Early deployments could be Darfur in western Sudan and observer group in Georgia
The United Nations is exploring leasing commercial unmanned air vehicle services to support its international peace-keeping operations.
The world body has been quietly surveying potential systems providers seeking data on individual platform capabilities as well as operational concepts. Its New York-based procurement division earlier this year released an international call for expressions of interest (EOI).
Responses to that are being evaluated by its air charter specialists. A competitive tender for services is expected to follow during 2008.
"Deployment could be in any peacekeeping mission," the EOI documents advise. Industry respondents to the EOI say that the most likely near-term deployments would be in the Darfur region in western Sudan and in support of the UN observer group in Georgia.
The EOI says that "contracts are expected to be for more than one year and generally apply to a single mission area. UAVs may be required at several locations in a single mission and more than one may be required at each location, depending on our concept of operation and the UAV capability".
It adds: "UAV capability should provide no less than 6h endurance and be able to fly in excess of 60nm [110km] to a point of interest, loiter on patrol for at least 2h and return to base. Operations will typically continue over a 12h period, five days a week.
"UAVs should be ground launched, and not be dependent on asphalt runways. An air launch capability from a cargo aircraft may be an advantage to increase range of operation or reduce transit times.
"They should be able to send live camera or infrared video images of areas of interest, including location co-ordinates, by line of sight communications to mobile ground forces and/or a main base of operation, day or night."
According to the EOI, "operations may also require a UAV to relay signals from over-the-horizon from other UAVs or ground units. The UAV must be equipped to enable satellite tracking of its position. The UAV should be able to follow a programmable route and must be able to respond to operator control of its flight path, camera angle and camera zoom.
"The UAV must be capable of operating above 3,000ft [915m] above ground level, and 8,000ft above mean sea-level, to avoid risk of small arms fire and to enable stealthy operations if so desired."
The proposed service lease would be based on a largely self-contained contractor operation. The EOI emphasises that "contractor staff will operate closely with UN aviation and military personnel and interact with the host nation as required. The contractor must provide staff to track, control, monitor the UAV and provide analysis of data received, working closely with Mission contacts."
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Dropping supplies is jst one way in which ULAVs could be used |
Source: Flight International
