Defense Technology International - June 2008 - (Page 46)

RECONNAISSANCE AERIAL vide inﬂight refueling for long-endurance systems such as Heron and Heron 2, utilizing manned or unmanned platforms. “Refueling provides a persistent presence in the air, which signiﬁcantly increases our ability to respond rapidly to evolving threats,” Brig. Gen. Yohanan Loker told the conference last November. “The operational advantage of aerial refueling for long-range missions is obvious.” Israel aspires to a long-endurance armed UAV for its ambitious boostphase intercept of tactical ballistic missiles. The original concept, shelved by funding limitations, would have carried 2-3 interceptor missiles derived from Rafael’s Python air-to-air missile. Analysts regard Eitan, with its advanced avionics, size and endurance, as a candidate. Industry sources have said that Eitan could be a multipurpose UCAV carrying out reconnaissance and attack missions, including locating and destroying mobile ballistic missile launchers. (See related story, p. 62.) IAF videos show unspecified UAVs launching direct, precise attacks, with the sensor operator looking through the GA-ASI ISRAEL AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES IAI’s Heron 2 is aimed at reconnaissance, strike and missiledefense roles, and may develop inﬂight refueling. awarded a contract in April to develop compact versions of the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload: ASIP-1C for Predator A, expected to complete ﬂight tests in May 2009 and be ﬁelded in 2010, and ASIP-2C for the MQ-9. Cassidy believes USAF will deemphasize the Predator A in favor of the Reaper, leaving the Army to concentrate on the smaller vehicles. The Army has ambitious plans for the MQ-1C Sky Warrior, a modernized, heavier, reengined aircraft that has little in common with USAF’s Predator except general conﬁguration. A GA-ASI presentation at a conference in London last November noted that since Sky Warrior is a divisional asset, the Army’s goal is to acquire one system—with 12 air vehicles—for each of 45 divisions. Sky Warrior development and deployment is proceeding in stages. The Army’s I-Gnat Extended Range aircraft, similar to Predator but lacking a satcoms link, have been renamed Sky Warrior Alphas. They operate in combat alongside Sky Warrior Block 0 aircraft, which have the larger payload and Thielert diesel engine of the deﬁnitive Sky Warrior, but use the existing GA-ASI ground-control station and data link. They are ﬂown in action by GA-ASI pilots who perform takeo s and landings, but with Army crew “on board” for operational segments. It is not known whether civilian crews have ﬂown armed Predators. The first example of the definitive Block 1 Sky Warrior is ﬂying. It uses the same OneSystem ground station from AAI Corp. as the Shadow UAV. Unlike previous GA-ASI products, it is a “ﬂy-bymouse” system with automatic takeo and landing. Judging from USAF experience, the Army’s plan to deploy the systems with each division will depend on its ability to exploit that automation and abbreviate training. The only aircraft in the same class as the Predator B/Reaper is Israel Aerospace Industries’ Heron TP, also Sky Warrior Block 0 UAV from GA-ASI is operating in Afghanistan. dubbed Heron 2 and known to the Israel Air Force (IAF) as Eitan. In addition to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, Eitan executes a variety of operational missions, including inﬂight refueling and strategic missile defense. The IAF is evaluating options to proseeker of what is probably a ﬁber-opticguided Spike missile. With maximum takeo weight of 4,650 kg. (10,250 lb.), the 14-meter-long (46-ft.) Eitan carries over 1,000 kg. of sensors. I With David Eshel in Tel Aviv. HIGH-ENDURANCE FLIGHT WITH A HEAVY PAYLOAD The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Special Operations Command are sponsoring programs aimed at demonstrating technology for a UAV that flies for several days at 65,000 ft., with a 400500-lb. sensor payload. The teams are AeroVironment and Aurora Flight Sciences, which is working with Boeing. Both use liquid hydrogen (LH2) fuel. 46 AeroVironment’s entry is Global Observer GO-1, a 170-ft.-wingspan vehicle with four electrically driven propellers. It generates power with a fuel cell or engine (turbine or piston) linked to a generator. AeroVironment doesn’t specify which is on GO-1. Aurora’s Orion HALL (High Altitude Long Loiter) will ﬂy in 2010, says John Langford, president and CEO. Aurora is responsible for the airframe, which has a 130-ft. wingspan based on sailplane technology. Boeing is developing the powerplant, a modiﬁed Ford Focus car engine with multistage turbocharging and intercooling system, using LH2 as a heat sink. Langford says a production aircraft will probably have two engines for reliability and use an integral LH2 tank—Orion has a spherical tank in the fuselage. Design challenges include thermodynamics—cooling and intercooling at high altitude are difﬁcult—and the variation in power between takeoff, climb and cruise. I AviationWeek.com/dti DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL JUNE 2008 http://AviationWeek.com/dti

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Defense Technology International - June 2008 Contents Around the World Science Watch Tech Watch Basic Black Self-Defense Fire-Resistant Perfezione Hyperspeed Trial Big Sky Cashing In Digital Links Hang Ten Sea Change Programs Update Two Steps Back Direct Hit Staying Power Potent Stinger Do No Harm Guard Duty The Net Cutting Edge First Person In Review Insight

Defense Technology International - June 2008

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