becoming capable of missions typically performs when it is tested in the field. restricted to larger platforms, he added: ‘If this area, he still wants to be able to offer the Armon said that another South you think in terms of video stability and same service. American operator is interested in the Micro those kinds of things, that used to be the ‘Small companies can give the same Falcon, as well as Innocon’s larger Mini Falcon, home of Tier 2, [and] we’re going to have answer with fewer overheads,’ he said. ‘Bigger and he expects a contract to be signed that on the Wasp.’ companies cannot answer it quickly enough.’ ‘within the year’. In June, Innocon announced that 50 of its BAE Systems is looking into new SIZE ADVANTAGE Micro Falcon UAV systems had been ordered technology to add to its ‘flagship’ UAS, With Elbit considering the Skylark I LE to by an undisclosed Asian country. the Silver Fox, in order to match the larger be the leading mini-UAV outside the US, ‘The Micro Falcon is a 6kg system with day platforms that are currently in service. another Israeli company, Innocon, considers its and night payloads. This includes two planes, The aircraft, which has been widely solution, and the size of its business, to be an one ground station and payloads – one of deployed in Afghanistan with US forces advantage when it comes to producing SUASs. each,’ said Armon. The system, designed for since 2004, largely in counter-IED missions, Michael Armon, CEO of Innocon, told UV, close-range, low-altitude surveillance is said to be able to match the larger tactical with regard to larger UAS manufacturers, missions, is expected to be delivered to the systems. ‘[It has] a little more endurance that the flexibility, speed and price at which customer within a year and a half, and can and can stay up and carry a larger payload,’ Innocon can produce an SUAS is important to operate at an altitude of 15,000ft for two explained Matt Pobloske, director of business the customer, and although he sees growth in hours at a time. development at BAE Systems’ unmanned aircraft programmes. BAE is looking into different spectrometers to add to the system’s payload, including hyperspectral and multispectral cameras. ‘They’re very sensitive remote collection devices that are small enough and have a low enough power requirement that you can operate them in situ in a very small UAV – a very cost-effective UAV,’ said Pobloske. ‘Industry has been moving that way for a long time.’

HYPER EXPANSION The company has flown hyperspectral sensors on the Silver Fox in an effort to expand the platform’s capabilities. ‘I don’t want to downplay other sensors, but that one is up-front and central lately. Hyperspectral is a very popular thing to talk about in terms of sensing. There are a number of sensors that BAE works with, that we do specifically, and that we believe will be a real boon for a variety of applications, both Data link upgrades to AeroVironment’s Raven will see its UAS family go all-digital. (Photo: US Army) in defence and commercially.’

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com AAI_USV_UnmanVehAug-Sept2011e:AAI 7/19/11 11:39 AM Page 1

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SMALL UAS

training systems, is an off-the-shelf solution, models, but this is specifically designed but added that ‘a lot of our customers design for future use in this type of mission,’ he their own circuit boards for their needs’. explained. ‘Security forces can use it on very The heart of the platforms is the specific missions.’ MP2128g autopilot, suitable for integration With a 2kg payload capacity, it has a into both fixed- and rotary-wing applications. two-hour endurance, can be stored in a The company cites itself as having the ‘only backpack and takes one minute to assemble. triple autopilot systems in the industry’ after The company is ready to take orders for the it developed the MP21283X, released in system, and because it is ‘just the beginning’ November 2010, which gives the UAS twice for the Portuguese UAS market, Petiz the reliability of a normal system in case two anticipates that the country’s forces will of the autopilots fail. be the first to show interest. According to BAE is focusing on hyperspectral sensors for its Silver Fox in an effort to increase the Its UAVs have been sold to 650 customers defence sources, the Portuguese Army is system’s utility. (Photo: BAE Systems) in 65 different countries since the company interested in the technology offered by this launched in 1994, for applications such as system, and is in discussion with the With restrictions on airspace for UAS wildlife studies, inventory control, volume company about testing the platform. flight being a hot topic for manufacturers measuring (eg for gravel pits), police utility ‘We know that being a Portuguese and operators, Pobloske said that they are and forest fire monitoring. company is not like being a US or Israeli ‘essentially locked out or very restricted from company,’ summarised Petiz. ‘So we feel at operation right now because again you’re A WARMER WELCOME first we need to make a point with the flying within national airspace, and they’re Loewen said that he sees a strong future Portuguese Army, to have a stronger position obviously concerned about encroachment for unmanned vehicles, but the industry to move around the markets. There are and interaction with manned aircraft’. ‘isn’t going to grow to its potential until several Portuguese companies developing Minson told UV that a US bill is due that regulators change regulations’. He alluded UAVs, small companies, but they are there.’ will mean airspace will start to be opened to market growth in the area of unmanned The company also has a VTOL variant of up, so companies, with help from the automobiles, and cited emerging countries, the platform, and models designed for Federal Aviation Administration, will be such as China, as key areas to move into civilian applications. able to work together quickly to enable because they ‘don’t have an existing IAI, which has developed the Panther unmanned flight (see p11). infrastructure’ with regard to autonomous tiltrotor UAS, believes it has a niche because ‘Things that we dreamed of flying systems, and therefore they will be much the platform is three-engined. ‘If you want ten years ago are commercial and more welcoming of the technology. to have a VTOL, and you want to fly the off-the-shelf nowadays, including a lot Demonstrating Portugal’s advance into standard UAV, you are paying for an of the IR cameras,’ explained Pobloske. the unmanned market, Tekever Autonomous additional engine,’ a company spokesperson ‘So I see the largest movement in this arena, Systems announced the introduction of an told UV. ‘In our case, our optimisation was the from a market standpoint, to be when the ISTAR variant of its AR4 Light Ray UAS at the third engine just for take-off and landing, various governments can solve some of Paris Air Show this year. which is a minimal price in terms of drag the sensor see-and-avoid issues, and Pedro Petiz, general manager of the and weight.’ then couple that with the opening of company, said the fixed-wing ISR mini-UAS ‘is The Panther is in the final testing stage, national airspace.’ particularly designed for the military – for and has made some 120 flights. IAI expects a He added that future markets for SUAS foot soldiers’, and has been some three years six-hour endurance, and just needs to finalise include many of the commercial agricultural in the making. ‘We have a range of these transition issues for auto take-off and landing, sectors, oil and mineral exploration, and which it says is mainly a software problem. pipeline monitoring – if the airspaces were Although it is the larger systems that have to open up. stolen the spotlight in recent conflicts, the An SUAS family with civilian applications ‘A US bill is due that smaller system manufacturers are preparing, comes from MicroPilot with its MP2x28 means airspace will start and in some cases are ready, for a time when range. Howard Loewen, president of the to be opened up.’ they can provide a cheaper alternative with Canadian company, told UV that its UAV all the capabilities of the larger series, including the MP-Visione and two equivalents. UV

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US FOCUS As the changing nature of the country’s military operations calls for a reassessment of service fleets, Scott R Gourley discusses the latest tactical CLEARING THE WAY UAS developments in the US. Owings then turned to individual product office managers who provided updates on their systems and activities. As an example, Cliff Brandt, product manager for small UAS at the US Army’s UAS Project Office, spoke about the surge in both Raven and Puma systems, as well as the use of them in route clearance patrol (RCP) efforts in Afghanistan. ‘With the increase in OPTEMPO going on in Afghanistan these days, we are actually doing a “surge push” of an additional 180 Raven systems, which is going to take the current distribution of 15 systems per BCT [brigade combat team] up to 35,’ he said. ‘We have started that effort – I have people on the ground in preparation for this – so we will be kicking that off [by the end of July 2011].’ Turning to his other primary platform, he added: ‘We have started issuing Puma systems to RCPs. Again, I have other folks on the ground who are training and fielding these RC teams. We have 72 systems on the ground [as of late June 2011], soon to be 84 Meeting by August. We are a little over 50% done with training and fielding. Having to pull guys out of the fight to try and get them trained is a more difficult task than it seems. So that’s going at a slower pace than we would like. the demand In addition to that, by direction of the Vice Chief [of Staff], we are also surging Pumas into Afghanistan to the tune of 129 systems. Puma usage is expanding to 129 systems for US Army BCTs in-theatre. (All photos: US DoD) These will be issued out to the BCTs that are there, and they will go down to the he demand for army UAS in war ‘It’s a unique venue in that we bring company level.’ zones has only grown,’ observed together active army warfighters, National The expanded fielding of Pumas is ‘T Tim Owings, US Army acting project Guard warfighters, acquisition professionals, reflective of warfighter experiences like manager and deputy project manager for other government agency professionals and those of panel member SPC Dean Dawes, a UAS. ‘We are always looking to become more OEMs in one place to have open dialogue UAS operator in the 4th Infantry BCT of the efficient in ISR, and setting the stage for a and exchange of information. There is a lot 4th Infantry Division, who recently returned future set of capabilities that are much of good information that is going to come from deployment in northeast Afghanistan, broader than in the past.’ out of this.’ where his unit operated both the Raven and Owings recently led a panel of service Summarising the current operational Puma systems. representatives at the conclusion of the tempo (OPTEMPO), he noted: ‘We are at over ‘The Puma at the time was a concept that annual UAS Warfighter Forum, held in June 1.2 million flight hours, with 90% of those the army was looking at potentially buying,’ 2011 in Tucson, Arizona. being on combat operations. Despite some he explained. ‘Based on the feedback that He described the event as ‘a forum focused slowdown in Iraq, we have more than made we sent back from the combat environment, on increasing the effectiveness, efficiency up for that in Afghanistan, and currently fly they decided to go ahead and expand upon and actual employment of UAS’. He added: about 250,000 flight hours a year.’ that purchase.

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The RQ-7B US FOCUS Shadow is the main RSTA UAS, and is being upgraded to include capabilities such as JTRS.

‘The Puma was, if you will, our “bread her organisation as one ‘that builds the future, aircraft that have already been owned by the and butter”. That’s really what made the but also keeps to the path along the way’. government – those three aircraft will then difference. We requested these [systems] The current product office portfolio go into country.’ because of the lack of coverage we had includes legacy systems such as the While the army’s primary A160 platform from our Shadow due to the mountainous Hunter and Warrior Block 0, as well as VTOL will carry the ARGUS SIGINT/WAAS (wide-area terrain. The Puma allowed the battalion platforms and a number of new technology aerial surveillance) payload, the other two commanders to operate with a generic ISR insertion efforts. aircraft will carry EO/IR/laser designator asset that they didn’t otherwise have. We packages. One of the three is being provided were also able to accurately call for fire WIDE SURVEILLANCE to the army by DARPA, and the other two by with one adjustment and accurately hit Hightower focused her update on two efforts US Special Operations Command. The two our targets.’ taking place in the VTOL arena. ‘One of them organisations transitioned their A160s Brandt summarised the status of his is what we call “Army ARGUS [Autonomous to the army for utilisation in the QRC effort. product office, noting: ‘We have a lot of Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance] ‘As of [late June], we have completed activity, equipment en route and training A160”, which is a quick reaction capability integration and ground testing, and will be going on. And that’s on top of continuing to [QRC] that will soon go into a “to be going into flight testing within the next two do our fleet upgrades of moving from an determined” orbit area,’ she said. ‘That’s months,’ added Hightower. ‘Then, we will analogue to a digital system.’ taking an ARGUS payload, integrating it execute a Contractor Logistics Support Panelist Donna Hightower, deputy product onto an A160 platform that we currently own, contract, and go into country in [January manager for UAS modernisation, described and doing some upgrades to a couple of to March 2012].’

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Hightower said that the second VTOL target acquisition [RSTA] system for the In recent months, four Gray brigade commander’. activity area focuses on what will become the Eagle systems have been formal programme of record (PoR). ‘Today, we Ongoing upgrade activities include the operational in Afghanistan have gone through the preliminary stages of development and integration of the Tactical with the US Army. the acquisition strategy, and we are working Common Data Link (TCDL), which includes that through the DoD, army and all other the Universal GCS (UGCS), Universal Ground Initial JTRS integration efforts focused on organisations to get concurrence on that,’ Data Terminal, Joint Tactical Radio System the Rifleman Radio, with future plans calling she said. ‘We will be releasing an RfI out (JTRS), Re-wing and Electronic Fuel for integration of the JTRS Small Form to industry so that we can gain some Ignition/Fuel System. Factor design. knowledge about the different systems that ‘We are alive and well and kicking,’ said ‘In the future, we are going to field that are out there. That is scheduled to go out Hamilton. ‘We have just gone over 630,000 JTRS, which will be the first time any unit has [around the end of July]. We will continue hours of flying with 91% of that figure having had that capability with the Shadow,’ added to finalise our acquisition strategy after we been in combat. We just fielded the 95th Hamilton. ‘We are also going to field the first have received some of that information from system to the army, and we have [supplied] full-spectrum combat aviation brigades with industry. We will then go into a full and open 13 systems to the USMC. two Shadow units – that’s never been done competition on that programme.’ ‘The old legacy Shadow that we had before because it’s a whole new concept. Offering a rough requirement outline for been fielding gave us about five and a half to And we’re fielding a couple of systems to the emerging VTOL PoR, Owings pointed to six hours of endurance, and we had a payload Australia as part of our FMS programme.’ a desire for a platform capable of flying 12 with an EO/IR ball on it that gave us our ability Hamilton acknowledged continuing hours or longer, while carrying around 450kg to do that RSTA mission. But we are now USMC interest in weaponising its Shadow of sensor weight. He added that service [sending] to theatre an aircraft that has a new platforms, but cautioned: ‘One of the desires also include the competition of two wing on it – an extended [one] that takes the [problems] we had was treaty issues – QRC ‘technology demonstrator’ systems in- five-to-six-hour endurance time up to nine because it is a rail-launched aircraft, it is theatre for one year, entering the acquisition hours. We are also fielding a new payload that viewed as a downrange missile. So there had process at milestone B with subsequent gives us laser designation capability, so we are to be some walking through to negotiate down-selection to a single vendor. moving away from that simple EO/IR ball. that treaty with the State Department. There ‘We are also currently working on also had to be some validation of the LONGER ENDURANCE developing, testing and fielding a TCDL that requirement on the USMC side. As described by Lt Col Andrew Hamilton, satisfies a series of architectural mandates and ‘Currently, they have officially validated product manager for army UAS ground gives us some encryption capabilities. We are that requirement, and it looks like we’re manoeuvre, the RQ-7B Shadow UAS is ‘the also in the process of integrating the JTRS on going to be able to work through [this]. So primary reconnaissance, surveillance and our platform.’ probably soon – within the next six months – we will begin the process for a quick QRC Gray Eagle development and integration of weapons deployments have on the Shadow, specifically for the USMC.’ raised turbocharger issues not previously acknowledged. EAGLE EYES Lt Col Kevin Messer, product manager for medium-altitude endurance UAS, has responsibility for the MQ-1C Gray Eagle system, which he described as ‘12 aircraft, six GCS and assorted ground support elements [for] the aircraft. The capabilities of the [UAS] allow us to either fly direct line of sight or over SATCOM for an extended amount of time – between 20 and 30 hours. ‘We have multiple payloads on the aircraft, [including] an EO/IR ball with a laser designator, and a SAR/GMTI [synthetic

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out of there. We have had our first Hellfire ready to go to the fight some time after engagement in support, putting direct fire November. Then, we will go into an IOTE on the enemy, as well as support with the [initial operational test and evaluation] in air force.’ July 2012.’ Messer noted that the early QRC That IOTE will evaluate the ability aperture radar/ground moving target deployments in Afghanistan have taught of a 128-soldier unit’s ability to fight indicator]. We also have a comms relay the army a number of performance three simultaneous missions over a package to be able to directly talk to the lessons that had not been previously 72-hour timeframe. soldier if one soldier wanted to talk to observed in flight testing, including a While the updates were provided by another over extended ranges, as well as to ‘turbocharger issue that we fixed within the programme office, Owings emphasised be able to talk to Apache, Kiowa or any unit about two months’. the contributions of the entire UAS that flies in the air. We currently also have Looking towards the future, he architecture. ‘All these systems are tied Hellfire [missiles] that we are able to fire offered: ‘We’ve recently gone through a together by a common architecture and from the aircraft, – [one that] is able to fly milestone decision to purchase up to our tend to operate off the UGCS or the off a diesel engine to keep a single type of fifth unit equipped, and that’s on contract Mini-UGCS and provide open protocols for fuel on the ground. today. Coming up, we expect to have a communication between the manned and ‘Over the past six months, we deployed deployment next calendar year – either the the unmanned fleets as well,’ he concluded. our second QRC of four aircraft. They went first or second quarter, that depends on the ‘So these are not just standalone systems – into Afghanistan and are currently operating army. We will have the unit prepared and they are really a collection of capabilities.’ UV

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Advanced radar capabilities are now Shrinking sensors being added to MALE systems like the IAI Heron and are The miniaturisation of radar is expanding the moving towards light capabilities of smaller UAVs, reports Peter Donaldson. TUAV integration. (Photo: US DoD)

adar is one of the most potent million contract with a Latin American During the previous month, the company sensing technologies ever developed, customer – a deal that included EL/M-2022U had demonstrated dismount detection with R and it is natural to employ it as widely maritime surveillance radars for integration the Lynx Advanced Multi-channel Radar as possible in UAS. Many UAVs carry radar, with manned maritime patrol aircraft and (AMR) aboard a Predator B, which was a but its size, weight and power needs have UAVs. This was followed in June by a deal in first for this class of aircraft. The test flight long restricted it to larger platforms that which Selex Galileo will supply broadly programme evaluated its ability to detect have the muscle to lift it and the amps to comparable Gabbiano radars for Elbit UAVs. walking or running humans, using space- run it. However, this is rapidly changing as The EL/M-2022U is designed to detect time adaptive processing. governments and industry endeavour to and automatically track ships large and In June 2011, there was also a successful develop smaller, less power-hungry systems small. It also provides range signature and demonstration of Northrop Grumman’s with good performance, and field them inverse SAR (ISAR) modes, comparing AN/ZPY-1 STARLite radar on board the US quickly in order to meet constantly received signals with an image library for Army’s Persistent Threat Detection System evolving requirements. automatic classification. Strip SAR and spot (PTDS) aerostat at Yuma Proving Ground, On large platforms, radars fit into SAR modes for littoral surveillance also feature, Arizona. It was reported to have detected multi-sensor packages, but these are and the sensor can detect and track airborne both vehicles and dismounted individuals, migrating down the food chain thanks to targets and weather phenomena. Configured helping to identify them by cueing the miniaturisation. Over the past two decades, for a MALE UAV, it weighs 114kg and draws EO/IR payload. synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with ground 2.3kW, whereas for a VTOL UAV, this can be Weighing 30kg, the radar occupies moving target indication (GMTI) capability reduced to a 50kg/1kW package. 0.03 cubic metres and draws less than 750W, has evolved from a technology requiring an The Selex/Elbit deal involves the installation according to company figures. In SAR mode, aircraft the size of a Boeing 707 to a sensor of the 43kg/20W Gabbiano T20 on the it offers both strip and spot images in high that can now fit into UAVs as small as the Hermes 450, and the 62kg/200W Gabbiano resolution, and in GMTI mode it overlays Insitu ScanEagle and Northrop Grumman Bat, T200 aboard the Hermes 900. The first T20 is moving targets on a digital map. A maritime for example. due for delivery by the end of 2011. moving target indication mode is in SAR/GMTI is now a core capability of MALE General Atomics demonstrated a maritime development, and the system is currently systems, and is beginning to find its way into wide-area search mode with its Lynx radar in deployed aboard the USMC’s Northrop light tactical UAVs (LTUAVs). General Atomics’ the June 2010 USN Trident Warrior exercise. Grumman Fire Scout VTOL UAV and the Lynx, Northrop Grumman’s STARLite, Selex Using algorithms optimised for detecting US Army’s General Atomics Gray Eagle. Galileo’s PicoSAR and ImSAR’s NanoSAR and imaging small vessels, including semi- families, for example, all moved the submersibles, it identified them at significant LEAVES, VEHICLES AND DISMOUNTS technology on and have opened up new ranges and provided intercept vectors to DARPA has had a long and fruitful applications for progressively smaller UAVs. other aircraft and ships. The Lynx is a Ku-band involvement with radar technology, sensor that weighs less than 37kg. It draws driving the development of advanced MARITIME COMPETITORS around 300W to provide a resolution in SAR capabilities, such as foliage penetration, The increasing importance of radar-capable mode of around 3m, a SAR range greater than counter-camouflage and tracking humans maritime UAVs was highlighted in April 2011 80km and a GMTI range of 23km, according on foot, through projects such as the when Israel’s Elta Systems announced a $33 to company figures. Foliage Penetration, Reconnaissance,

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Surveillance, Tracking and Engagement and Engineering Command Simulation and Radar (FORESTER), Tactical Reconnaissance Training Technology Center for the FORESTER and Counter-Concealment Enabled Radar Signal Processing Enhancements Program. (TRACER) and Vehicle and Dismount Potentially worth $11 million, the Exploitation Radar (VADER), all of which second came from DARPA for its Foliage SAR imagery from a General Atomics Lynx use UAVs as base platforms. Penetration (FOPEN) GMTI Radar Exploitation payload. (Image: General Atomics) In January 2011, Syracuse Research and Planning programme. This effort will (SRC) won two contracts, potentially worth see SRC develop, integrate and demonstrate of detecting and geo-locating objects up to $12.3 million, for signal processing a set of tools to improve current GMTI that are buried, camouflaged or concealed enhancements and planning tools for use capabilities. Foliage penetration is one under foliage. The system can process with its FORESTER. As the name suggests, of these, and is designed into Lockheed captured images in real time, and transmit the radar can see through foliage to track Martin’s TRACER, which completed flight them to multiple ground stations, says people and vehicles on the ground, and it testing on an MQ-9 Predator in April 2011. the company. also has SAR/GMTI capabilities. After initial Along with smart techniques, such as flight testing on a Sikorsky Black Hawk, the BURIED DATA advanced signal processing algorithms, sensor was integrated with the Boeing These evaluations followed a programme TRACER makes use of the propensity of A160 Hummingbird. of 100 flights aboard manned platforms. RF energy in the UHF and VHF bands to The first contract, worth $1.3 million, came The company describes the TRACER as a penetrate through a forest canopy and from the US Army Research, Development dual-band (UHF and VHF) SAR capable even into the ground. According to the

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company, its signal processing capabilities system that includes a TV camera and a metres from the central EO and processing allow the system to suppress background Swan II fourth-generation midwave IR focal module to ease integration into a variety clutter and returns from stationary objects, plane array. of platforms, says the company. The weight while revealing the positions of mobile and Built from multiple low-power, solid-state of the complete system is quoted at under portable targets. transmit/receive modules, the radar’s twin 25kg. The PicoSAR radar alone weighs 10kg TRACER was developed in the late AESA units can be mounted up to two and draws less than 300W at 28V DC. An 1990s under DARPA sponsorship, and over the course of many hundreds of missions during the past decade, its detection and tomography capabilities have proven extremely robust against a wide variety of targets in different foliage environments, says Lockheed Martin.

AND YET SMALLER Following the success of Northrop Grumman’s VADER, a SAR/GMTI sensor carried by a light, twin-engined fixed-wing aircraft, this capability is being extended to LTUAVs. In February, Trident Systems, a small company with a net-centric C4ISR background, announced that it was developing a radar that operates in the L- and Ku-bands and is small enough to be carried by a Shadow Tier II UAV. ‘This is a quantum leap forward in giving the commander at the brigade level and below a self-directed capability to detect and track vehicles (in real time), and people who are moving on foot,’ said Nick Karangelen, CEO and founder of Trident. ‘We can integrate a new pod under the Shadow’s wing without interfering with any of the existing systems or capabilities.’ If flight testing on a Micro UAV TigerShark at Yuma Proving Grounds, planned for this autumn, goes well, Karangelen believes that he could field the radar within 12 months in order to meet a quick-reaction capability (QRC) requirement. As elements of integrated systems, all of these radars can cue EO/IR sensors to enable positive identification of detected targets. Selex Galileo took the next logical step by integrating a SAR/GMTI and an EO/IR sensor into a single package. Known as PicoSTAR, this system brings together the miniature PicoSAR active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and an EO

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X-band sensor, it offers a maximum map The QRC approach encourages resolution finer than 1m and a resolution- the rapid fielding of new capabilities Selex Galileo’s PicoSTAR combines dependent maximum range of 20km. programmed into small groups of radars the PicoSAR radar In February, Selex Galileo announced on an incremental basis, responding with an EO system. that it had won a contract for three PicoSAR rapidly to the warfighter’s needs. This is a (Photo: Selex Galileo) radars from a non-NATO export customer demanding business, and one of the keys to to be integrated into an LTUAV for evaluation. success is the Application Ready Subsystem A successful trial could result in a full (ARS), of which Mercury Computer Systems is ‘The ability to integrate commercial items production run, says the company. a prominent exponent in the ISR market. and deliver them to the warfighter quickly ARS provides customised computer requires QRCs from the prime contractors,’ IT’S ALL RELATIVE infrastructure tailored for specific explained Brian Perry, director of services Even the PicoSAR begins to look bulky applications, such as radar, electronic and systems integration at Mercury. when compared with ImSAR’s 900g X-band warfare, EO/IR, C4I and sonar. They are The use of ARS is one factor that enables NanoSAR, which measures 16x19x11cm, and hardware-agnostic systems built from the company to realise new systems quickly. provides 1m resolution at a range of 1km, processing, input/output and memory A programme to develop a digital processor drawing 15W. This tiny sensor’s integration modules based on universally recognised for a ground mobile radar is one recent into Northrop Grumman’s 3.5m wingspan standards. ARS enables rapid integration example. ‘By working closely with our Bat and Insitu’s little ScanEagle was of COTS products into ‘complex customer, co-developing technical announced in February 2010. heterogeneous systems’. specifications and statements of work,

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we were positioned to provide proof of capabilities. The 48-month effort is valued example, the Multipath Exploitation Radar manufacturing to the test range in nine and a at just over $30 million, with participation effort is aimed at producing GMTI radars half months,’ said Perry. ‘In addition, we were from France, Sweden and the UK. The that are effective in urban environments. able to produce low-rate initial production companies involved include Thales, Selex The idea is to use normally troublesome systems to the end user within 16 months Galileo and Saab. multipath reflections to fill in the radar after receipt of order.’ With academic support, the companies ‘shadows’ from buildings. The company has applied this philosophy will initially investigate low- and high- Future advanced UAV radars will exploit to major programmes including Aegis, Global frequency surveillance technologies and the X- and W-bands to produce ultra-small Hawk and Predator. multi-band/platform sensors. Anticipated and light integrated sensors, says DARPA. research topics include: interference Another approach involves small FORWARD-LOOKING rejection for low-frequency SAR; vertical UAV radars operating cooperatively Looking ahead to the 2015-2020 timeframe, SAR; miniature reconfigurable RF filters; as coherent multi-static systems to the European Defence Agency launched multi-mode analogue/digital converters, compensate for the low power of small the multinational Studies for Integrated RF and intermediate-frequency switches; sensors. Coherent multi-static operation Multifunction Compact Lightweight Airborne data compression; miniaturised high- will be enabled by ‘multiple input, multiple Radars and Systems effort in April 2009. Its frequency building blocks; and gallium output’ techniques akin to those used in goal is to deliver new UAV radar payloads nitride semiconductors. wireless communication systems. Clearly, with SAR/GMTI, FOPEN, electronic support In the US, DARPA continues to nurture the combination of radar and UAVs is measures and possibly communications UAV-applicable radar technologies. For bursting with potential. UV

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TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

As developers struggle to convince military customers of new applications for unmanned aircraft, Andrew White and William F Owen discover how an Israeli company is developing a twin-fan design to solve some of the current problems surrounding VTOL UAVs. The Air Mule cometh

The prototype Air Mule, seen during recent flight trials. (Photos: Urban Aeronautics)

rban Aeronautics used the Paris Air project was subsequently cancelled and all increase fan efficiency with the louvres closed Show in June to dismiss conventional but forgotten. in the hover, but at the same time facilitate U rotary-wing VTOL UAVs as an ‘interim However, a small team of engineers and high-speed flight by opening up gradually as solution’ for cargo resupply missions. aerodynamicists in Israel began to research a the vehicle picks up forward speed, resulting Speaking to Unmanned Vehicles, marketing twin-fan design to create a VTOL UAV that in a smooth ingress of airflow and a reduction VP Janina Frankel-Yoeli said only a rotorless could operate within urban terrain and close in the drag of the duct walls.’ VTOL UAV would satisfy this requirement, in to obstacles, with a much-needed degree of An all-composite airframe, married to a preference to systems including Boeing’s immunity to rotor blade strikes. A circuitous 730shp Turbomeca Arriel 1 helicopter engine, A160T Hummingbird and the Lockheed development route led to the Air Mule – a delivers a substantially improved power-to- Martin/Kaman K-Max, although she 640kg UAV capable of carrying 560kg of fuel weight ratio. Production aircraft, however, will conceded that these were ‘better than or payload. almost certainly have an Arriel 2 with full manned helicopters’ for such purposes. authority digital engine control. In forward Outlining plans for the Air Mule to conduct THE BIG DIFFERENCE flight, the centre-section ‘hump’ of the vehicle its first full working demonstration next year, What makes the Air Mule so different from delivers an estimated 20% increase in lift, she said: ‘Helicopters are more limited in the AirGeep II are the technological advances allowing an extra 300kg of payload when aerial access to the urban environment, but that have been made since the 1960s in using a rolling take-off. Meanwhile, two small the Air Mule has no rotors, which are the terms of controls and power packs, as well tail-mounted thrust fans aid propulsion. biggest cause of helicopter crashes.’ Frankel- as in understanding VTOL aerodynamics. The cargo is carried in two equally sized Yoeli said the aircraft would offer a solution to ‘The Air Mule uses the same fore and aft compartments on either side of the upper USMC requirements for a cargo resupply ducted fans, but these now have computer- centre section. The aircraft will operate at a capability in Afghanistan. controlled inlet and outlet vanes, which give 12,000ft pressure altitude, which makes it The Air Mule is one of several designs that the vehicle probably the most precise control suitable for the vast majority of operations the Urban Aeronautics has developed from response of anything flying today,’ explained worldwide. the Piasecki VZ-8 AirGeep II, a little-known Rafi Yoeli, founder and CEO of Urban concept that emerged in 1961. As the name Aeronautics. ‘Using the vane control system, PAYLOAD POTENTIAL implies, the aircraft was designed to be a the vehicle can move in all six degrees of Potentially, a production Air Mule II will be ‘flying jeep’. Powered by two 2.5m diameter freedom independently. able to deliver a 125kg payload to anywhere it ducted vertical fans mounted fore and aft, ‘The aircraft also has additional intake can land within a 300km radius, and fly the it exhibited poor flight characteristics, louvres in the front and rear of the fore and same payload back with a dash speed of according to industry sources. The US Army aft fans, respectively. These substantially 100kts or 90kts in cruise.

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TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

Schiebel’s Camcopter S-100, but Yoeli argued: ‘An Air Mule can fly to any receiving party, landing in almost any terrain, and have them unload its cargo in near total darkness or thick fog, with the blades turning and engine running without presenting any hazard to the men on the ground. The Air Mule also has far The outlet vanes, propellers better sloping ground performance than a and inlet vanes of the rear fan. helicopter, with none of the terrain proximity hazard of a main or tail rotor.’ Helicopters are vulnerable to small arms fire The ducted fans also have a far greater and MANPADS, and are increasingly tolerance of damage and foreign object expensive to operate, to the point where they ingestion than conventional rotor blades. This are becoming inefficient for certain tasks. This means an Air Mule can land in a wide range of is particularly evident when it comes to places, such as narrow streets and woodland transporting payloads in the sub-500kg clearings, that a UH-60 cannot. category. It is simply not efficient to employ a ‘If needed, an Air Mule has the ability to CH-47 or UH-60 for small payloads over short operate from extremely small vessels, relative ranges, especially in terms of available crew to the size and weight of the aircraft,’ Yoeli According to performance estimates flying hours. continued. ‘For example, it could operate from based on initial testing, the same applies to a Air Mules can work in low-visibility a 60t deck-equipped Dvora II-class patrol boat. 500kg payload delivered to within 100km of conditions that would normally ground While a Camcopter S-100 could do the same, the aircraft’s starting point. In theory, this manned aircraft, and they can fly around the this platform only has a cargo payload of could mean delivering half a tonne of clock, pausing only for fuel, loading and 53kg, compared to the 500+ of the Air Mule, ammunition to the front line and, if maintenance. Moreover, the loss of manned which in theory could also carry two Sea Skua- necessary, recovering two casualties on the helicopters to enemy action can have a type missiles.’ return journey. significant political impact. As regards transport for deployment, two With some armies still struggling to fully This is not to suggest that this kind of UAV partly assembled Air Mules can be carried in a understand UAV applications, the main would replace support helicopters completely. C-130, minus the thruster fans, which would question that militaries must address here is It would, however, enable their crews and have to be re-attached prior to flight. Without whether they want casualties and soldiers to flying hours to be more effectively allocated. these, the Air Mule is narrow enough to fit be flown in the current operating inside a 40ft ISO container. This gives the environment by unmanned systems. The Air COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE vehicle the fairly obvious capability of Mule II will be equipped with a zero-zero Other battlefield VTOL UAS options include operating from the back of any flatbed truck ballistic parachute, and is intended to be Boeing’s unmanned AH-6 Little Bird and that can carry a 20ft ISO container. certified in line with US FAR Part 27 This may all seem like another hypothetical regulations, in order to be safe for passenger UAV concept that is merely ‘interesting’. transport. However, in January 2011, the Israeli MoD From a battlefield medicine point of view, disclosed that it is participating in the funding the concept means that casualties would of an Air Mule technology demonstration, need to be stabilised to the degree that they with a casualty evacuation system being can be left unattended for at least 35 cited as the major capability needed. minutes, given a flight distance of 100km. It Flight demonstrations are expected to be therefore seems more feasible to move the completed during 2012, according to Yoeli, casualty to a location from which they can be who added: ‘We will probably demonstrate safely extracted by conventional helicopter. practical UAV medical evacuation within the However, this is undermined by the next five years.’ He also told UV that a number advantages of the Air Mule compared to in- Air Mule vs UH-60: an illustration of the of NATO militaries have expressed a strong relative rotor disc clearances required. service manned platforms. interest in the project. UV

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ith the UK government threatening to further downsize W the number of personnel in the armed forces following last year’s Strategic Defence and Security Review, attention is turning to the ability of unmanned systems to take on more roles, especially in operational theatres. The British armed For example, base protection, a specialist forces are learning role of units including the RAF Regiment, has become one of the latest mission areas to be lessons about how looked at in the context of available unmanned systems unmanned technology. But questions remain can be used in the about the extent to which warfighters are force protection willing to rely upon autonomous platforms role, reports for their own protection, defence insiders Andrew White. have suggested. No more Troops that could be affected include 58 Squadron RAF Regiment and No 8 RAF Force Protection Wing HQ. Formed in 2010 to concentrate on ‘specialist force protection capabilities at [Camp] Bastion dismounts? and Kandahar airfields’, these units could soon see their roles rapidly diminish as The unmanned Snatch Land Rover has received mixed reviews following recent operations. part of the MoD’s latest initiative. (Photo: UK MoD Crown Copyright)

THE NEXT STEP Mastiff ‘Protected Eyes’ vehicles; two Micro Air OPERATIONAL FLEXIBILITY Coming on the back of the success of its Vehicles; two High Mobility Engineer Donohoe referenced Talisman missions during Talisman route-clearance and route-proving Excavators; and two Talon UGVs. Operation Herrick 12 in 2010, which included strategy, which rolled out in Afghanistan in However, the unmanned option is by no defeating IEDs, force protection and mentoring June, the MoD is now lining up Operation means a mature solution. According to the the Afghan National Security Forces. Concord – using fully autonomous UGVs in British Army’s Maj Thomas Donohoe, of HQ Totalling 40 separate tasks over a six- support of tactical patrols that contribute to 29 EOD & Search Group, there is work to be month tour, Donohoe said that the missions force protection and target surveillance – as done in order to improve not only Panama, spanned Talisman’s ‘entire array of CONOPS the next step into the unmanned realm. but also any future unmanned force [concept of operations]’, and explained how However, Operation Panama, which protection assets. Viking all-terrain vehicles were used to secure involves the deployment of unmanned Referring to Panama, he said: ‘We are not high ground, allowing Talisman troops to Snatch Land Rover 4x4 vehicles into the asset 100% clear on its capability. There is more move through an area of operations, mix that is Talisman, has seen mixed success work to be done, but at least we are in the followed by a combat logistics patrol a according to armed forces insiders. right ballpark to get a mounted system to ‘tactical bound’ behind. Around a dozen Land Rover platforms, detect [IEDs] and prevent soldiers Utilised for both defensive and offensive associated sensor suites and data links, are dismounting.’ operations, such as ensuring safe passage for now working in conjunction with manned Designed to take a human out of the loop, coalition forces conducting strike missions, as land platforms as part of Talisman, sources the unmanned Snatch vehicles often cover well as ‘shaping the battlefield’, Donohoe told Unmanned Vehicles. as little as 500m in two hours. Camp Bastion, described how his Talisman troop conducted UV understands that two Snatch UGVs and for example, comprises an ever-increasing tasks throughout the whole of Helmand associated GCS have been incorporated into perimeter that currently measures some Province from Camp Bastion. each of the six Talisman teams, which already 50-odd kilometres, when taking into ‘Terrain [and] threat are going to vary include: two Buffalo Rummage and four account Camp Leatherneck. significantly across the area of operations – in

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the south, there was more restrictive terrain During Herrick 12, Donohoe’s Talisman medium-sized platforms for situational and it was difficult to avoid any vulnerable team lost a single micro-UAV, although he awareness, counter-IED and ISR missions. points,’ he explained. ‘Most enemy actions described it as a ‘very noisy, capable beast’. Working in conjunction with the UK’s were identifiable, [and] through training, ‘We would send it ahead of search teams Defence Science & Technology Laboratory our search advisors identified potential to suspected or known vulnerable points to (DSTL), the MoD is understood to be in the IEDs in the ground. If possible, we would cue assets or call in others to provide better capability concept demonstrator (CCD) phase avoid them, and if necessary, do something eyes on [them],’ he said. of Operation Concord. The main drive behind about them. Lessons were learned and hits ‘When it went up, the atmospherics this is to reduce the ‘substantial man-hours’ were taken.’ in the area changed immensely and we required from a unit to conduct perimeter Subsystems carried as part of the Talisman could get down to within two feet of patrols as part of force protection CONOPS. troop also performed well, with the Talon suspect devices.’ However, he conceded ‘It is in a [CCD] phase at the moment, providing the clearance capability. ‘It is that the UAV did suffer from a low wind with a decision point in September to see because of this [UGV] that we were able to threshold. whether it can be taken forward to a UOR,’ an conduct our mission,’ he explained. ‘It was the industry source told UV. ‘This mobility patrol mechanical means [to deliver] whatever CONCORD RISES AGAIN system is being assessed under a concept weapon system we required and similar to On the back of the success of Panama, demonstration programme, conducted tactics used in Northern Ireland.’ However, he the MoD is now considering the wider by DSTL.’ was unable to provide more details on business case for force protection UGVs, However, sources cautioned that the existing tactics, techniques and procedures. which could include additional small and programme has yet to receive the ‘green

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light’, emphasising that the MoD was unlikely to consider weapons carriage for the selected system, should it be fielded in the future. It is understood that the MoD is using Israeli company G-Nius’s Guardium UGV for the programme – a system that was The Nahshon UGV could be a contender for UK force first unveiled at the Israel Military Weapon protection and patrol requirements. (Image: G-Nius) Technology Exhibition in 2008. Sources said that the developer, a joint venture between two-way audio link; CBRNE detectors; and tactics, techniques and procedures perceived Elbit Systems and IAI, had conducted RF identification interrogators, to name but for the unmanned Snatch Land Rovers. discussions with the MoD regarding its UGV. a few. According to insiders, base protection is However, company officials told UV that its an ‘emerging requirement with increased Guardium Mk II and third-generation UGV, ENSURING FREEDOM autonomy’, and it was originally envisaged Nahshon, could also be used for similar With the RAF Regiment, for example, units that the Land Rovers deployed on Operation operations. Due to begin an evaluation are ordered to patrol areas around air bases Panama would be easily integrated into this process in the coming months, Nahshon in order to ensure that aviation assets and role. However, for undisclosed reasons, the provides up to 200% additional capacity over personnel can operate freely, according to MoD has elected to field a separate platform the Mk I Guardium, a G-Nius spokesman said. MoD literature. for automated base protection. ‘A lot of lessons have been learned,’ he Such a role has been delivered on Involved in this £15 million ($24.2 million) admitted. ‘There are many cases in which the operations at a number of air force, joint operation was Thales UK as lead systems activity routine, or the quality of manpower service and international operating bases in integrator, as well as MIRA and Exponent. providing security, has a negative impact on Afghanistan and, until recently, Iraq. BAE Systems and Marshall Land Systems security quality. The use of a security UGV According to Air Cdre Russell La Forte, the are also understood to have been involved, neutralises these problems completely.’ commandant general of the RAF Regiment: offering up alternative platforms earlier The MoD evaluation, however, continues ‘Force protection is of vital importance in on in the process. None of the companies to concentrate on the original Guardium allowing the RAF to play its part in bringing would comment on any participation in platform which carries 700kg of EO/IR, radar stability to Afghanistan, and also to allow all the operation. and other sensors. According to G-Nius, the those at the bases we protect to get on with UGV has a modular payload capacity that their work unhindered by insurgents.’ EVOLVING PLATFORMS can also encompass: electronic support Neither the MoD nor DSTL was available to Speaking at the Military Robotics conference measures/electronic countermeasures; a comment on Operation Concord, but, in London on 27 June, Lt Col Andy Stevens, hostile fire indicator; a missile approach according to other sources, it was proving to SO1 explosive ordnance engineering at the warning system; a laser warning system; a be a natural progression from the original UK Defence Academy, argued that there was

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false sense of security. ‘It’s a lost art, and we ‘Small UAVs are already being touted should get back to thinking of deception as for force protection of fixed bases, and the part of our robotics. coalition is operating a number of aerostats ‘Iraq was the most demanding and in Afghanistan,’ the source described. ‘On top technologically complex counter-insurgency of that, you have Dragon Runner and other the planet has ever seen, where the small UGVs which can all work in specialism of IEDs was far more complicated collaboration with one another by providing than currently witnessed in Afghanistan.’ situational awareness, ISR and counter-IED.’ ‘We have seen great ideas such as However, he fell short of recommending dragging [payloads] behind [UGVs], and the micro-UAVs for such a purpose, describing adaptability of vehicles – there is a move for how in reality their airworthiness and more homeland security [operations] and certification status was questionable. protection of air bases,’ although Stevens Other candidates for unmanned force warned that personally, he was ‘very protection include BAE Systems’ Multi- The remote-controlled Talon has been an asset to the MoD’s Talisman counter-IED opposed’ to the deployment of UGVs Operated All-Terrain Vehicle, which is based initiative. (Photo: UK MoD Crown Copyright) into insurgent environments. on the in-service Supacat chassis. Sources within the company told UV that such a still plenty of potential for UGVs in the current PARTY MIX system could be put into service very quickly, operational environment. However, UGVs will never provide a should the MoD or other users require it. Describing how such platforms had solution for force protection on their own, Elsewhere, Boeing’s Assisted Carriage evolved since their introduction on counter- and a mix of assets is widely regarded as System, based on a John Deere chassis, terrorism operations in Northern Ireland in the most efficient response to enforcing finished troop trials earlier in the year, the 1970s, he highlighted potential uses in such a requirement. complete with two LIDARs (light detection Afghanistan and Iraq. ‘We don’t use The MoD would not comment on any and ranging), two cameras for tele-operation, deception particularly well [in UGVs],’ he additional platforms it is considering to field a pan-tilt-zoom camera and a thermal explained, showing how unmanned alongside Operation Concord, but one imaging system. UV platforms could carry camouflaged weapons defence source told UV that current in-service payloads to lull enemy combatants into a equipment would suffice. Additional reporting by Beth Stevenson

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ISR AEROSTATS The lighter side

Aerostats have proven themselves as the unblinking eyes of the battlefield, and now industry is developing them further, Claire Apthorp discovers.

he use of airborne assets to perform making it a tactical asset used as an ISTAR ISR on the battlefield has long been a service within a designated area of interest. T central aspect of successful military One of the most successful aerostat operations. Indeed, the strength of an programmes is the Aeronautics Skystar 300, armed force’s aerial ISR fleet has become which was developed in 2006 as an answer an important determining factor in the to the operational requirements of the IDF. protection of warfighters on the ground and After initially entering Israeli service in the understanding of wider battlefield and 2007, the system has been supplied to enemy movements. customers worldwide, including the The past decade has seen the rise of the Canadian Army which deployed the aerostat UAV as a vital airborne ISR platform, with in Afghanistan. A smaller, lighter tactical HALE, MALE and tactical aircraft for shorter system has since been developed, known The LEMV has been developed with an missions playing an important role in the as the Skystar 180, which was first operated aerodynamic design and has less drag than competing vehicles. (Inset) LEMV will collection and dissemination of data and by the US Army in Afghanistan in July. provide more than 21 days of unblinking intelligence in-theatre. More recently, the use One of the key features of an aerostat stare. (Images: Northrop Grumman) of unmanned aerostats and airships has also such as the Skystar 300 is its persistence. been increasing, as armed forces seek more Once deployed, it is able to remain in the air operation, logistics and training periods, continuous and robust assets to add depth for 72 hours, and requires only 30 minutes the Skystar 300 is by far simpler and more and strength to the ISR network in and grounding before it can go up again. cost-effective to deploy compared to around the battlefield. ‘The continuity of the ISR service is longer UAV operations.’ than any other airborne platform,’ David Aerostats such as Skystar 300 are able PERSISTENT SOLUTIONS Rokach, head of land systems at Aeronautics, to carry a wide range of EO payloads The role that an aerostat plays within the told Unmanned Vehicles. ‘This gives a fielded according to customers’ requirements larger ISR picture is unique. As a tethered force a practically permanent ISR asset in the and specifications. The most advanced platform, it does not change its location air over its area of interest, and combined payload carried by the Skystar 300 is throughout deployment as does an airship, with the additional advantages of ease of Controp’s Speed-A.

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This is a tri-sensor EO/IR payload specially developed to be carried by the aerostat. The Speed-A combines a charge-coupled device daytime sensor and a cooled FLIR sensor, both with a powerful continuous zoom capability Aerostats have become effective in Since 2004, the US Army has ordered 37 PTDS and a laser pointer. In consideration of the detecting insurgent activity. from Lockheed Martin for use in Afghanistan system’s behaviour in the air, a unique gyro- (Photo: Lockheed Martin) and Iraq. (Photo: Lockheed Martin) stabilisation unit was designed in order to maintain a steady image. Aeronautics has also information from multiple platforms operates at an altitude of 5,000ft with a studied a number of projects in which the and sensors into a central operations hull volume of 2,100m3. The complete system carries other types of payloads to command that can then exploit the relevant package consists of the aerostat, a tether perform the widest possible range of data and create a situational awareness with fibre optics, a mobile mooring platform, missions, such as communication relay. image in real time. mission payloads, a ground control and In terms of logistics, the Skystar 300 is ‘In order to achieve an efficient operation, maintenance shelter, power generators designed for rapid deployment – both the C4I centre must receive data from sensors and site handling equipment. its mooring station and its C2 station are that complement each other – aerostats and As well as supporting Operation Iraqi based on standard container dimensions, UAVs are a perfect example of ISR platforms Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, enabling safe and easy air, maritime and that work together perfectly.’ the system has been selected by the USAF land transportation. The system’s mooring The reason the system works so well is for its Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) station contains the required resources for that the aerostat provides constant ISR at in 420K configuration for low-level radar independent operation: a generator for close range, and upon any detected event, a surveillance on, among others, US-Mexican power; helium tanks to fill the aerostat; and UAV can be launched for tracking a moving border air sovereignty missions. electric engines and winches that tether the target to distant areas. In addition, there are With its ability to accept and transmit airborne unit. Within 30 minutes, the Skystar no conflicts of air traffic, since the aerostat is data from a variety of other ISR assets, 300 can be launched to an altitude of 1,000ft, stationary and its position is fixed and known. the PTDS has become an important node and recovered in the same length of time. Furthermore, the performance of the system within the overall network architecture – can be improved with the integration of and one that is constantly adapted to meet UNIFIED C4I sensors that enhance operational capabilities new requirements. The biggest drawback to aerostat platforms is in harsh weather conditions, such as radars. ‘The intent is to continually evolve the their relatively stationary operation. Although system’s capabilities to maximise the benefit it is highly transportable, once airborne, ISR BACKBONE to the warfighter,’ Ron Browning, business the Skystar’s area of operation is fixed. One product line that the US Army has development manager for LTA systems at That said, Aeronautics is overcoming this deployed on a large scale is Lockheed Martin’s Lockheed Martin, told UV. ‘And one of the disadvantage by offering its customers the lighter than air (LTA) systems. First delivered biggest advantages outside its persistent ability to equip aerostats with ISR systems to to the US Army more than 75 years ago, the complement their UAV services, integrating range of systems has become central to both the Skystar and UAVs into a unified military ISR operations. One of the most C4I centre – in many cases with additional recent additions to the range is the Persistent integration sensors – to create a flexible and Threat Detection System (PTDS) that has complete ISR solution. been fielded in Iraq since October 2004. ‘The combination of a permanent ISR By leveraging a wide-area, secure asset in the air and additional ISR assets communications network, the tethered ready to be launched on a designated aerostat integrates threat reporting from mission is very efficient and powerful,’ said multiple tactical and theatre surveillance Rokach. ‘We are offering our clients a solution assets, and disseminates intelligence to that demonstrates a complete package called operational forces to aid interdiction of the Persistent Surveillance System. hostile fire and unconventional threats. ‘The concept is based on the fact that The 74K PTDS aerostat system hosts ISR operations demand the gathering of multi-mission payloads of up to 500kg, and

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ISR AEROSTATS

ISR capability is the deterrent factor that the system brings to operations – clearly the PTDS is very easy to see when it is deployed, and there is significant value there. In general, if you can see it, it can probably see you, and that provides a good deterrent to those who might otherwise act against our troops.’ Lockheed Martin is also seizing on a gap within the ISR market with its High Altitude Airship (HAA). The un-tethered, unmanned LTA vehicle will operate above the jetstream at 60,000ft in a geostationary position, delivering persistent station-keeping as a Aeronautics’ Skystar 300 programme was created in order to answer the operational requirements of the IDF. (Inset top) The Skystar GCS. (Inset above left) Controp’s Speed-A surveillance platform, telecommunications payload was developed especially to be carried by the Skystar 300. (Photos: Aeronautics) relay or weather observation system. At a fraction of the cost of other HALE under an agreement signed in June 2010, According to Metzger, Northrop UAVs and satellites, systems such as the HAA and is due to transition to a government Grumman is also working on capabilities will bring ISR and rapid communications facility for the final long-endurance that allow users to access the onboard data connectivity over a 965km-diameter area acceptance flight by the end of 2011. that is relevant to their role or mission, of interest, as well as millions of cubic Testing by an army joint military utility independent of their location, via PalmPilots kilometres of airspace. assessment team in an operational and other handheld equipment. The Lockheed Martin is currently under environment is scheduled for early 2012. company is also keen to stress the lower contract to deliver a sub-scale demonstrator Such a demanding concept-to-combat operational costs of LEMV as an LTA platform. of the HAA, known as the HALE-D, to the US schedule has been a challenge for Northrop ‘It’s not only about vectored thrust and armed forces, and Browning told UV that the Grumman, but the company remains certain using the engines to get airborne, it’s also system will be test-flown for the US Army that the three airship delivery dates will be about buoyancy created aerodynamically this summer. met on time. Speaking at the Paris Air Show from the vehicle’s shape, as well as the helium ‘As well as lower operational costs, in June, Alan Metzger, VP and integrated that we conduct – around 60% of our lift the HAA system will remove the tether programme team leader of LEMV and airship capacity will be [through] aerostatic lift via and weather concerns that are the programmes at Northrop Grumman, said helium,’ explained Metzger. ‘So halfway biggest drawbacks to operating aerostats that all of the programme milestones had through the mission, the vehicle becomes in-theatre,’ he said. ‘This system will fly much been met to date – the system is well into LTA, and we use the engines to bring the higher for several days at a time, and we the fabrication stage and components are aircraft back down to the ground.’ expect the value addition of this to now being refined in preparation for testing. operations to be significant.’ ‘Airships have been around for a long time, LTA OPTIMISM used extensively during World War II, and Overall, Northrop Grumman is extremely UNBLINKING STARE now aerostats are used widely today, but optimistic about the LEMV programme, and Lockheed Martin is not the only company they have limited abilities,’ he explained. ‘So in general the aerostat and airship market is looking at the use of motorised LTA what does a vehicle that stays up for three looking bright. The technology is well on the platforms to revolutionise the way weeks at a time mean for our customers? way to carving out a healthy niche for itself in battlefield ISR is carried out. Northrop It means we can put lots of different sensors the gap between traditional manned and Grumman is currently in the late stages up there and gather a lot of data without unmanned platforms, and leveraging the of development of its Long Endurance gaps – it’s persistent coverage. This is a truly benefits of their deployment. Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV), a multi-intelligence platform – a vehicle of These systems not only have the potential motorised airship that will operate at this size, 300ft, can carry a lot of cameras, to significantly change the way armed forces 22,000ft for more than 21 days at a time. communications equipment and sensors, are able to gather battlefield data, but to also The LEMV was developed in response and as a complete solution, it sends all that change the nature of ISR missions in-theatre, to the US Army Space and Missile Defence information to the ground, puts it together making the front line safer for warfighters Command/Army Forces Strategic Command and makes it available on the network.’ and more difficult for their adversaries. UV

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com innovation

Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) are reshaping the battlefield of the 21st century and helping deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. As UASs take on a growing role, military forces are re-evaluating the requirements for UAS operators, and there is an increasing need for more robust and capable mission training solutions. As a global leader in modeling and simulation and integrated training solutions, CAE is applying its expertise and experience to support UAS mission training. We are focusing on the training required by the mission team – including the pilot, payload specialist and mission commander. Our solutions are non-proprietary, flexible, adaptable and interoperable to enable distributed mission operations. Our simulation technology leadership in areas such a sensor simulation, weapons effects, computer-generated forces, artificial intelligence, common databases and true fidelity modeling – combined with our training systems integration expertise – come together to help our customers stay one step ahead and prepare the UAS mission team for mission success. Come visit CAE’s booth (#2049) at AUVSI North America in Washington, DC to learn more about our comprehensive UAS mission training solutions.

CAE’s UAS mission training solutions feature a fully immersive synthetic environment, state-of-the-art sensor simulations, common database (CDB) architecture and additional simulation technologies to support complete mission crew training and rehearsal requirements.

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AERIAL TARGETS

An artist’s rendering of the SSAT. (Photo: USN) Replicating the threat After several false starts, the USN has selected CEi’s BQM-167X to meet its requirement for a new subsonic sea-skimming missile surrogate, Richard Scott reports.

he advances in speed, stealth, terminal theorised in synthetic environments. In ATK of an engineering and manufacturing manoeuvrability and electronic many cases these are complex UAS in their development (EMD) contract to develop the T counter-countermeasures capability own right, embodying avionics packages, GQM-173A Multi-Stage Supersonic Target exhibited by successive generations of power plants, control systems and onboard (MSST) as a means to emulate the complex anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCMs) have driven payloads that enable the presentation of two-part subsonic/supersonic flight profile the development of ever more sophisticated representative kinematics, signatures and of the Russian 3M-54 Klub ASCM. air defence guided weapon systems. While threat profiles so as to fully exercise weapon However, from 2008 attention swung high-fidelity simulation environments are guidance and lethality effects. back to the acquisition of a new-generation increasingly used to support engagement subsonic target system. While PMA-208 modelling and performance prediction, NAVAL NEEDS already has the BQM-34S and BQM-74E there comes a critical point in the The USN has long recognised this need, aerial targets in its inventory, there was an development, test, training and pre- and has entrusted responsibility for the acknowledgement that, despite recent deployment certification process where the acquisition and in-service management upgrades, these legacy types were simply missile and its associated guidance system of aerial targets to Naval Air Systems unable to replicate some of the complex must prove this performance for real. Command (NAVAIR) through its Aerial Target and stressing flight profiles associated with At the same time, there is also a need & Decoy Systems Program Office (PMA-208). the latest subsonic ASCM threat types. to ensure the proficiency of fleet close-in Its mission statement is to provide ‘threat ‘We currently fly two different subsonic defences against a new generation of representative aerial targets for fleet training targets,’ explained Capt Dan McNamara, ‘asymmetric’ air threats, including light and weapon systems test and evaluation’. PMA-208 programme manager. ‘The aircraft, helicopters and small UAS. Once The past decade or so has seen venerable BQM-34S has been out of again, while synthetic trainers clearly have a PMA-208 commit much time and effort to production for several years. It has been a place, there is no substitute for taking on a the procurement of a new generation of test and evaluation “workhorse” but does live target in a realistic environment. high-speed targets designed to address not adequately represent many of today’s This means there is still a requirement for gaps in the provision of realistic supersonic ASCM threats. aerial target vehicles that can authentically surrogates. This has led to the development ‘The BQM-74E, which went out of replicate the kinematic and signature and fielding of the Orbital Sciences production in December 2010, is used for characteristics of generic or specific threat GQM-163A Supersonic Sea-Skimming smaller cruise missile representations. Both types so as to prove the performance Target and, more recently, the award to types have received various upgrades

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AERIAL TARGETS

through their careers, but we have reached a A BQM-74E is launched during a live missile firing exercise. The target is employed by the USN point where we need a single replacement as a high-fidelity ASCM surrogate, but is no longer deemed representative of modern subsonic Subsonic Aerial Target [SSAT] that can deliver threats. (Photo: USN) significantly higher performance.’ improve speed, range, manoeuvrability, BQM-74F into production. ‘When we TARGET SEARCH navigation, endurance and payload capability. tried to upgrade the BQM-74E to the -74F, In fact, the search for a successor subsonic Key revisions to the airframe included we found it was going to cost significant time target dates back to the late 1990s, when a swept wings and tail, and a propulsion and money,’ said McNamara. ‘As a result, we programme known as Target 21 was kicked upgrade increasing speed to M0.92 at sea looked out into the wider market to examine off with the objective of developing a new level and improving manoeuvrability to what was available off the shelf that could low-cost, high-fidelity recoverable target 8g instantaneous (5g sustained). This also meet our requirement.’ vehicle from scratch. To support this effort, in conferred a capability to execute aggressive March 1999 NAVAIR awarded parallel eight- all-axis weave manoeuvres down to 7ft. COMPARE THE MARKET month contracts to Northrop Grumman and An integrated inertial measurement This took the form of an alternative Lockheed Martin to produce conceptual unit/GPS system enabled waypoint non-developmental flight demonstration designs and explore technical and navigation as a standard operating mode programme to enable NAVAIR to evaluate a manufacturing approaches. (six missions with up to 70 waypoints could wider range of potential targets that could It was intended that both companies be pre-programmed and selected both pre- potentially fulfil its future SSAT requirement. would subsequently complete a programme and post-launch). The weave capability Composite Engineering (CEi) of Sacramento, definition and risk-reduction stage, with one allowed for pre-programmed fixed circular California, was contracted by NAVAIR downselected to perform EMD and follow-on and flat weave manoeuvres, and user- in September 2006 to conduct flight production. However, Target 21 was not programmable weaves. demonstrations of the BQM-167X, a system pursued further, and in February 2002 NAVAIR A critical design review for the BQM-74F evolved by the company from its BQM-167A awarded Northrop Grumman a $24.9 million was completed in mid-2003. Under the SDD Skeeter target (selected in July 2002 to meet system development and demonstration programme, Northrop Grumman delivered the requirements of the USAF Subscale (SDD) contract for the development, four targets for flight testing, as well as Aerial Target programme). integration and test of the BQM-74F, a building two company-owned air vehicles Offering improved low-level performance, substantial evolution of the BQM-74E in support of the programme. However, the BQM-167X built upon the -167A air incorporating a series of modifications to NAVAIR took the decision not to fund vehicle but introduced a new fuselage

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AERIAL TARGETS

with area rule, high-mounted wings and an the threat equivalency boundaries. It also AN/DPT-2B (H/I/J-band) and AN/DPT-2C embedded Microturbo TRI 60-5+ turbojet for determined that no existing USN subsonic (I/J-band) pulse-modulated radar reduced transonic drag. target could be modified to achieve the transmitting sets (used to simulate the An initial aerial demonstration was characteristics required. RF signatures of anti-ship threat radar performed in September 2007, with the fifth Following an initial draft in May 2009, a systems) and the AN/ULQ-21 electronic and final flight trial completed in February final SSAT RfP was released in December countermeasures system. 2008. ‘We were very impressed by what we 2009, calling for a recoverable aerial vehicle saw [of the BQM-167X] in the demonstration,’ capable of M0.90-0.95 at low altitude, able SELECTION SUCCESS McNamara said. ‘This was a target vehicle to realistically represent threats that operate SSAT proposals were submitted in March that could already meet many of our at high subsonic speeds, be launched from 2010. CEi bid a production variant of the threshold requirements.’ land, sea and potentially air platforms, and be BQM-167X, DRS Technologies (teamed The success of this demonstration was remotely controlled utilising the System for with sister Finmeccanica company Selex the key enabler to support full and open Naval Target Control. Galileo) bid the Mirach 100/X, and Northrop competition for a new SSAT that could fulfil Other key performance characteristics Grumman proposed its BQM-74X (an two distinct roles: first, serving as a high- included operation at altitudes from 10 to evolution of the abortive BQM-74F). fidelity subsonic target to replicate the threat 35,000ft mean sea level (MSL), a minimum Following an extended source selection characteristics of specified threat missiles; range of 280km (while maintaining 50ft process, in January 2011 NAVAIR selected and secondly, performing as a special absolute altitude and M0.90), the ability CEi as the winner and awarded the company configuration target vehicle to support to perform a sustained level flight turn of a $31.5 million cost-plus-incentive-fee a variety of test and evaluation needs. at least 6g ‘We were looking to build on an existing (objective 8g) at target solution that gave us a lot of confidence 500ft MSL with with regard to performance,’ said McNamara. less than 50ft ‘That meant something that was mature, of altitude loss requiring limited engineering development through a 180° and refinement of an existing target vehicle horizontal that could carry large payloads and electronic heading change attack packages, and offer much better when initiated performance in speed and range. at M0.90, and ‘For the most part, we don’t have a unique a capability to target to emulate each specific threat. Instead, execute fixed we try to have generic target vehicles that can as well as be configured, through changes in radar programmable cross-section, flight profile and electronic terminal weave payloads, to cover a wide envelope of threats. manoeuvres. ‘We’re in a pressurised budget As regards environment, but we must continue to payload provide the most realistic training systems integration, the to the fleet for their readiness before they RfP specified sail into harm’s way, and to our weapons equipment development programmes to maintain our installation kits technological edge.’ to support a number of SUITABILITY STUDIES alternative An analysis of alternatives/sensitivity study target completed by Johns Hopkins University augmentation Applied Physics Laboratory in April 2008 and auxiliary identified key SSAT performance attributes systems. These required for combat systems testing, and set included the

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AERIAL TARGETS

contract to undertake a three-year EMD phase. The contract also includes two firm fixed-price options for production, plus options for Contractor Logistics Support. Follow-on production is planned from FY2013, and is currently envisaged to cover a 15-year period at a rate of approximately 45 The BQM-167X was first tested by the USN as or more vehicles per annum. ‘We assessed part of a non-developmental subsonic flight each proposed system from a holistic cost demonstration programme. (Photo: CEi) perspective, to get a sense of the overall cost of ownership for each system up front, as we under a programme designed to address will probably be using SSAT for the next 20 avionics obsolescence. This upgrade saw the years,’ McNamara pointed out. ‘What we saw legacy autopilots replaced by an integrated with the CEi proposal was a target vehicle unit that delivers an avionics, radar altimeter that was mature, very robust in terms of its and support equipment package common performance, particularly speed, signatures to that of the BQM-74E. and payload capacity, and offering significant As regards the BQM-74E, almost 340 capability for future growth.’ vehicles remained in the USN’s inventory as He added: ‘The BQM-167X has already of October 2010, with Northrop Grumman been exported to South Korea and Taiwan. completing the delivery of the last new And CEi is also subcontractor to ATK for the production air vehicle in December 2010. MSST programme, using the BQM-167X as A BQM-74E product improvement the building block for the subsonic vehicle programme, for which Northrop Grumman component of the GQM-173A target. So was brought under contract in August 2009, there is going to be a lot of commonality adds new flight control functionality using between SSAT and the MSST “bus”.’ Programmable Autonomous Waypoint The USN intends to introduce SSAT Navigation (PAWN) software. The insertion (a formal nomenclature has yet to be of PAWN means the BQM-74E can now fly announced) from 2015 and achieve full completely autonomously while performing fielding in 2017 from multiple operating multiple evasive aerial manoeuvres (such as sites around the world. According to programmed climbs, dives, speed changes, McNamara, a decision has now been taken times of arrival, low-altitude waypoint control not to pursue the requirement for an air- and weaves from 40,000ft to as low as 7ft launch capability. ‘We did some historical from the sea surface). analysis on when and why air launch was PAWN additionally allows for more used for the BQM-74, and the simple answer complex mission profiles, with precision 6g was to increase the target’s range. But SSAT turns, ‘serpentine’ and ‘corkscrew’ terminal will have significantly greater range, so the manoeuvres, and other evasive ploys. Users need for air launch is obviated.’ can also fly in and out of manual control, transition between missions and override INTERIM UPGRADES speed or altitude while still flying within the In advance of the introduction of the SSAT, target’s program. PMA-208 is overseeing a programme of The new software functionality was limited updates designed to keep the successfully demonstrated in two test flights existing target inventory viable in the performed in October 2010 at the Naval Air short-to-medium term. In June 2010, Warfare Center Weapons Division test range Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems at Point Mugu, California. A third flight test, completed deliveries to the USN of the last completed in mid-November, validated the of 25 enhanced BQM-34S Firebee targets results of the first two. UV

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com During the past 25 years the Banshee aerial target has become the industry standard in affordable aerial targetry for surface-to-air and air-to-air, weapon systems. But now it’s just got faster

The latest Banshee derivative now has a jet engine but it retains all of the attributes of earlier Banshee targets such as:

Patented Hot Nose, Black Body IR enhancement. Passive and Active Radar Augmentation. IR and Radar Countermeasure Dispensers. Acoustic and Doppler Radar MDI Scoring Systems. Low Level, Sea Skimming capability

but most importantly it now has a maximum speed in excess of 260 Knots (Straight and Level flight, Sea level, ISA)

Meggitt Defence Systems Ltd Tel: + 44 (0) 1233 505600 The Boulevard, Orbital Park, Ashford, Kent, TN24 0GA, UK Fax: + 44 (0) 1233 503707 www.meggittdefenceuk.com

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INTERVIEW

Darren Lake talks to Frank Pace of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems about his transition to president of the company and the frustrations regarding export sales and the current lack of civil airspace integration. A change of pace

t has been a little over a year since they are trying to go to [South] Korea – we Frank Pace took over leadership haven’t even been able to market Korea. I of General Atomics Aeronautical ‘It’s a real battle with that MTCR issue. If Systems (GA-ASI) from the formidable countries knew they could get the aircraft, Tom Cassidy, and it seems that he has there wouldn’t be issues and we would be settled well into the role, talking tough selling a lot more. But the US has taken a when it comes to how he sees the future slow-role position that, even within NATO, of the company. it’s going to be questionable whether they In particular, Pace is frustrated with some will be approved. Even if they are, will they of the restrictions placed on international be able to have high-quality video payloads sales of aircraft and the lack of assistance put on? Are they able to have weapons and from the current administration when it all that is up to debate these days? We comes to export negotiations. Both the don’t personally understand why. Predator B and Gray Eagle are ‘category I’ ‘We think that our allies should be allies, systems under the provisions of the Missile and we should treat them as such. These Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which aren’t nuclear weapons or something that makes things exceedingly difficult from you would have to have the utmost care an export viewpoint. with – they are airplanes that are less ‘The FAA needs to just sit down capable of doing damage than the with some smart people and II MTCR WOES fighters we sell worldwide.’ figure this thing out.’ ‘It is a very difficult process,’ said Pace. The domestic market also seems ‘If you are category I, it is called presumed to be viewed as similarly restrictive by deniability. In other words, the presumption GA-ASI, which is frustrated by the lack of is you are going to be denied. It is only a movement on civil airspace integration administrator of the programme, decided special case waiver that lets that go out. in the US. Currently, the Federal Aviation to cancel it because [there was not] enough ‘During the Bush administration, the Administation (FAA) expects to have a technology richness in the programme, decision was made that close NATO allies plan in place for moving towards airspace which I think was totally wrong. and Australia could get these category I integration by 2018, which is not quick ‘So now the country has been airplanes. That was OK, but then it turns enough in Pace’s view. stagnant for the past five years, basically out that it was just a temporary thing. doing nothing to integrate these things So now we are back under a new II ACCESS DENIED into the airspace.’The newly established administration with no set policy.’ ‘That’s ridiculous, we are flying in Italian Congressional Unmanned Systems Caucus The lack of a policy has clear implications airspace – there are hard problems to helps give political support to restarting when it comes to GA-ASI finding new solve. We had a programme called Access 5, the process. However, Pace does not see customers, and is an obvious sore point which was supposed to give us access it as the answer. ‘You have a complete for the company. ‘You have to go fight to the airspace in five years – everybody organisation called the FAA – why do they for each one of them individually,’ Pace was involved in it. That was a $100 million need Congress? They need to just sit down explained. ‘Northrop Grumman got their programme over five years. [It was] not a with some smart people and figure this Global Hawk out to Germany, [and] I know very big cost, and NASA, who was the thing out,’ he concluded. UV

UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2011 | Volume 16 Number 4 www.UVonline.com Around an embankment, beyond the horizon, or over the sea, WASP continue to gather critical data undetected without putting your troops or civilians in harm’s way. Each AeroVironment UAS is UAS: RAVEN uniquely designed to maximize results without compromising PUMAAE the mission. Be prepared for any situation with our family of UAS ready for your deployment today.

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UV_AugSep11_IBC.inddShephard_AV.indd 1 3 3/30/1002/08/2011 11:24:58 09:12:22 AM UV_AugSep11_OBC.indd 4 01/08/2011 09:14:15