Northrop Grumman has a long history of developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) dating back to World War I. Some of its notable UAV programs include the Firebird missile in 1949, the Firebee aerial target drones in the 1960s-1970s, and the Compass Cope long endurance reconnaissance drone in the 1970s. More recently, Northrop Grumman developed the Model 350 medium range reconnaissance UAV and the Global Hawk high altitude long endurance UAV. Over the decades, Northrop Grumman's UAVs have transitioned from targets and missiles to sophisticated reconnaissance platforms.
Northrop Grumman has a long history of developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) dating back to World War I. Some of its notable UAV programs include the Firebird missile in 1949, the Firebee aerial target drones in the 1960s-1970s, and the Compass Cope long endurance reconnaissance drone in the 1970s. More recently, Northrop Grumman developed the Model 350 medium range reconnaissance UAV and the Global Hawk high altitude long endurance UAV. Over the decades, Northrop Grumman's UAVs have transitioned from targets and missiles to sophisticated reconnaissance platforms.
Northrop Grumman has a long history of developing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) dating back to World War I. Some of its notable UAV programs include the Firebird missile in 1949, the Firebee aerial target drones in the 1960s-1970s, and the Compass Cope long endurance reconnaissance drone in the 1970s. More recently, Northrop Grumman developed the Model 350 medium range reconnaissance UAV and the Global Hawk high altitude long endurance UAV. Over the decades, Northrop Grumman's UAVs have transitioned from targets and missiles to sophisticated reconnaissance platforms.
Ryan Aeronautical Center Norman S. Sakamoto [email protected] 619.203.5726 File Name.1 As of (date) SI4000 SUMMER 2004 UAV Brief File Name.2 As of (date) UAV Family Tree Historically, no single, universally accepted definition has adequately categorize the Unmanned Air Vehicle. Vehicle Ballistic Powered Unguided Guided Guided Unguided Simple Rocket Recoverable Expendable Conventional Aircraft Kamikaze Recoverable Expendable Remote Control Automatic Control Remote Control Automatic Control Guided Missile Cruise Missile RPV Drone Manned Unmanned Bullet Shell Free Fall Bomb ICBM Smart Bomb Current Definition of a UAV File Name.3 As of (date) Unmanned Air Vehicle Origins Necessity, the mother of invention produced flying bomb concepts during the First World War. The armistice halted experiments on all but targets. 1917: French artillery officer, Rene`Lorin proposed flying bombs using gyroscopic and barometric stabilization and control. 1918: Germany halts development of guided weapons. 1918: Charles Kettering (USA) flies Liberty Eagle Kettering Bug and Army Air Corps orders 75 copies. 1920: Elmer Sperry perfects the gyroscope and the first enabling technology makes flight control feasible 1932: RAE Fairey Queen crashes, technology is still in its infancy. Fairey Queen IIIF Mark IIIB, 1932 File Name.4 As of (date) USA - Targets Become Successful 1935 - Reginald Denny develops the RP-1 and launches the Radio Plane Company, later to become the Northrop Ventura Division. File Name.5 As of (date) V-1 Debuts in 1943 Advanced technologies of the Forties provided control, guidance and targeting. Propeller driven air- log governed range Speed was determined by engine performance at max. power Azimuth Control by gyroscope governed by magnetic compass Aneroid barometer altitude control File Name.6 As of (date) Launch Systems A wide variety of launch systems have been developed for UAV applications Pneumatic Catapult JATO/RATO Launch Air Launch Runway Launch File Name.7 As of (date) UAV Recovery Techniques Recovery schemes are determined by application and UAV size, the trend is toward autoland capability Mid Air Retrieval System (MARS) Conventional ABIAS Net Parachute Ryan Aeronautical UAV History Norman S. Sakamoto [email protected] 619.203.5726 File Name.8 As of (date) SI4000 SUMMER 2004 UAV Brief File Name.9 As of (date) Ryan XAAM-A-1 Firebird Firebird ushers in the missile age at Ryan in 1949 Speed was determined by engine performance at max. power Aneroid barometer altitude control Early radar guidance was a forerunner to Sparrow missiles 7.5 without booster File Name.10 As of (date) BQM-34 Firebee Subsonic Aerial Target High Performance, J et-powered UAV designed to simulate hostile aircraft or missile threats BQ-34 Firebee evolved from the Ryan KD-A Primary Missions Air defense weapons development, test & evaluation Air defense weapons training Secondary Missions Aerial reconnaissance Experimental aerial platform System Capabilities Ground launch Air launch from C-130 Recovery by parachute on land or at sea 8-12 flights per vehicle Flight Control and Navigation Remotely piloted from airborne or ground control station Preprogrammable Microprocessor Flight Control System ( MFCS) for autonomous flight
File Name.11 As of (date) BQM-34E Firebee II Supersonic Aerial Target Turbojet Powered UAV designed to simulate high speed hostile aircraft and anti-ship missiles Primary Missions Air defense training Aerial combat training Weapons systems development Secondary Missions Test vehicle for advanced aerodynamic technology research (NASA) System Capabilities Ground Launch Air launch from C-130 Recovery by parachute on land or at sea 8-12 flights per vehicle
Firebee II with external fuel tank in subsonic flight File Name.12 As of (date) AQM-91A Compass Arrow Twenty plus vehicles built in the late 60s, still holds the unmanned turbine powered altitude record, 80,000 ft. Incorporated several low observable features. Significant reduction in the RCS features of the aircraft as seen from the ground. Vertical tails and fuselage sides canted toward centerline to eliminate the specular reflections from the side aspect at or below the horizontal plane. The engine inlet, located on top of the fuselage was lined with RAM, to conceal it from angles below the horizontal plane. Exhaust nozzle was cooled to reduce IR signature, and like the inlet, was placed so as to be hidden by other airframe features at many aspects of observation. RAM was applied to the leading edges of the wing and to some portions of the fuselage.
First large UAV specifically designed to survive by stealth. Compass Arrow operated at altitudes in excess of 80,000 ft. while traveling at subsonic speeds. File Name.13 As of (date) AQM-81A/N Firebolt Rocket-powered target missile designed to replicate high altitude and high speed threats. Primary Mission Provide a realistic threat simulation of advanced enemy threats that fly in the upper reaches of earths airspace for Air defense training Aerial combat training Weapons systems development Reusable Hybrid Rocket Powered Target Missile Air Launch Recovery by MARS over land or sea 20 Flights per vehicle Flight Control and Navigation Pre-programmable Mission Logic Control Unit (MLCU) Remotely piloted from Ground Control Station File Name.14 As of (date) YQM-98A Compass Cope Two units built and flight tested in 1976, held the unmanned turbine engine endurance record of 28 hr. 11 min. until surpassed by Global Hawk on March 21, 2001 Primary Mission High altitude endurance reconnaissance and surveillance
Minimum 24 hours of endurance 750 lbs. payload capability Triple redundant autoland system Dual redundant avionics system Quadruple redundant Command & Control System First major Use of GOTS/COTS hardware File Name.15 As of (date) Model 410 Long Endurance UAV Economical aerial reconnaissance and surveillance system for civilian or military customers Primary Mission Provide a long-range or long- endurance aerial platform for: Military reconnaissance Electronic communications relay Electronic warfare countermeasure Law enforcement, drug interdiction Border surveillance Disaster area observation Natural resources monitoring File Name.16 As of (date) Model 410 Long Endurance UAV (continued) Economical aerial reconnaissance and surveillance system for civilian or military customers System Components Long Endurance Aerial Vehicle Composite construction Modular design Two-man assembly / disassembly Short, unimproved runway capability Ground Control Station Self contained, transportable, fully integrated Autonomous flight control & mission programming Remote manual flight & sensor control Real-time datalink Image data processing Onboard Flight Control & Navigation Central Flight Control Computer (CFCC) Global Positioning System (GPS) Auto takeoff and landing Payload 300 pound capacity 24 cubic foot volume Stabilized retractable sensor platform File Name.17 As of (date) Model 324 Medium Range Mobile and transportable advanced technology unmanned aerial reconnaissance system Primary Mission Conduct autonomous tactical aerial reconnaissance and surveillance
System Components Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Composite airframe Ground launch from mobile transport trailer Recovery by parachute with air-bag attenuation system Onboard Flight Control & Navigation Mission Logic Control Unit (MLCU) Inertial Navigation System (INS) Global Positioning System (GPS) File Name.18 As of (date) Model 324 Medium Range (continued) Mobile, and transportable advanced technology unmanned aerial reconnaissance system System Components (cont) Mobile Launch & Recovery Vehicle (LRV) 8 wheel all-terrain tractor 6 wheel trailer transport/launcher Self-contained command 7 control shelter Autonomous flight control & mission programming Remote manual flight control Command tracking & telemetry system
Payload CAI/Recon Optical KS-153A camera Loral IRLS D-500 Infrared line scanner Ryan Aeronautical Modern UAV Design & Technology Norman S. Sakamoto [email protected] 619.203.5726 File Name.19 As of (date) SI4000 SUMMER 2004 UAV Brief File Name.20 As of (date) Model 350 Medium Range UAV Advanced technology tactical unmanned aerial reconnaissance system Mission Provide near real-time optical and/or infrared images of heavily defended areas Target detection Target identification Battle damage assessment
System Components Onboard Flight Control & Navigation Mission Logic Control Unit (MLCU) Inertial Navigation System (INS) Global Positioning System (GPS)
Payload Advanced Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance System (ATARS)
File Name.21 As of (date) Model 350 Medium Range UAV Advanced technology tactical unmanned aerial reconnaissance system System Components Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Ground launch Air launch ( from F/A-18 and F-16R) Soft landing recovery by parachute or by Mid-Air Recovery System (MARS)
Local Control & Monitoring Station (LCMS) Self-contained, transportable Autonomous flight control & mission programming Remote manual flight control Command, tracking, telemetry & image data link systems Image data processing system File Name.22 As of (date) Global Hawk HAE UAV High Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance System Mission Provide continuous day / night, high altitude, all weather surveillance and reconnaissance in direct support of allied ground and air forces across the spectrum of conflict Increase the reach of existing and future surveillance systems Extraordinary range and endurance Fewer number of systems required to maintain global ISR coverage File Name.23 As of (date) Global Hawk HAE UAV The Global Hawk is an Integrated System Speed (n.miles/hour) File Name.24 As of (date) Global Hawk System Overview TACTICAL USERS (SENSOR ONLY) LAUNCH AND RECOVERY ELEMENT (C 2 ONLY) MISSION CONTROL ELEMENT (C 2 & SENSOR) C 2 LOS COMMUNICATIONS UHF-Band: C 2 LOS UHFSATCOM C 2 C 2 C 2 C 2 SATCOM INMARSAT C 2 INMARSAT or Equivalent SENSOR Ku SATCOM Ku-Band: C 2 and Sensor SATCOM C 2 & SENSOR C 2 & SENSOR CDL SENSOR CDL C 2 & SENSOR X-Band CDL: C 2 and Sensor LOS ATC VOICE ATC Voice File Name.25 As of (date) Global Hawk Vehicle Size L e n g t h : 9 7 f e e t W i n g s p a n : 9 4 f e e t M a x T a k e o f f W t : 1 3 0 , 0 0 0 l b . L o i t e r S p e e d : O p e r a t i o n a l C e i l i n g : 4 0 , 0 0 0 f e e t M a x U n r e f u e l e d R a n g e : 2 , 7 0 0 N M L e n g t h : 4 4 . 4 f e e t W i n g s p a n : 1 1 6 f e e t H e i g h t : 1 5 . 2 f e e t ( a t t a i l ) M a x . T a k e o f f W t : 2 5 , 6 0 0 l b . L o i t e r S p e e d : O p e r a t i o n a l C e i l i n g : 6 5 , 0 0 0 f e e t M a x U n r e f u e l e d R a n g e : o v e r 12,000 N M L e n g t h : 6 3 . 1 f e e t W i n g s p a n : 1 0 4 . 8 f e e t H e i g h t : 1 6 . 7 f e e t ( a t t a i l ) M a x T a k e o f f W t : 4 0 , 0 0 0 l b . M a x i m u m S p e e d : 410 kts. TAS O p e r a t i o n a l C e i l i n g : o v e r 7 0 , 0 0 0 f e e t M a x U n r e f u e l e d R a n g e : o v e r 3 , 0 0 0 N M B-737 U-2 Global Hawk 573 kts. TAS 343 kts. TAS File Name.26 As of (date) Global Hawk Integrated Sensor Suite Ryan Aeronautical Future UAV Technology Norman S. Sakamoto [email protected] 619.203.5726 File Name.27 As of (date) SI4000 SUMMER 2004 UAV Brief File Name.28 As of (date) Telepresence Telepresence, also called virtual presences, is participation in an environment from a remote location A subset of virtual reality, telepresence uses external mechanics to view the environment, Lethal UAV weapons delivery systems of the 1970s put the shooter out of harms way. Ryan developed systems to launch a variety of guided standoff weapons from BGM-34C UAVs. Virtual Reality software today contains the following features: Object database - descriptions of virtual objects or environments Attribute database - color, texture, orientation Sensor driver- monitors tracking devices to know actual position display driver- reality engine updates object for display Simulation manager - coordinates entire system maintaing proper perspective between objects File Name.29 As of (date) Virtual Reality Web sites Commercial VR packages are available from many houses on the web. World Tool Kit Sense8 www.sense8.com VR Development Systems VREAM www.vream.com Walk Through Virtus www.virtus.com Virtual Reality Studio Danmark Software WWW.domark.com Cyberspace Development Kit Autodesk www.autodesk.com Recent check of the links, Red are no longer pertinent or active. File Name.30 As of (date) Fuzzy Logic / Neural Nets The development of an adaptive control system to enhance engine performance is on the horizon Fuzzy logic algorithms and hardware have enjoyed a recent development frenzy The technology is ready for transition to UAV class engine controllers when the need is great enough Current F/A-18 Fuzzy logic engine control work is funded and ongoing File Name.31 As of (date) Voice Directed UAV Speech recognition could replace some navigation logic allowing mixed use of UAVs and manned aircraft Neural Network computing methods could be applied to artificial speech recognition and UAV command language This will increase asset interoperability for a force commander or commercial air traffic controller Minimizes ground control station assets File Name.32 As of (date) Damage Detection / Failure Prediction UAV Mission Failure rate can improve airframe monitoring and failure prediction. In high threat areas, damage may occur due to hostile action. With proper sensors, a UAV could decide to return to base if damage or failures were detected prior to catastrophic failure. Smart structure technologies will detect damage, predict useful life, continue operation at optimal flight conditions. The UAV will react by reducing speed, flying minimum G profile or dumping fuel and returning to base UAVs - Where Weve Been and Where Were Going Norman S. Sakamoto [email protected] 619.203.5726 File Name.33 As of (date) SI4000 SUMMER 2004 UAV Brief File Name.34 As of (date) Customers USAF USA USN USCG RCAF JDF GOI GOE NATO DEA DNA DOT CIA FBI NSA INS
Sandia Los Alamos LLL NASA DARPA DARO MDA File Name.35 As of (date) Performance Altitude 7 Ft to 100,000 Ft Velocity 60 Kts to Mach 4 Endurance 7 Minutes to 40 hours Range 25 NMi to 14,000 Nmi Take-Off Gross Weight 200 Lb to 34,500 Lb Payload Weight 25 Lb to 3,000 Lb
File Name.36 As of (date) Missions IMINT SIGINT GPS Pseudolite Air Sampling Strike EW/ESM Decoy BPI/BPLI Target Cargo / Logistics ACN File Name.37 As of (date) Aerodynamics Conventional Airfoil Rogallo Wing Laminar Flow SuperCritical Ailerons, Elevators, Rudders, Ruddervators, Spoilers, Speed Brakes, Flaps, Elevons BLC
Twin Verticals V - Tails Canards V/STOL Non Atmospheric Hypersonic File Name.38 As of (date) Airframe Metallic Aluminum Steel Titanium Magnesium Composite Fiberglass Graphite Molded Sheet Molded Compound
File Name.39 As of (date) Low Observables Radar Acoustic Visual IR
File Name.40 As of (date) Propulsion Reciprocating ( Aircraft) 2 Cylinder 2 Cycle Turbo Prop Turbo Jet Turbo Fan Ramjet Pulse Jet Rocket Electric Motors
File Name.41 As of (date) Payload Sensors Cameras Still Motion Panoramic Electro-Optical FLIR IRLS SAR ISAR IFSAR
Chaff Active EW Jammers COMINT ELINT ESM Ordnance Leaflets/Propaganda
File Name.42 As of (date) Navigation Dead Reckoning Doppler LORAN / Omega INS GPS/DGPS INMARSAT File Name.43 As of (date) Flight Controls Analog Digital Hybrid Duplex Triplex Electrostatic
File Name.44 As of (date) Secondary Power Batteries Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) Solar Generator
File Name.45 As of (date) Actuation System Hydraulic Pnuematic Electro-Mechanical Linear/Rotary Push/Pull Cables/Pulleys
File Name.46 As of (date) UAVs - Current Development and Emerging Uses File Name.47 As of (date) The Networked Vision of the Future UAVs Are A Major Part of the Vision File Name.48 As of (date) Warfighters Challenge ~ Future Combat Regional & Global Asymmetric Warfare Proliferation of Ballistic Missile/Cruise Missile Threats Proliferation of WMD Capabilities /Systems ~ and the Will To Use Them Uncertainty In Situational Awareness/Decisions Non-Traditional Roles & Missions ~ With Force Structure Pressures Acquisition of Advanced Technology Force Structures Technologies, Applications, Systems & Insertion Sequencing Force Mix, Postures, Basing, CONOPS & Employment Concepts Sustaining Capability in the Transition/Transformation Establishing & Sustaining Affordability - No Immunity To Budget Constraints Understanding & I ntegrating UAVs I s A Significant Part of the Challenge File Name.49 As of (date) Some of the Emerging Concepts & Requirements That UAVs Can Meet
These Lists Are By No Means Comprehensive
Military BM/C4ISR BPLI - Theater Ballistic Missile Defense Cruise Missile Defense - BM/C4ISR & Intercept Battlespace ~ Infosphere Comms & Reach-Back Kinetic & Non-Kinetic Combat Operations PSYOPs & SOF Operations SBIRS Low Adjunct & Tactical Surrogate Satellite / Sensor Test Bed Space Sensing Space Surveillance Space Tracking Space Comms/Data Relay Military Science Military R&D Augmentation of GPS
Civil Authority & Commercial Applications Communications Law Enforcement Drug Interdiction Disaster Preparedness & Management Global Meteorological (NOAA) Forest Fire Surveillance Environmental Monitoring, Management & Enforcement Agricultural Resource Surveillance & Management Natural Resource Surveillance & Management Scientific Research File Name.50 As of (date) Questions?