Companies set sights on US Navy’s high-altitude, long-endurance UAV requirement

Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman have made it through to the second round of the US Navy’s Persistent Unmanned Maritime Airborne Surveillance (PUMAS) study, the precursor to a programme to acquire high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicles. A competition for the delayed Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) UAV programme is expected in 2007.

Lockheed Mariner UAV W250
(C) GENERAL ATOMICS

Lockheed's Mariner UAV proposal offers 49h endurance, but faces competition from Global Hawk

Four companies were awarded five-month PUMAS study contracts last August, but neither Boeing nor General Dynamics have made it through to the seven-month second round. During the initial phase, the companies analysed both manned and unmanned capabilities for maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and developed architectures for unmanned systems, says the USN.

Lockheed is proposing the Mariner UAV, a version of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ Predator B with a 49h endurance carrying a 520kg (1,150lb) payload to altitudes above 50,000ft (15,000m). Northrop is offering a version of its Global Hawk. The navy has been flying two examples to develop requirements for BAMS. A contract for BAMS is expected late in fiscal year 2007, with the selected UAV to operate alongside the USN’s Boeing P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft, which is to enter service in 2012.

General Atomics has meanwhile signed a memorandum of understanding with General Dynamics Canada to offer the Predator B for Canadian government requirements, including the C$500 million ($434 million) Joint Unmanned Surveillance Target Acquisition Systems programme, which calls for the acquisition of medium-altitude, long-endurance UAVs by 2010.

  •  The US Army has begun fielding a new variant of Northrop’s Hunter UAV with an almost 10h increase in endurance, to more than 21h. The weapons-capable MQ-5B has an increased gross weight of 885kg, additional fuel in the centre wing, a higher altitude capability and improved efficiency from its heavy-fuel engine.

GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC

Source: Flight International

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