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Aviation History
1994
1994 - 1364.PDF
imely and accurate target intelli gence is vital if maximum use is to be made of modern, long- . range, artillery and muhiple- launch-rocket systems. To provide this, commanders on the battlefield are coming increasingly to rely on the stealthy, low- key, unmanned air-vehicle (UAV). The ideal UAV to support artillery Air vehicle V <C3 i Launcher, launch support vehicle and recovery vehicle Troop command © Reed Business Publishing post Battlefield surveillance scenario would be able to provide surveillance in day and night conditions and in bad weather; it would have a real-lime datalink; and would be operated easily by troops under battlefield conditions. The Phoenix UAV, now in production for the Royal Artillery (RA), is such a sur veillance system. The Phoenix was devel oped against a IiK Ministry of Delcnce (MoD) staff target- from a contract awarded in 1985. I he MoD approved Phoenix design* is being fit fo RA acceptance in November 199$ • It has' been designed from the outset as a nser- Iriendly system for troops to operate in the field. George Hafley, Phoenix project manager at GMAv, says that a principal aim was to make it simple to be operated and maintained by sol diers under battlefield conditions. Initially designed for use with the RA's Multiple Launch Rocket System, the Phoenix is now likely to lulfil much wider surveillance application when it enters sen ice in 1995. The Phoenix will replace the current fleet of Canadair C1.-89 Midge UAVs and Army maintenance instructors are attend ing training courses at GMAv before tak ing up -their posts. The Phoenix is an all-weather, day or night, real-time surveillance system which consists of a variety of elements. It was developed under a contract initially awarded in 1983. The twin-boom UAV' provides surveillance, through:its mission pod, the imagery from which is datalinked via a ground data terminal • (GDT) to a ground control station (G( S). This controls the overall Phoenix mission and is used to distribute the UAV-provid- ed intelligence direct to artillery forces, to command level, or to a Phoenix troop 34 FLIGHTINTERNATIONAL 1 - 7 June, 1994
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