GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC
Boeing trials show way forward for integrating unmanned and manned aircraft without affecting airbase operations
Boeing has demonstrated that an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) can share controlled airspace with manned aircraft without adversely affecting airbase operations. Demonstrations at Edwards AFB in California and Eglin AFB in Florida used the company's Lockheed T-33 UCAV surrogate aircraft.
The T-33 is equipped with avionics from Boeing's X-45A UCAV demonstrator. These are coupled to an autopilot that allows the aircraft to be flown autonomously, with a hands-off test pilot on board to take over manual control if necessary. The tests were the first under the UCAV Block 2 demonstration.
After five flights in the relative quiet of Edwards to verify airspace procedures, eight more missions were conducted in March in the higher operations tempo at Eglin. Under autonomous control, following pre-programmed routes, the UCAV surrogate flew into and out of the traffic pattern several times on each mission, says X-45A test and operations manager Mike Harlan.
The objectives were to demonstrate the safe integration of manned and unmanned aircraft in the same airspace, and that they could be interoperated without interference. "We wanted to show that UCAVs will not disrupt the airbase operations tempo, that there is no need to 'sterilise' the airspace," Harlan says. The demonstration "exceeded all expectations", he says.
Air traffic controllers "could not tell the difference" between the surrogate UCAV and manned aircraft, says Harlan. Operators sent commands to the T-33, via Link 16 datalink for the first time, in response to controller instructions. "Feedback was favourable," he says. For safety reasons, the tests will not be repeated with the X-45 demonstrators.
Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense has made development of a UCAV capable of lethal and electronic attack by 2010 a top requirement in its UAV roadmap, which lists the US military's top 10 priorities for the next 25 years.
Other priorities include development of a heavy fuel engine for current and future tactical UAVs; demonstration of a high-definition TV capability for real-time targeting; adoption of a common datalink for all tactical and larger UAVs; definition of a standard UAV interface for situation awareness and location data; definition of security measures for asserting positive control over armed UAVs; and a reduction in annual mishap rate to under 20 per 100,000h by 2009 and fewer than 15 by 2015.
Source: Flight International
