Northrop Grumman is working on uninhabited combat air vehicles (UCAVs), which company officials believe could be deployed within 15 years to handle "dull, dirty and dangerous missions".
Acknowledging the UCAV research, the firm's military-aircraft-systems division at El Segundo, California, has revealed the design of a low-cost stealthy, re-usable, double-delta planform/ gull-winged UCAV of about half the size of a fighter aircraft.
Greg Zwernemann, manager of advanced uninhabited concepts, says: "This is only one example of the work we're doing internally."
Onboard sensors generate target information for the remotely situated mission controller, who would authorise the UCAV to release 225kg or 450kg bombs stored in a weapons bay located between the wheels of the main landing gear.
Another potential weapon is the115kg small, smart bomb which is under development.
The issue of weapons release is a fundamental concern to those considering UCAV operation.
The more conservative approach is to keep a controller in-the-loop for final weapons release .
Work has been under way for about a year, with concept development, trade studies, computer analysis and some windtunnel testing of advanced models being carried out. Zwernemann is looking at a small turbofan or turbojet powerplant for the UCAV.
Source: Flight International