The Insitu/Boeing ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle has attracted interest as a potential reconnaissance asset for US military convoys in Iraq.
The US Air Force UAV battle laboratory at Indian Springs, Nevada had commissioned Boeing to stage a one-day demonstration of the ScanEagle at Nellis AFB on18 December. The goal is to show a capability to monitor convoys over a 200km (110nm) route, providing real-time video into a command and control centre.
While convoy security is the stated purpose of the demonstration, there also may be interesting using the ScanEagle to take over the base security mission now performed by the Lockheed Martin Desert Hawk mini-UAV. Last month, the ScanEagle fleet passed 1,000 flight hours in the Iraq war zone, performing mainly battlefield reconnaissance for the US Marine Corps.
In related UAV developments, Northrop Grumman is working to seal a deal with the US Navy to allow the US Army to borrow two RQ-8A Fire Scouts to star work on developing operational concepts and doctrine for the vertical take-off and landing UAV.
The army is planning to buy the four-bladed rotary-wing RQ-8B as the Class IV UAV of the Boeing/SAIC Future Combat System, for which the RQ-8B is facing a challenge from the Boeing Unmanned Little Bird.
Source: Flight International
