thedrifter
02-10-09, 08:38 AM
‘Expect new drones along border with Afghanistan’
* Unmanned aircraft flight hours have doubled every 3 months
* US plans to outfit RS-7 Shadow with laser designators wings
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: US Central Command officials are pushing for more capable drones to support Afghanistan operations, Aviation Week & Space Technology has revealed. Already, a report in the magazine’s February 9 issue says, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flight hours in Afghanistan have doubled every three months.
The Pentagon’s UAS fleet is growing and providing new capabilities for war efforts as planners weigh options for the next generation of systems. The first Navy Global Hawk has arrived in the Middle East and its first flight is imminent. Navy officials say the aircraft will conduct maritime surveillance missions in the region using a sensor optimised for this requirement. It will likely be tested with US Air Force Global Hawks operating from the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the air force is proceeding with verification of its active electronically scanned radar (AESA), designed to identify and track moving targets. After three verification flights, the Air Force has validated the software for the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes; similar flights are set for the ground moving target indicator (GMTI) in the next couple of weeks. Central Command officials are pushing for more SAR and GMTI capabilities to support Afghanistan operations.
Pentagon acquisition chief John Young recently approved the army’s incremental approach to acquiring and fielding its MQ-1C Warrior UAS. The army has notional plans for an “Enhanced Warrior” system, which could carry about 500lb of additional payload on the centreline of the aircraft. This could possibly be used to add fuel and endurance to the system. The air force is also testing its MQ-9 Reaper, a variant of the Predator. To date, the aircraft has dropped six, 500lb GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Testing is expected to conclude this month.
Modifications: The army is also proceeding with plans to equip its RQ-7 Shadow UAS, a tactical, rail-launched system, with laser designators and new, larger wings. These are expected to support operations in US Central Command next year. As Shadow flight hours decrease in Iraq, UAS flight hours in Afghanistan have doubled every three months in large part due to Shadow operations. The Marine Corps, which also operates Shadow, has begun planning for a replacement by 2016.
On the wish list for this new Marine Corps system is 14-30 hours endurance; a flight radius of 350-450 nautical miles; possible weapons; and payloads of at least 1,500lb. The mission is not yet defined, but it could handle some electronic warfare, electronic surveillance and — possibly — electronic attack missions.
Among the vertical-lift UASs, Fire Scout is beginning sea trials this week on the frigate USS McInerney. Its earliest deployment is expected to be in support operations in Southern Command, which oversees support for the counter-narcotics missions. The Fire Scout has BriteStar II electro-optical and infrared payload as well as a communications relay. Radar is being integrated, and the system could eventually carry weapons.
The Marine Corps, is also looking at a vertical-lift UAS for cargo. Notionally, this system would be shipboard capable. The Marines are hoping for a system that could haul 1,000-6,000lb of cargo and execute a range of 300 nautical miles. Meanwhile, the navy has stated its objectives for another new UAS, called the Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System to be ready to be fielded in 2011 for the Marine Corps and navy. The Marine Corps is currently using small Raven B and Wasp UASs, to look short distances ahead for dismounted soldiers. Demand for small UASs is growing.
No more flyaways: The army is outfitting its Raven with a digital data link to eliminate ‘flyaways’ — a break in connectivity – that sometimes results in the loss of the aircraft. Both the army and navy are also working with new, small, hovering UASs. The navy plans to buy about 90 systems, or 180 vehicles mostly for explosive ordnance disposal missions.
Ellie
* Unmanned aircraft flight hours have doubled every 3 months
* US plans to outfit RS-7 Shadow with laser designators wings
Daily Times Monitor
LAHORE: US Central Command officials are pushing for more capable drones to support Afghanistan operations, Aviation Week & Space Technology has revealed. Already, a report in the magazine’s February 9 issue says, unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flight hours in Afghanistan have doubled every three months.
The Pentagon’s UAS fleet is growing and providing new capabilities for war efforts as planners weigh options for the next generation of systems. The first Navy Global Hawk has arrived in the Middle East and its first flight is imminent. Navy officials say the aircraft will conduct maritime surveillance missions in the region using a sensor optimised for this requirement. It will likely be tested with US Air Force Global Hawks operating from the United Arab Emirates.
Meanwhile, the air force is proceeding with verification of its active electronically scanned radar (AESA), designed to identify and track moving targets. After three verification flights, the Air Force has validated the software for the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) modes; similar flights are set for the ground moving target indicator (GMTI) in the next couple of weeks. Central Command officials are pushing for more SAR and GMTI capabilities to support Afghanistan operations.
Pentagon acquisition chief John Young recently approved the army’s incremental approach to acquiring and fielding its MQ-1C Warrior UAS. The army has notional plans for an “Enhanced Warrior” system, which could carry about 500lb of additional payload on the centreline of the aircraft. This could possibly be used to add fuel and endurance to the system. The air force is also testing its MQ-9 Reaper, a variant of the Predator. To date, the aircraft has dropped six, 500lb GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions. Testing is expected to conclude this month.
Modifications: The army is also proceeding with plans to equip its RQ-7 Shadow UAS, a tactical, rail-launched system, with laser designators and new, larger wings. These are expected to support operations in US Central Command next year. As Shadow flight hours decrease in Iraq, UAS flight hours in Afghanistan have doubled every three months in large part due to Shadow operations. The Marine Corps, which also operates Shadow, has begun planning for a replacement by 2016.
On the wish list for this new Marine Corps system is 14-30 hours endurance; a flight radius of 350-450 nautical miles; possible weapons; and payloads of at least 1,500lb. The mission is not yet defined, but it could handle some electronic warfare, electronic surveillance and — possibly — electronic attack missions.
Among the vertical-lift UASs, Fire Scout is beginning sea trials this week on the frigate USS McInerney. Its earliest deployment is expected to be in support operations in Southern Command, which oversees support for the counter-narcotics missions. The Fire Scout has BriteStar II electro-optical and infrared payload as well as a communications relay. Radar is being integrated, and the system could eventually carry weapons.
The Marine Corps, is also looking at a vertical-lift UAS for cargo. Notionally, this system would be shipboard capable. The Marines are hoping for a system that could haul 1,000-6,000lb of cargo and execute a range of 300 nautical miles. Meanwhile, the navy has stated its objectives for another new UAS, called the Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System to be ready to be fielded in 2011 for the Marine Corps and navy. The Marine Corps is currently using small Raven B and Wasp UASs, to look short distances ahead for dismounted soldiers. Demand for small UASs is growing.
No more flyaways: The army is outfitting its Raven with a digital data link to eliminate ‘flyaways’ — a break in connectivity – that sometimes results in the loss of the aircraft. Both the army and navy are also working with new, small, hovering UASs. The navy plans to buy about 90 systems, or 180 vehicles mostly for explosive ordnance disposal missions.
Ellie