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Tanks, Planes and UAVs for Lebanon
18-Nov-2009 14:57 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Fighters & Attack, Middle East - Other, Russia, Tanks & Mechanized, UAVs
Lebanese armed forces
The Lebanese Army’s own web site is blunt:
“The assistance received from Syria, the USA, and other friendly countries has played a basic role in bridging the gap between needs and available means.”
A number of countries are stepping up to fill those gaps, left in a military ravaged by foreign occupation, a long and losing civil war, and the presence of a foreign-backed private army in Lebanon possessing superior firepower. The USA has been supplying a wide range of equipment from ammunition to armored vehicles, and is adding tanks and mini-UAVs to that list. Belgium has worked to sell some of its own tanks and APCs, France has offered help with Lebanon’s existing French equipment; and in April 2009, Russia went so far as to offer MiG-29 fighters, for free, from its own stocks.
What capabilities would these systems bring? And how are those sales going?
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MQ-9 Reaper: The First Operational UCAV?
12-Nov-2009 12:35 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, BAE, Britain/U.K., Budgets, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Intent, Contracts - Modifications, Europe - Other, FOCUS Articles, General Atomics, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Partnerships & Consortia, R&D - Contracted, Raytheon, Support & Maintenance, Transformation, UAVs, Warfare - Trends
Reaper, ready…
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The MQ-9 Reaper UAV, once called “Predator B,” is somewhat similar to the famous Predator. Until you look at the tail. Or its size. Or its weapons. It’s called “Reaper” for a reason – while it packs the same surveillance gear, it’s much more of a hunter-killer design. The Reaper is 36 feet long, with a 66 foot wingspan. Its maximum gross takeoff weight is a whopping 10,500 pounds, carrying up to 4,000 pounds of fuel, 850 pounds of internal/ sensor payload, and another 3,000 pounds on its wings. Its 6 pylons can carry GPS-guided JDAM family bombs, Paveway laser-guided bombs, Sidewinder missiles for air-air self defense, and other MIL STD 1760 compatible weapons, in addition to the Hellfire anti-armor missiles carried by the Predator. When loaded up with laser-guided Hydra rockets, the Reaper becomes the equivalent of a close air support fighter with less situational awareness, lower speed, and less survivability if seen – but much, much longer on-station time. Some have called it the first fielded Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV).
DID’s FOCUS articles offer in-depth, updated looks at significant military programs of record. The Reaper UCAV will play a significant role in the future USAF, even though capability set makes the MQ-9 considerably more expensive than MQ-1 Predators, whose price benefits from less advanced design and volume production orders. Given these high-end capabilities, and expenses, one might not have expected the MQ-9 to enjoy better export success than its famous cousin. Nevertheless, that’s what appears to be happening. MQ-9 operators currently include the USA and Britain, who have both used it in hunter-killer mode, and Italy. Other countries are also expressing interest, and international deployments are accelerating.
As a convenience to readers, new material is indicated in green type. The latest additions include reports of “phone home” problems, Germany going in another direction for UAVs, and the basing of MQ-9s in the Seychelles for anti-piracy missions…
RQ-16: One Small Step for a UAV, One Big Step for FCS Class I
27-Sep-2009 17:48 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Boeing, Britain/U.K., Contracts - Awards, FOCUS Articles, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Project Methodologies, T&C - SAIC, Testing & Evaluation, Transformation, UAVs
Class 1 MAV
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In October 2005, “Four FCS UAV Sub-Contracts Awarded” tended to focus on the larger Class II company and Class III battalion-level options, while a FOCUS Article covering the MQ-8B Fire Scout addresses the Class IV brigade-level UAV for the Army’s Future Combat Systems (FCS) program. The smaller “Class I” platoon-level UAV options were addressed only in passing, largely because that aspect of the program wasn’t yet at the same level of development. That has changed.
The FCS Class I UAV will be used for reconnaissance, security and target acquisition operations in nearly all terrain, including urban environments. Each system of 2 vertical take-off and landing air vehicles, a dismounted control device, and associated ground support equipment will be carried by selected platforms and dismounted soldiers, and will use autonomous flight, navigation, and recovery.
This is DID’s FOCUS Article for the Class I effort, which survived the 2007 reorganization of the FCS program. It’s now known as the RQ-16 T-Hawk. The USA and Britain continue to place orders, and ongoing research may even give them GPS targeting capabilities one day…
One for All: AAI Textron’s UAV Control System
30-Jun-2009 13:38 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Avionics, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, IT - Software & Integration, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Signals Radio & Wireless, Support & Maintenance, Support Functions - Other, Transformation, UAVs, Warfare - Trends
OneSystem UGCS
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Can the Army create a universal ground control system for UAVs? The ability to use hundreds of comparatively cheap UAVs from different manufacturers has been a blessing to ground forces, who finally have the comprehensive aerial coverage they want. It can also be a curse. If each system has its own unique controller and vehicle – or worse, its own receiver and screen – the result will be chaos.
Enter AAI’s One System ground control offerings, which are a step toward a more universal future. This Spotlight article covers the One System concept, its ongoing development, its current reach, and future technology initiatives and requirements that will affect UAV ground control…
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Aerovironment’s Global Observer: Flying High, Again
03-Jun-2009 15:58 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Contracts - Awards, Design Innovations, FOCUS Articles, Forces - Special Ops, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Transformation, UAVs
ISR
CONOPS
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The late Dr. Paul McReady’s Aerovironment, Inc. has achieved just renown for the success of its small UAVs like the Army’s RQ-11 Raven and the US Marines’ RQ-14 Dragon Eye/Swift. Outside the military sphere, however, it is best known for civil successes like the human-powered Gossamer Condor, the giant, solar-powered Pathfinder and Helios aircraft, and the flying Quetzalcoatlus northropi ornithopter on display in the Smithsonian museum.
Now the firm’s tradition of military successes and aerial innovation are about to fuse, as it receives a major Advanced Concept/Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (ACTD/JCTD) contract for a UAV that runs on hydrogen fuel cells and can cruise at 55,000-65,000 feet for up to 7 days at a time, while carrying a 1,000 pound payload. Meet Aerovironment’s Global Observer, which promises formidable advantages in roles as diverse as communications relay, persistent ISR, maritime patrol, even storm tracking and weather applications…
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From Dolphins to Destroyers: The ScanEagle UAV
27-May-2009 10:13 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - Other, Australia & S. Pacific, Boeing, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Design Innovations, Forces - Marines, Forces - Special Ops, Other Corporation, R&D - Contracted, Radars, Transformation, UAVs
ScanEagle launch
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ScanEagle’s base Insight™ UAV platform was originally developed by Washington State’s Insitu, Inc. to track dolphins and tuna from fishing boats, in order to ensure that the fish you buy in supermarkets is “dolphin-safe”. It turns out that the same characteristics needed by fishing boats (able to handle the salt-water environment, low infrastructure launch and recovery, small size, 20-hour long endurance, automated flight patterns) are equally important for naval operations from larger vessels, and for battlefield surveillance. A partnership with Boeing took ScanEagle to market in those fields, and the design is carving out a market-leading position in its niche.
This article covers recent developments with the ScanEagle UAV system, which is quickly evolving into a mainstay with the US Navy – and others as well. The latest news involves a big win with US Special Operations Command – and industrial offset contracts in Canada…
Warrior ER/MP: An Enhanced Predator for the Army
02-Mar-2009 14:44 EST |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Budgets, C4ISR, Contracts - Awards, Contracts - Modifications, Delivery & Task Orders, Electronics - General, FOCUS Articles, Forces - Air, Forces - Land, General Atomics, Issues - Political, Lobbying, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Policy - Procurement, Transformation, UAVs
MQ-1C Sky Warrior
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In August 2005, “Team Warrior” leader General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. in San Diego, CA won a $214.4 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E) of the Extended Range/ Multi Purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System (ER/MP UAS). The Warrior was designed to fill both surveillance and attack roles, and the MQ-1C Sky Warrior derived from General Atomics’ famous MQ-1 Predator beat the Hunter II system offered by Northrop Grumman, Aurora Flight Systems, and IAI.
The Sky Warrior ER/MP program is part of the US Army’s reinvestment of dollars from the canceled RAH-66 Comanche helicopter program, and directly supports the Army’s Aviation Modernization Plan. ER/MP could be a $1 billion effort, and recently strengthened its position when a 2007 program restructuring cut the Future Combat Systems Class III UAV competition. Now, in FY 2008, the MQ-1C Sky Warrior ER/MP prepares to move into production – as the first big “Key West” battle of the 21st century between the USAF and US Army reaches a resolution. But the Sky Warrior and Predator will be merging into a single program. What does that mean, exactly? DID asked. Meanwhile, our readers asked us to explain the differences between the MQ-1 Predator, MQ-1C Sky Warrior, and MQ-9 Reaper. DID is happy to oblige.
Recent news includes deferral of radar capability, in order to get the UAVs into theater quicker, followed by an emergency buy…
The Larks, Still Bravely Singing, Fly… Elbit’s Skylark UAVs
27-Jan-2009 09:48 EST |
Related Stories: Asia - Other, Contracts - Awards, Middle East - Israel, New Systems Tech, Other Corporation, Sensors & Guidance, Signals Radio & Wireless, UAVs
Skylark-I launch
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Elbit’s Skylark-I mini-UAV has become a popular choice for portable “over the hill” surveillance, as nations like Israel, Australia, Canada, France, Mexico, Sweden, et. al. adopt it for battlefield use. Bental’s electric propulsion system using brushless permanent magnetic motors is an especial benefit to Skylark operators, as its silent operation avoids warning enemy targets of its presence.
In an effort to build on that success, Elbit soon introduced the larger Skylark-II for battalion level UAV operations, fired from a rail launcher mounted on small wheeled vehicles rather than launched by hand. In exchange for the launcher requirement and a doubling of the crew size to 2, the Skylark-II gains a mission radius of 50-60 km instead of 10 km, and the ability to mount larger sensor packages. Awards soon followed from sources as varied as Popular Science and industry analysts Frost & Sullivan – but awards don’t pay the bills.
This article will soon become a DII subscription feature, but for now, it remains public-access. The latest news comes from Israel, who has just awarded the “Sky Raider” battalion UAV competition to a new Skylark variant, beating a swarm of Israeli competitors in a fight to equip all of Israel’s ground battalions…
CENTCOM Looks to Boost ISR Capabilities in 2008-2009
24-Aug-2008 16:48 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Contracts - Intent, Industry & Trends, Middle East - Other, Specialty Aircraft, Transport & Utility, UAVs
RU-38 Twin Condor
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The nature of the current war puts a high premium “persistent, pervasive stare” capability, also known as technical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). America has been reminded (yet again) that these tools cannot replace human intelligence and social networks, but when used properly they create significant advantages for a counter-insurgency force. Right now, about 80% of the U.S. military’s aerial ISR assets – from UAVs to planes like the U-2 – are busy in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations. Most of those are in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates has been pushing the ISR idea. He’s pressing the US military to speed up procurement, and deploy more ISR platforms in theater. He’s also putting his money where his mouth is. A task force was set up, and approval was given to “reprogram” funds from other areas, in order to fund these additional ISR projects. Congressional defense committees have now approved a FY 2008 request to reprogram $1.2 billion. According to Pentagon sources, these monies will buy 21 manned ISR aircraft, add to the RQ-11 Raven, RQ-7 Shadow, MQ-5 Hunter, MQ-1 Predator, and MQ-9 Reaper UAV systems in theater, and buy more Scan Eagle UAV detachments for the Navy and Marines.
These changes will do much more than just improve surveillance…
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Raven UAVs Winning Gold in Afghanistan’s “Commando Olympics”
03-Aug-2008 13:00 EDT |
Related Stories: Americas - Other, Americas - USA, Asia - Central, Britain/U.K., Field Reports, Forces - Special Ops, Middle East - Other, Other Corporation, UAVs
RQ-11: higher, faster…
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Back on Feb 24, 2005, DID covered the success the RQ-11 Raven mini-UAV was enjoying in Iraq. In November 2005, StrategyPage reported that the RQ-11 Raven was also turning heads in what it calls “the commando Olympics” of Afghanistan:
“In addition to all the cooperation, there’s also a lot comparing notes. One thing everyone has noted is the large number of useful gadgets American Special Forces troops have. The most envied item is the American Raven UAV.”
Or at least, mini-UAVS like the Raven. This Spotlight article looks at Special Forces related mini-UAV buys from a number of countries, spurred by requests from troops in theater. The latest update involves a 3rd order from Australia for Skylark UAVs, and a report from the front lines that suggests progress for Britain’s Desert Hawk systems…
- RQ-11: Drawing Raves
- The Commando Olympics: Other Teams are Competing [updated]
- Additional Readings & Sources
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