US UAV and UCAV Technology

[Grey Havoc]

Abrupt End Of Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Buys Points To New Focus On Survivable Drones

General Atomics has supplied the backbone of America's drone force for decades. Now that may be ending due to stark tactical realities.

www.thedrive.com

 

[bobbymike]

Boeing Insitu’s Extended-Range Blackjack – Force Multiplier | RealClearDefense

Boeing Insitu’s Extended-Range Blackjack – Force Multiplier | RealClearDefense

www.realcleardefense.com

 

[fredymac]

Bell APT 70 delivery quadcopter. The noise level of a quadcopter that can lug 70 lbs is going to be loud.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1240760496569139200

 

[TomcatViP]

You'd better deliver some cardiac defibrillators as well. Imagine that during dark hours!

 

[flateric]

LMSWs something

 

[Grey Havoc]

The service’s fiscal year 2021 budget request includes numerous initiatives in the research, development, test and evaluation accounts for new drone technologies and manned-unmanned teaming, including low-cost, attritable systems. For 2021, it asked for $158 million for its high priority Vanguard efforts to develop next-generation systems, plus an additional $206 across the future years defense program. The Vanguard initiative includes a project called Skyborg.


“The first iteration of Skyborg will integrate artificial intelligence into autonomous unmanned air vehicles to enable future manned-unmanned teaming,” budget documents said.

More Drones Needed to Fight Two-Front War

More Drones Needed to Fight Two-Front War

www.nationaldefensemagazine.org

 

[Mark Nankivil]

Abrupt End Of Air Force MQ-9 Reaper Buys Points To New Focus On Survivable Drones

General Atomics has supplied the backbone of America's drone force for decades. Now that may be ending due to stark tactical realities.

www.thedrive.com

I'm not sure how 37 less units out of an expected 363 is an "abrupt end" to the program. What am I missing?

 

[bobbymike]

Army Research Lab scientists developing drones that can be fired from a grenade launcher

www.stripes.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

First candidate for US Army’s future tactical drone gets first soldier-operated flight

Army soldiers have flown the first of four different unmanned aircraft systems in the running to replace the Shadow drone.

www.defensenews.com

 

[bobbymike]

Sabrewing Cargo Drone

Full Page Reload

spectrum.ieee.org

 

[bobbymike]

More than one company could get cash to build the Air Force’s AI-equipped Skyborg drone

The U.S. Air Force officially launched a competition for Skyborg contracts on May 15.

www.defensenews.com

 

[bobbymike]

US Air Force begins search to replace General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper in 2030

The MQ-9 was given initial operating capability in 2007 and has been used extensively against insurgents and terrorists in the Middle East. However, it is vulnerable to surface-to-air missiles fielded by advanced adversaries such as China and Russia.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[bobbymike]

Air Force to Test Fighter Drone Against Human Pilot | Air & Space Forces Magazine

Air Force researchers are designing an autonomous aircraft that can take down a manned plane in air-to-air combat in a July 2021 test.

www.airforcemag.com

 

[bobbymike]

From Inside Defense pay site

Air Force looking to achieve IOC on future ISR, strike drone in 2031
The Air Force is looking for a new medium-altitude, unmanned aerial system to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions that can reach initial operational capability in spring 2031

 

[bobbymike]

Vertical lift drones brigades are assessing fly quieter with more survivability, soldiers say

The Army wants an RQ-7 Shadow replacement that will be quieter, more maneuverable and more expeditious.

www.armytimes.com

 

[VTOLicious]

Vertical lift drones brigades are assessing fly quieter with more survivability, soldiers say

The Army wants an RQ-7 Shadow replacement that will be quieter, more maneuverable and more expeditious.

www.armytimes.com

See here as well: https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/us-army-future-tactical-uas-ftuas.33644/

 

[jsport]

Vertical lift drones brigades are assessing fly quieter with more survivability, soldiers say

The Army wants an RQ-7 Shadow replacement that will be quieter, more maneuverable and more expeditious.

www.armytimes.com

These are sad sack throwbacks, un-development dogs. Where is the development and when is the idiocy of quadrotors going to stop?

 

[bobbymike]

New research leads to Army drones changing shape mid-flight

Autonomous air vehicles to break paradigms

www.army.mil

 

[jsport]

New research leads to Army drones changing shape mid-flight

Autonomous air vehicles to break paradigms

www.army.mil

as stated varible geometry aircraft research is not dead.

 

[TomcatViP]

2 Reapers for the Marines:

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps - Seapower

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps Marine Corps

seapowermagazine.org

 

[TomS]

2 Reapers for the Marines:

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps - Seapower

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps Marine Corps

seapowermagazine.org

Just in time for everyone else to start moving away from Reaper. Just like the Marine Corps.

 

[Grey Havoc]

The current management does seem to be rather disorganised at best.

 

[VTOLicious]

2 Reapers for the Marines:

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps - Seapower

Navy Orders 2 MQ-9 Reaper UAVs for Marine Corps Marine Corps

seapowermagazine.org

Just in time for everyone else to start moving away from Reaper. Just like the Marine Corps.

Seems they are on discount

 

[TomcatViP]

Perhaps they do not request all the equipment as seen in other services?

 

[flateric]

 

[fredymac]

More on Bell APT 70

 

[Grey Havoc]

Marine Corps buys dozens of SkyRaider drones

FLIR Systems says the R80D SkyRaider is the company’s most advanced military small unmanned aerial system

www.c4isrnet.com

 

[bobbymike]

Subscription required

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/us-air-force-launches-three-year-fielding-plan-skyborg-weapons

 

[bobbymike]

SeaGull USV Broadens Surveillance Capability with an ‘Eye in the Sky’ - Defense Update:

Elbit Systems has added an Unmanned Aerial System capability to the Seagull Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV), broadening surveillance and intelligence gathering capabilities of the unmanned boat. Trials conducted in recent weeks were dedicated to the integration of Elbit Systems' Skylark C...

defense-update.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

House defense spending bill would give the MQ-9 Reaper drone a second life

Appropriators are also backing the purchase of a bunch of other aircraft across the services.

www.defensenews.com

A lot of political capital is being expended to try and keep Reaper procurement alive.

 

[TomcatViP]

Reaper, stronger Male : up to 24 Reapers* for France until Euro Male show they are up to the task and within cost expectations announced MoD Mme Parly (in Fr):

« Nous considérons, les quatre pays réunis, que nous ne pouvons pas accepter qu’un drone soit plus cher que ce que nous pourrions trouver sur le marché et soit moins opérationnel car ne disposant pas de l’ensemble des capacités dont nous souhaitons disposer » et « nous arrivons maintenant à un moment où il faudra trancher.
—-------------------------
"We consider, the four [participating] countries together, that we cannot accept that a drone be more expensive than what we could find on the market and be less operational" and "we are now coming to a point where we would have to take a decision".

Exit l'EuroMale? L'armée de l'Air parle d'acquérir 12 drones MQ-9 Reaper supplémentaires d'ici 2030 - Zone Militaire

Le rapport mis en annexe à la Loi de programmation militaire 2019-25 précise que les "études menées en coopération avec l’Allemagne, l’Espagne et l’Italie

www.opex360.com

It's now up to Airbus to show they are up to the task: a failure here would be a terrible burden to carry during the long path to FCAS.

*12 added.
** Download AdlA latest press release here

 

[bobbymike]

Air Force Lacks 'Adequate' Plan For Next-Gen Reaper: HAC-D - Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON: House appropriators are worried that the Air Force’s latest try to replace the MQ-Reaper isn’t fully baked and might lead to a capability gap between the service’s planned divestiture of the venerable hunter/killer drone and any follow-on. “The Air Force’s fiscal year 2021 budget...

breakingdefense.com

 

[jsport]

Air Force Lacks 'Adequate' Plan For Next-Gen Reaper: HAC-D - Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON: House appropriators are worried that the Air Force’s latest try to replace the MQ-Reaper isn’t fully baked and might lead to a capability gap between the service’s planned divestiture of the venerable hunter/killer drone and any follow-on. “The Air Force’s fiscal year 2021 budget...

breakingdefense.com

Much like the USA FTUAS and ALE need to be the same program ie a UAV launched from a Ah-64E needs to have some real capability, the USAF Loyal wingman UAV and this Next Generation UAS ISR/Strike Platform need to be the same program. The problem is both services seems to fine w/tube and wing aircraft. Likewise, NGAD/FA-XX also needs to be confined to BWBs.

 

[AeroFranz]

The BWB planform is not suitable for supersonic flight for at least four of five reasons, off the top of my head. Mostly related to aerodynamics and stability and control.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Air Force doesn’t have enough drone pilots or sensor operators, GAO says

The shortage of drone pilots and sensor operators is making it harder for the Air Force to balance those airmen’s time between engaging in combat operations and conducting non-combat activities.

www.airforcetimes.com

 

[TomcatViP]

COTS Solid state/software defined/AI operated non-kinetic cuas system (the closest thing yet to a force field) :

Epirus, a venture-backed startup, inks deal with Northrop for counter-drone tech

Epirus, a startup whose leadership team draws from Raytheon, Northrop and Silicon Valley, has landed its first deal with a name-brand defense prime.

www.defensenews.com

 

[jsport]

The BWB planform is not suitable for supersonic flight for at least four of five reasons, off the top of my head. Mostly related to aerodynamics and stability and control.

First of all, a Reaper replacement may well not need to a supersonic. This NG 6G proposal sure looks like a Hybrid/BWB to me.

 

[DWG]

Air Force Lacks 'Adequate' Plan For Next-Gen Reaper: HAC-D - Breaking Defense

WASHINGTON: House appropriators are worried that the Air Force’s latest try to replace the MQ-Reaper isn’t fully baked and might lead to a capability gap between the service’s planned divestiture of the venerable hunter/killer drone and any follow-on. “The Air Force’s fiscal year 2021 budget...

breakingdefense.com

" WASHINGTON: House appropriators are worried that the Air Force’s latest try to replace the MQ-Reaper isn’t fully baked "

Is that a polite way of saying it's half-baked?

 

[AeroFranz]

The BWB planform is not suitable for supersonic flight for at least four of five reasons, off the top of my head. Mostly related to aerodynamics and stability and control.

First of all, a Reaper replacement may well not need to a supersonic. This NG 6G proposal sure looks like a Hybrid/BWB to me.

>> NGAD/FA-XX also needs to be confined to BWBs

FA-XX will definitely be supersonic, so BWB will not work. I agree an MQ-9 replacement will likely not be supersonic.

What is shown in the picture you posted is known as delta planform. Much higher sweep, lower aspect ratio than a BWB. The hybrid wing body, as designed by Lockheed, adds vestigial tail and empennage to the BWB planform.

 

[jsport]

The BWB planform is not suitable for supersonic flight for at least four of five reasons, off the top of my head. Mostly related to aerodynamics and stability and control.

First of all, a Reaper replacement may well not need to a supersonic. This NG 6G proposal sure looks like a Hybrid/BWB to me.

>> NGAD/FA-XX also needs to be confined to BWBs

FA-XX will definitely be supersonic, so BWB will not work. I agree an MQ-9 replacement will likely not be supersonic.

What is shown in the picture you posted is known as delta planform. Much higher sweep, lower aspect ratio than a BWB. The hybrid wing body, as designed by Lockheed, adds vestigial tail and empennage to the BWB planform.

NG's proposal is not a tube and wing, it is a body blended into the wing, enough said.