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Aviation History
2003
2003 - 0201.PDF
uAv UAV DIRECTORY From ground attack to fisheries protection, the mission capabilities of UAVs are diverse. We run through the products on the roster COMPILED BY RAMON LOPEZ / WASHINGTON DC AAI (US RQ-7A Shadow 200 The US Army plans to field at least 41 RQ-7A tacti cal UAV systems, each of which include four air vehicles, two GCSs, two ground data terminals, a portable GCS, a launcher, a TALS, and arresting gear. In December 2002, the army awarded AAI an $86 million contract for nine systems, six attrition air vehicles and associated equipment. The US Army has initiated development of a SIGINT capability for Shadow 200. Northrop Grumman is developing a TUAV radar for the brigade- level UAV derived from the ZPQ-1 TESAR used on the USAF's Predator UAV The Shadow 400 is a slightly larger version of Shadow designed for naval applications. The 265kg GTOW Shadow 600 has an endurance of 12-14h carrying a 41kg payload. It is powered by the 40kW UAV Engines AR801 engine. Dimensions length 3.4m, wingspan 3.9m Performance endurance 5-6h, ceiling 4,573m weight GTOW 148.6kg, max payload 25.3kg Powerplant UAV Engines AR741 rotary engine Payload EO/IR payload Guidance & control GPS Launch & recovery hydraulic launcher, wheeled Company information: www.aaicorp.com Aerosonde Mk3 The Mk3 is the latest generation of the Aerosonde, which was conceived as a small, expendable aircraft capable of all-weather operation over the remotest of oceanic regions. In 1998, the Mk1 Aerosonde replicat ed the first manned crossing of the North Atlantic. In 2001, Saab Systems took a 10% stake in the Australian company, intending to launch a co-opera tive programme to pursue tactical-level military surveillance contracts. Aerosondes have collected data in the deep trop ics, in severe thunderstorms, in cyclones, and in the Arctic. After a decade of meteorological and environ mental activities, Aerosonde is now moving into reconnaissance, agricultural, mining and biological activities. The aircraft is launched from a rack attach ed to the roof of a car and lands on its belly. It is con trolled through a laptop computer and briefcase-size ground station. Navigation is by GPS with the aircraft communicating via UHF radio or Iridium satellite. Dimensions length 2.1m, wingspan 2.9m Performance endurance 30-32h, ceiling 20,000ft Weight GTOW 14kg, max payload 5kg Powerplant 24cc fuel injected engine Payload meteorological instruments, cameras, IR temp sensor Guidance & control fully autonomous Launch & recovery launch from car roof rack, land on belly Company information www.aerosonde.com Dragon Eye Naval Research Laboratory and the US Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory are developing an affordable, expendable, airborne sensor platform, dubbed Dragon Eye, for "over-the-hill" small unit reconnaissance and threat detection missions. AeroVironment and BAI Aerosystems are competing for a single production contract for over 1,000 Dragon Eyes and 200 GCSs for the USMC. The notional Dragon Eye system will include two back-packable, low-cost, expendable man-portable 2.5kg hand- or bungee-launched air vehicles that break down into five pieces and a GCS consisting of a rugged and wearable personal computer with a small communications box. Able to operate in adverse weather, Dragon Eye will feature a GPS-based auto pilot for autonomous flight capability, 30-60 min endurance at 35kt airspeed, and a battery-powered electric propulsion system. Payloads will include day light, low-light, and IR imaging systems and a robust communications link. Recovery is accomplished via an autopilot-commanded deep stall terminal descent. Dimensions wingspan 114cm Performance endurance 2h Weight GTOW 1.8kg, max payload 0.45ki Powerplant electric propulsion Payload daylight, low-light and IR sensors Guidance & control GPS-based autopilot for 20 28 JANUARY-3 FEBRUARY 2003 FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL SUPPLEMENT www.flightinternational.com
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