PETER LA FRANCHI / BALTIMORE
The US armed forces' military airlift shortfall could be overcome through development of unmanned airlifters under a concept developed by the US Air Force School of Advanced Air Power. The unmanned logistics air vehicles (UALV) would each be capable of carrying 45,400-72,600kg (100,000-160,000lb) over 5,550km (3,000nm).
The UALVs would operate in "flocks" of five or six vehicles co-ordinated by a single "mother" aircraft such as a Boeing C-17 equipped with a mission control station. The formation would be maintained using radio-frequency automatic station-keeping systems similar to those already fitted to the C-17.
The mother aircraft would also have a highly capable defensive aids system to protect the formation. Each UALV would also carry its own basic self-protection suite to deal with threats not countered by the mother aircraft.
The UALVs would use a derivative of the JPALS landing system to allow autonomous take-off and landing. UALV loadmasters would either be carried aboard the mother aircraft or be ground-based at home and destination airfields. Development of the concept was performed last year under the sponsorship of the USAF Air Mobility Command and was revealed during last week's Unmanned Systems 2003 conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Lt Col Chad Manske, concept author and a special USAF adviser to the US Joint Forces Command, says the basic UALV concept appears cost effective and technically viable. However, he adds that no large version of the type is likely to emerge within the next 10 years. "There potentially is an operational requirement for unmanned airlift vehicles, but it requires a combat commander or high-level interest in the idea for it to see the light of day. This may be an attractive option to complement our strategic airlift fleet," he says.
Source: Flight International
