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Aviation History
2004
2004-09 - 0990.PDF
DEFENCE UNMANNED SYSTEMS CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON UK to advance anti-TUAV weapon development Surface-launched guided missile would cause catastrophic damage using kinetic energy A UK industry team has completed the first phase of a UK Ministry of Defence-funded research pro gramme that could lead to the development of a surface-launched guided weapon for use against tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) threats. Qinetiq and guided-weapons house Sula Systems have released first details of a two-year concept definition study that has led to their creation of the Cougar counter- TUAV weapon. Exploiting a weak ness in the spatial awareness avail able to ground-based operators of unmanned vehicles, this low-cost system will be capable of causing catastrophic damage to an enemy UAV by hitting it from astern. Designed to augment other ground-based air defence systems, and use their existing target acquisi tion radars and command and con trol infrastructure, Cougar is expected to have a unit cost from just £25,000 ($45,900), says Qinetiq. Powered by a turbojet engine, Cougar is a monoplane design with a length of 1.2m (3.9ft), a 1.1m wing span and a launch weight of less than 14kg (301b). To be launched vertically from a tube using a booster motor, the airframe will have hinged wings and fins. It will not be equipped with a war head, but will use kinetic energy under a hit-to-kill flight profile. Qinetiq says Cougar will con duct a stern attack with a closing speed less than twice that of its tar get, allowing it to use cheaper flight control systems, while a low-cost infrared seeker will be used for acquisition and identification. The autonomous vehicle will be vec tored towards a hostile TUAV by using mid-course guidance updates from offboard sensors, with an operator in the loop to verify the correct target is to be attacked. If approved later this year for continued development, the pro ject will advance into a subsystem demonstration phase, which could be done largely using computer simulation, says Qinetiq's project manager Chris Price. The vulnerability of TUAVs to stern attack is already an area of concern for leading exponents, such as the US Air Force. Speaking earlier this year, a senior service official commented: "It's only a matter of time before some guy gets up there with a Cessna and a shotgun" to try to down the systems. Current designs such as the General Atomics RQ-1 Predator lack any countermea- sures capability, although the USAF's higher-flying and more expensive Northrop Grumman RQ- 4A Global Hawk will be equipped with the ALE-50 towed decoy. • Qinetiq is leading a further research project for the UK Ministry of Defence to study the development of future electronic warfare equipment for use by UAVs or manned aircraft from 2020. Teamed with Roke Manor Research and Thales, the company will com plete Phase 1 study activities in 2008, with a follow-on phase to involve the operation of a UAV payload testbed. Systems under study include communications and radar electronic surveillance suites. QINETIQ AND SULA SYSTEMS COUGAR INTERCEPTOR PROCUREMENT Taiwan to buy P-3Cr Patriot Taiwan's cabinet has approved the purchase of 12 used Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion anti-submarine warfare aircraft and three new Lockheed Martin/Raytheon Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) air defence missile systems, writes Brendan Sobie. Pending final legislature approval, the Patriot batteries will be acquired for NTS 145 billion ($4.3 billion) and the P-3Cs for NT$53 billion. Industry sources in Taiwan say Lockheed Martin expects to win a prime contract from the US Navy for a structural and mission system upgrade to the P-3s, but that much of the work may be outsourced to local companies. Taiwan's Aerospace Industrial Development Corpor ation (AIDC), Air Asia, China Airlines and EVA Air subsidiary Evergreen Aviation Techno logies are vying for this work. AIDC could be selected to man ufacture upgrade kits, with one of the maintenance, repair and overhaul firms to install these and provide future support. Lockheed Martin will propose a work package to the USN once Taiwan's legislature has approved the special budget plan and the scope of work required is determined. Taiwan's legislature is expected to approve the special budget plan -which also includes funding to acquire eight submarines - after reviewing all the US-built defence equipment set for purchase. EXERCISE TOLGA OZBEK / ISTANBUL Turkey launches Anatolian Eagle manoeuvres A total of 60 aircraft from the Israeli, Jordanian, Netherlands, Turkish and US air forces will take part in Exercise Anatolian Eagle 2004 from Turkey's Konya airbase until 20 June. The manoeuvres also involve two NATO-operated Boeing E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. Described by local officials as the Turkish equivalent of the USA's "Red Flag" manoeuvres, this is the third annual Anatolian Eagle exer cise to have been conducted. Israel did not participate last year because of a political protest. The Turkish air force selected its Konya facility to host the opera tions due to the unpopulated area that surrounds the base. A range area measuring 200 x 150km (108 x 80nm) will be used during the exercise, equipped with threats such as surface-to-air missiles and ex-Soviet radar systems. Israeli and Turkish companies including Aselsan, Gate, Havelsan, Israel Aircraft Industries and Savronik have provided support. Turkey's air force plans to market its Konya training area to air forces with limited national airspace, with potential customers including Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the planned Advanced European Jet Pilot Training framework. www.flightinternational.com FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 15-21 JUNE 2004 19
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