Flight through non-segregated airspace is part of USAF drive to cut notification times
The US Air Force's unmanned air vehicle battlelab is preparing to demonstrate an optical sense and avoid system as part of a broader programme to reduce notification times for military unmanned air vehicle flights in US national airspace from up to 60 days to three to seven days.
The military UAV systems operation validation programme (USOVP) is also planning a UAV file and fly demonstration between December 2004 and March 2005. Extra support for the programme will be provided through the USAF's operational assessment trials of Northrop Grumman's RQ-4 Global Hawk over the next five months.
A military project, the USOVP programme is being conducted separately to the joint industry/NASA Access 5 group effort to secure US Federal Aviation Administration approvals for routine file and fly operations of high-altitude unmanned air vehicles in US airspace. The USOVP initiative covers all classes of UAV, with planning work under way since late 2003.
The UAV battlelab sense and avoid demonstration will use optical sensors developed by Defence Research Associates and the Air Force Research Laboratory's sensors directorate. The system comprises three optical sensors, each with a 220° horizontal and 30° elevation field of view and derived from a missile approach warning system. The concept is being explored as a near-term operational sense and avoid system for the USAF's General Atomics MQ-1 Predator UAVs.
The sensors have been undergoing flight testing at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio aboard a manned UAV surrogate and will now be moved to an unmanned platform for a demonstration flight through non-segregated airspace from Indian Springs to Nellis AFB, Nevada. No dates have been set for the flight.
Matt Belmonte, chief of the UAV battlelab's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance division, says the field of view offered by the sensors is expected to meet FAA standards. This will be explored during the proposed demonstration flight.
PETER LA FRANCHI / CHICAGO
Source: Flight International
