UAV Programs To Watch In 2010

Honeywell T-Hawk MAV

Honeywell completed delivery of an initial order for 90 RQ-16 T-Hawk “hover and stare” micro air vehicle (MAV) systems to the U.S. Navy last December, for use in detecting roadside bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each system has two T-Hawks, a small ducted-fan vertical-takeoff-and-landing UAV designed to be transported in a backpack. The gasoline-fueled air vehicle weighs 17 lb. and can operate for more than 40 min., at speeds up to 40 kt. and altitudes up to 7,000 ft. The RQ-16B Block II MAV introduces a gimbaled electro-optical/infrared sensor. Deliveries to the U.S. Army as the XM156 Class I (Block 0) UAV will begin in 2011.

Credit: HONEYWELL

Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle

The U.S. Defense Dept. plans to deploy a long-endurance surveillance airship to Afghanistan as part of a five-year technology demonstration program to be awarded this year. The Long-Endurance Multi-Intelligence Vehicle (LEMV) is required to operate unmanned and untethered for three weeks at 20,000 ft. carrying a 2,500-lb. payload. Flight testing is to begin within 18 months of contract award, followed by deployment. The payload is expected to include electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic-aperture radar/ground moving-target indicator, signals intelligence and communications relay. A hybrid airship combining buoyant, aerodynamic and propulsive lift is preferred.

Credit: LOCKHEED MARTIN

Qinetiq Zephyr

Qinetiq is aiming for a 14-day flight this summer with the initial production standard of Zephyr solar-powered high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aircraft. The latest—Zephyr 7—has several design refinements to increase efficiency and allow the air vehicle to maintain a higher cruise altitude at night, including a T-tail, greater chord on the inner wing section and ogive wing tips. Weighing less than 100 lb., the human-launched Zephyr is solar-powered by day and battery-powered by night. The earlier Zephyr 6 stayed aloft for almost 83 hr. in July 2009. Zephyr is being developed under a joint capability technology demonstration funded by the U.S. and U.K.

Credit: QINETIQ

AeroVironment Global Observer

Credit: AEROVIRONMENT

AeroVironment plans to fly the Global Observer hydrogen-fueled long-endurance unmanned aircraft by the end of April at Edwards AFB, Calif. The company is building three GO-1 air vehicles for a U.S. Defense Dept. joint capability technology demonstration. The 175-ft.-span GO-1 is designed to stay aloft for up to a week at 55,000-65,000 ft., carrying a 400-lb. payload. Two vehicles would provide year-round coverage, the company states. An internal-combustion engine burns liquid-hydrogen fuel and generates electricity to drive four propellers. AeroVironment plans a follow-on GO-2 air vehicle with 250-ft. span and 1,000-lb. payload.

Boeing A160T Hummingbird

Now designated the MQ-18, the A160T Hummingbird unmanned helicopter continues to be used for demonstrations while Boeing seeks a customer to launch production. The turbine-powered A160T has flown with the Forester foliage-penetration radar and an operational deployment to two Latin American countries is planned to demonstrate its use in counter-narcotics operations. An unmanned cargo demonstration for the U.S. Marine Corps is slated for February or March, and could lead to an operational deployment to Afghanistan by the end of the year. With its optimum-speed rotor, the A160T has an endurance of more than 24 hr. carrying a 300-lb. payload, but can lift up to 2,500 lb.

Credit: BOEING

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Avenger

Renamed the Avenger, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ jet-powered Predator C made its long-awaited first flight in April 2009. Developed as a private venture, the unmanned aircraft is aimed at the U.S. Air Force’s emerging MQ-X requirement for a Predator/Reaper replacement. The company also intends to offer the Avenger for carrier-based operation, with a folding wing. Powered by a 4,800-lb.-thrust Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545B turbofan, the first prototype has 66-ft.-span wing, gross weight of about 11,500 lb., and is designed to have a 20-hr. endurance carrying a 3,000-lb. payload. A second, larger aircraft will fly this year, weighing around 13,500 lb. including more fuel.

Credit: GENERAL ATOMICS