US UAV and UCAV Technology

[bobbymike]

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/06/gasoline-powered-drones-that-can-stay-aloft-for-five-days.html

 

[fredymac]

Seems odd it has taken so long to put JDAM's on a drone.

https://youtu.be/7fGbpHyMz2E

 

[aim9xray]

Not really. JDAM is not like an early Sidewinder with a what, 30-pin connector as the interface to the aircraft.

JDAM integration requires that you have an integrated avionics infrastructure (either federated or integrated, Mission Computer, Stores Management, GPS/INS, station decoders, etc) in place in the aircraft before you can start to think about interfacing JDAM to the aircraft. With the MQ-9, it's even worse, because you need to reach back and modify the remote operator's station functionality and interfaces to do what was previously done in the cockpit and deal with the latency of (worst case) satellite operations.

It's as they say, a non-trivial task. This is a sign that GA-ASI has matured their software capabilities and is playing in the big leagues.

 

[bobbymike]

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/military/sd-me-kratos-drone-20170618-story.html

 

[seruriermarshal]

Textron Systems Nightwarden

;D

 

[hesham]

In a Russian book about Unmanned Vehicles,

can you ID this rotor UAH concept,the right one ?.

 

[AeroFranz]

The one on the left is definitely a Carter concept.

 

[well]

In a Russian book about Unmanned Vehicles,

can you ID this rotor UAH concept,the right one ?.

I can. It's part of my high speed helicopter UAV research work. We planned to apply the ABC concept for tandem helicopters.

 

[hesham]

In a Russian book about Unmanned Vehicles,

can you ID this rotor UAH concept,the right one ?.

I can. It's part of my high speed helicopter UAV research work. We planned to apply the ABC concept for tandem helicopters.

Thank you,and welcome aboard Mr. Well.

 

[seruriermarshal]

MDA ;D

 

[bobbymike]

http://aviationweek.com/defense/predator-stingray-general-atomics-leads-uav-boom

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/07/us-army-versatile-flying-squirrel-like-drone/

 

[Grey Havoc]

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2017/07/us-army-seeks-internet-battlefield-things-distributed-bot-swarms/139533/

I fear that they have learned nothing from the fiasco that was FCS...

 

[bobbymike]

http://breakingdefense.com/2017/08/thunderdrone-best-name-ever-but-what-is-it/

 

[bobbymike]

http://aviationweek.com/defense/skunk-works-sees-big-opportunity-attritable-uavs?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20170901_AW-05_407&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2&utm_rid=CPEN1000000230026&utm_campaign=11554&utm_medium=email&elq2=67baa8f1949045a0a87dac5721f6ae99

What will air defenses do when both sides of a conflict send hundreds upon hundreds of disposable UAVs that simply overwhelm any defensive response?

 

[sferrin]

http://aviationweek.com/defense/skunk-works-sees-big-opportunity-attritable-uavs?NL=AW-05&Issue=AW-05_20170901_AW-05_407&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_2&utm_rid=CPEN1000000230026&utm_campaign=11554&utm_medium=email&elq2=67baa8f1949045a0a87dac5721f6ae99

What will air defenses do when both sides of a conflict send hundreds upon hundreds of disposable UAVs that simply overwhelm any defensive response?

Lasers will be the only realistic response.

 

[Foo Fighter]

What about proximity airburst payloads? Enough shotgun pellets in the air at one time would be cheaper and more effectively than a laser targeting multiple points one after the other.

 

[dan_inbox]

That would work only if the swarm was nice enough to arrive all at the same time and from the same general direction. If they are smarter than that, then a rapid-fire laser is a better answer.

 

[sferrin]

What about proximity airburst payloads? Enough shotgun pellets in the air at one time would be cheaper and more effectively than a laser targeting multiple points one after the other.

Good luck shooting down 30 or 40 of these, arriving simultaneously from every direction, with a shotgun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9RUKcMoBRQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygtmatZ5o7s

 

[Colonial-Marine]

I'd agree that lasers are the ideal solution but for 30 years they've been saying we're less than 5 years away from laser weaponry being commonplace on the battlefield.

Of course the counter has to scale for the size/capability of the UAVs in question but what can be done on the squad level versus lots of small models like those?

 

[bobbymike]

Boeing Ups Autonomy Game by Acquiring Aurora Flight Sciences

Boeing announced Thursday that it will acquire Virginia-based Aurora Flight Sciences, which specializes in autonomous flight systems. In 2016, Aurora was awarded a contract to work with DARPA on a Vertical Takeoff and Landing Experimental Plane. “The combined strength and innovation of our teams will advance the development of autonomy for our commercial and military systems,” said Greg Hyslop, chief technology officer at Boeing, in a press release. “Together, these talented teams will open new markets with transformational technologies.” The companies did not release the terms of the deal. —Wilson Brissett

 

[Grey Havoc]

I'd agree that lasers are the ideal solution but for 30 years they've been saying we're less than 5 years away from laser weaponry being commonplace on the battlefield.

Of course the counter has to scale for the size/capability of the UAVs in question but what can be done on the squad level versus lots of small models like those?

Might be time to go old school, methinks.

 

[bobbymike]

https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2017/11/crude-slaughterbot-projection-of-existing-drone-technologies.html

 

[bobbymike]

http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology/mit-develops-mach-08-rocket-mini-drone?NL=AW-19&Issue=AW-19_20171122_AW-19_479&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&utm_rid=CPEN1000000230026&utm_campaign=12749&utm_medium=email&elq2=92c3ffdb49384144ab56238999814cfa

 

[bobbymike]

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2017/12/defense-contractor-northrop-grumman-testing-drones-deploy-bomb-shell/144330/?oref=defenseone_today_nl

 

[bobbymike]

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/02/marines-are-giving-quadcopters-every-squad/145778/?oref=defenseone_today_nl

 

[Foo Fighter]

That looks the business actually, perhaps all that research and testing was not a complete waste. As a UCAV it might be launched vertically from a tail sitting stance. With an automated system it would make sense to use these from smaller vessels, perhaps use sensors to extend the range of those smaller vessels sensors or while the ship is in low emission state.

 

[jsport]

http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2018/02/marines-are-giving-quadcopters-every-squad/145778/?oref=defenseone_today_nl

Against a near or peer competitor as soon as the quad rotor goes up the mortar and artillery start raining down. An armed performance armed UAS up echelon which is on target before anyone knows it is there starts making sense, but there are none on the market which make sense yet. Again USG needs to assume some risk for a decent UAS development rather than the sea of garbage on the market.

 

[TomcatViP]

I think the approach is to nurture a specific modding industry.

With numbers on, builder would get interested to adapt their product to the military. If even a part of the R&D has been done upfront , it will be COTS adaptation with an easier integration.

 

[jsport]

I think the approach is to nurture a specific modding industry.

With numbers on, builder would get interested to adapt their product to the military. If even a part of the R&D has been done upfront , it will be COTS adaptation with an easier integration.

Pardon a stark disagreement. The guts on these things are very mature. The craft itself is need revolution and no one is offering anything near survivable for the far term. An AF person exclaimed on a PBS special some years ago that "We are in the Model A age of UAS. " He is near to correct. Some UCRAS designs are well along however tactical for the troops and VTOL are near zero.

 

[fightingirish]

Another UAV concept by Challenger Aerospace Group.
Link: http://defence-blog.com/news/challenger-aerospace-readies-newest-cargo-unmanned-aerial-vehicle.html

 

[GTX]

I like

 

[bobbymike]

Why Drones Are Still the Future of War

Developing strong, pragmatic and principled national security and defense policies.

www.cnas.org

 

[bobbymike]

U.S. to Deploy Attack Drones in Korea

The U.S. is to deploy new attack drones in South Korea that could be used to kill North Korean…

english.chosun.com

The U.S. is to deploy new attack drones in South Korea that could be used to kill North Korean leaders and launch pinpoint strikes on its missile launch pads.

Twelve Gray Eagle/MQ-1Cs will arrive at an air base in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province in March and April. Their deployment coincides with joint South Korea-U.S. drills that will be staged in early April right after the closing of the Winter Paralympics in Pyeongchang.

Construction of a hangar and other support facilities was completed late last month, and support personnel have already arrived.

 

[bobbymike]

Marines Release Specifications for New Mega-Drone

MUX would carry all the weapons on an F-35B, fly at 30,000 feet, and provide key command-and-control capabilities.

www.military.com

The Marine Corps is a step closer to getting a large unmanned aircraft that can launch from ships, fly a radius of up to 700 nautical miles with a full payload, escort the MV-22 Osprey and other platforms, network with other manned platforms, and provide offensive air support, including targeting and strike.

This incredible unmanned aerial system is known as MUX, for Marine Air Ground Task Force Unmanned Aircraft System-Expeditionary.

 

[bobbymike]

Janes | Latest defence and security news

Janes | The latest defence and security news from Janes - the trusted source for defence intelligence

www.janes.com

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc has been granted approval by the US government to market its UTAP-22 Mako ‘unmanned wingman’ internationally, it announced on 13 March.

The US State Department has permitted the San Diego-based company to promote its Mako jet-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to certain undisclosed European and Asia-Pacific region countries.

News of the approval to market the Mako comes just days after the company’s president and CEO, Eric DeMarco, said in late February that Kratos was “currently working towards a large production contract with a new international customer, which we hope to receive in the next several months”. No further details were released.

As noted by Kratos, the Mako offers fighter-like performance and is designed to function as a wingman to manned aircraft, as a force multiplier in contested airspace, or to be deployed independently or in groups of UASs. It is capable of carrying both weapons and sensor systems.

 

[fredymac]

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc has been granted approval by the US government to market its UTAP-22 Mako ‘unmanned wingman’ internationally, it announced on 13 March.

The US State Department has permitted the San Diego-based company to promote its Mako jet-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to certain undisclosed European and Asia-Pacific region countries.

News of the approval to market the Mako comes just days after the company’s president and CEO, Eric DeMarco, said in late February that Kratos was “currently working towards a large production contract with a new international customer, which we hope to receive in the next several months”. No further details were released.

As noted by Kratos, the Mako offers fighter-like performance and is designed to function as a wingman to manned aircraft, as a force multiplier in contested airspace, or to be deployed independently or in groups of UASs. It is capable of carrying both weapons and sensor systems.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY2xST7y-mo

 

[robunos]

Ryan Firebee II, is that you . . . ? : ;D


cheers,
Robin.

 

[sferrin]

Very similar.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vyF0dDwS3I

 

[robunos]

I'm assuming that the Mako has many more 'smarts' than the Firebee II, it's the airframe where the similarity lies . . .


cheers,
Robin.