Military UAVs – Page 320
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Lockheed studies unmanned F-16
LOCKHEED MARTIN IS proposing a demonstration of automatic in-flight refuelling as the first step towards developing an unmanned tactical aircraft based on the F-16. Modified F-16s are being studied to meet emerging US requirements for a new class of aircraft called uninhabited combat air-vehicles (UCAVs) One ...
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Moving on up
The word "rebuilding" is likely to crop up frequently in conversations at the Helicopter Association International's Heli-Expo '97 (2-4 February, Anaheim, California). Manufacturers will be talking about rebuilding business post-recession, while the HAI itself will be addressing the problem of "phoenix", or rebuilt, aircraft. According to HAI president ...
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DarkStar flight tests will be resumed in mid-year
Flight testing of the stealthy Lockheed Martin/ Boeing DarkStar long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) will resume in the second or third quarter of 1997, once the second prototype is completed. Two further DarkStar systems, including two UAVs and associated payloads, are also being built. They will be delivered ...
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EELV engine passes key test
Full-scale propellant injector and thrust-chamber tests of the first-stage engine of the McDonnell Douglas (MDC) Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) candidate vehicle have been completed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, marking a major milestone in the programme. The 2,850kN (640,500lb)-thrust RS-68 liquid-oxygen/liquid-hydrogen (LOX/LH) cryogenic main engine ...
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Joint endeavours
Col Ben Robinson, commander of the USAir Force's 93rd Air Expeditionary Group (Provisional) says: "We shoot no missiles; we carry no cargo; our only product is information; and information dominance is the key to success." The system which brings so much to the modern battlefield without firing a shot is ...
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Joint-stars delivery
Northrop Grumman has delivered the second production E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (J-STARS) to the US Air Force. It joins the first production J-STARS aircraft now flying missions in support of NATO in Bosnia. Source: Flight International
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UKMoD enters MALD talks
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is "involved in discussions" with Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical Systems and the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) over potential participation in the Miniature Air-Launched Decoy (MALD) programme. The MALD is a small, jet-powered unmanned air vehicle, which will be launched as ...
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South Koreans are ready to sign up for A3XX risk-share
Airbus Industrie hopes to conclude its first risk-sharing agreement on the 500- to 800-seat A3XX later this month, with all four South Korean aerospace manufacturers taking a share of development and manufacture of the aircraft. The consortium's large-aircraft division senior vice-president, Jurgen Thomas, says that a deal including ...
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UK funds Tornado replacement study
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is to launch the feasibility study for the replacement of its Panavia Tornado GR4s. The French defence ministry is also funding elements of the project in a clear indication that it has an embryonic requirement for a strike aircraft to complement the Dassault Rafale. ...
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Teledyne Ryan plans first engine runs of Global Hawk reconnaissance UAV
The Global Hawk Tier II Plus high-altitude reconnaissance platform was expected to have its first engine runs in the week beginning 16 December, as part of final preparations for completion in January and roll-out in early February 1997. The Global Hawk, with its 35.4m wingspan, was originally scheduled ...
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Indian army prepares to test new UAV
The Indian Army is to start user trials of a new unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV) in 1997, following the completion of a series of tests by the Indian Aeronautical Development Establishment. The Nishant, which has a composite airframe, is claimed to have an endurance of around 5h, a range of ...
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Safety fears put back UAV's first flight tests
The first flight of the Alliant Techsystems Outrider tactical unmanned air vehicle (TUAV) has been delayed by a month because of safety concerns. The US Department of Defense's UAV Joint Programme Office says: "The delay is primarily to allow additional risk-mitigation efforts to ensure a safe first flight." ...
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Sikorsky supports BD-10 unmanned target for USN
Sikorsky has agreed to provide financial support to Monitor Jet, which plans to produce the Bede BD-10 jet-powered kitplane in Canada as a low-cost trainer and unmanned target drone. The agreement, to provide manufacturing and marketing support, is part of Sikorsky's bid to win the Canadian Search-and-rescue Helicopter programme. ...
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Boeing wins airborne-laser battle-
Ramon Lopez/WASHINGTONDC A BOEING-LED TEAM has been selected by the US Air Force to develop and flight test an Airborne Laser (ABL) designed to shoot down short- and medium-range ballistic missiles during their boost phase. The Boeing Defense and Space Group team was awarded a $1.1 ...
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Falcon rejuvenated
Graham Warwick/FORT WORTH and Guy Norris/EDWARDS AFB FIGHTER PILOTS use "check six" as slang for a look back to ensure that the enemy is not approaching from behind. It is also the motto of the Lockheed Martin F-16A/B mid-life update (MLU) programme - signifying a look back to ...
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Outrider recovery
BRS of St Paul, Minnesota, is to produce a parachute-recovery system for Alliant Techsystems' Outrider unmanned air-vehicle (UAV), which forms a part of the US Department of Defense's $53 million Tactical UAV advanced concept technology demonstration programme. Source: Flight International
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Alenia
Alenia and Lockheed Martin signed a preliminary agreement covering the development of the C-27J Spartan derivative of the G222 in February 1996. This is a substantial upgrade of the basic aircraft, with considerably improved avionics and modified engines. The project is, however, dependent on it being included as part of ...
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Heron tests
The Israeli defence forces are to begin testing long-endurance, high-altitude, unmanned air vehicles for missions, which are now carried out by crewed aircraft. The tests will involve the Israel Aircraft Industries Malat Heron being operated with payloads such as surveillance radars, long-range oblique cameras and electronic-warfare packages. The Heron is ...
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Israel examines solar-spy air vehicles
SOLAR-POWERED unmanned-air-vehicles (UAVs), are being developed by Israeli companies for use on intelligence-gathering and early-warning missions. The Israeli ministry of defence is financing part of the development. The effort is classified, but some information emerged when Aero Design & Development released details of a solar-powered UAV which successfully ...
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E-8 JSTARS needs improvement, say USAF evaluators
Northrop Grumman's E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS) requires "significant improvements" to meet its performance requirements, says a US Air Force test report. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has approved production of 19 JSTARS aircraft despite an operational-evaluation report, which is critical of the system's capability (Flight ...