A TELEDYNE RYAN Aeronautical-led team has won a $164 million contract from the US Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) to build and test the Tier II Plus high-altitude endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
The Teledyne team, which includes E-Systems, Hughes Aircraft, Loral Communications, Rockwell International, Allison Engine, GDE Systems and Heroux, beat stiff competition for the deal, which could be worth up to $600 million.
The large UAV will have a 34.4m wingspan and a gross take off weight of 10,440kg, with the capability to go up to 11,350kg. Powered by a specially adapted high-altitude version of the 31kN (7,000lb)-thrust Allison AE3007 turbofan used to power the Cessna Citation X and Embraer EMB-145, the UAV will be capable of cruising above 60,000ft (18,300m). "The goal is 65,000ft," says Teledyne Ryan Aeronautical president, Robert Mitchell.
The UAV will have an operational radius of 5,550km (3,000nm) and will be capable of keeping station for 24h "at that radius", says Mitchell.
Teledyne based much of the design on its previous UAVs, including the 80,000ft-capable Compass Arrow from the 1960s and the 24h endurance Compass Cope from the 1970s.
Flight-control software and some actuation design is derived from the recently cancelled BQM-145 medium-range UAV.
Sensors will be provided by Hughes Aircraft's Radar Systems and Electro-Optical Systems divisions. Loral Communications is providing the communication system. Rockwell's North American Aircraft division, of Oklahoma, is making the high-aspect ratio wings which, together with fuselage tanks, will hold a total of 6,450kg of fuel. E-Systems is providing the ground segment.
The 31-month long programme calls for first flight at Edwards AFB, California, in December 1996. "Between now and then we have to design and integrate and build two air vehicles and one ground station," says Mitchell.
If the tests go as planned, the UAV will move to Phase Three involving the construction of eight more air vehicles and two ground stations for a two-year test programme.
A Lockheed Martin and Boeing Defense and Space-led team will roll out the William-Rolls F124-powered DarkStar low-observable UAV from the Skunk Works in California on 1 June. The UAV is for the Tier III Minus part of the same Defense Department programme.
Source: Flight International
