It would be hard to argue that the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is the defense acquisition program success story of the past decade.  Ever since General Atomics’ MQ-1 Predator moved from a CIA-based reconnaissance role to an Air Force-led offensive role during the Bosnian conflict in the late 1990’s, the market for the “type” has grown exponentially, with multiple vehicles filling niches at all levels.  Every contractor seems to have its own UAV that it touts as the best thing since the rifled muzzle.  Defense Industry Daily recently estimated that the market for UAV systems could top $13.6 billion within five years.  This article will take a brief look at some of the “next generation” UAVs coming onto the scene.

PREDATOR C AVENGER

General Atomics successfully produces many versions of the Predator, ranging from the MQ-9 Predator B to the Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) Sky Warrior.  Here’s a nice overview article on the various versions of the UAV.  Here’s a quick video of the Predator B in action—

But the latest version of the Predator—the Avenger—is the latest and greatest version. 

What makes the Predator C different and exciting? 

 General Atomics’ next generation Predator is powered by a jet engine, unlike the previous versions.  And also unlike the previous versions, the Avenger is clearly designed for stealth.  The Avenger flies higher and faster than the Reaper, and may be designed for carrier operations (perhaps to compete with the Northrop Grumman N-UCAS, which is discussed below).

NORTHROP GRUMMAN FIRE SCOUT MQ-8

According to this article, this unmanned helicopter was originally developed for the Navy, but subsequently was taken over by the Army as part of its Future Combat Systems (FCS) program.  The Fire Scout was identified as one of the first “spin outs” from that troubled program.  The Navy now has its own version (known as the Sea Scout), which has been deployed on the USS McInerney.  Additionally, Northrop Grumman expects (or hopes) to deploy the UAV on the Navy’s new Littoral Combat Ships.  Here’s a brief overview of the program. 

Here’s a nice video of the Fire Scout undergoing testing, with musical accompaniment.

NORTHROP GRUMMAN N-UCAS X-47B

Another UAV under development is Northrop Grumman’s Navy Unmanned Combat Air System (N-UCAS) X-47B.  Originally this was one of the two contenders for the “Joint” Unmanned Combat Air System, but in a deft political move the joint program was killed and the Navy emerged—along with Northrop Grumman—as the sole winner.  The X-47B is designed for stealthy flight, and also fully autonomous carrier launches and recoveries.  The first aircraft is in testing now.  Here’s a pretty cool video combined real film with CGI to show how the X-47B might operate when deployed.

LOCKHEED MARTIN RQ-170 SENTINEL

One of the more interesting “secrets” of the war in Southwest Asia is the recent confirmation of a new stealthy UAV, Lockheed Martin’s RQ-170 “Sentinel”.  The Air Force acknowledged existence of the aircraft reluctantly, and only when faced with grainy photographs taken of the vehicle at Kandahar International Airport in Afghanistan.  Not much is known about this UAV, except that it is believed to be the first stealthy UAV that has been publicly acknowledged.  We can see from the picture below that the RQ-170 is a jet-powered, tailless, “flying wing” design, reminiscent of the B-2 bomber.  The RQ designation indicates that it is unarmed, and it appears to have pods for reconnaissance and/or communications on the upper side of its wings.  Here is a link to a Wikipedia article—but be warned that the article is lacking details.

BOEING X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle

Not strictly a UAV in the same sense as the other aircraft in this article, the X-37B appears to be a “robotic spacecraft”  and resembles the Space Shuttle more than a traditional aircraft or helicopter.  As with the Sentinel, not much is known about this vehicle.  Apparently, it is the result of more than a decade of design and development.  It is scheduled to be launched aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in mid-April 2010.  According to this article, “The Air Force says the program objectives are ‘space experimentation, risk reduction and … development [of] reusable space vehicle technologies.’”  The article notes that the spacecraft may be in orbit for up to 270 days.  This article from CNET notes that the spacecraft  will deploy solar panels to generate electricity in orbit.  (The article also has some pics of the spacecraft, such as the one shown below.)

EADS TALARION

But all is not rosy in the UAV marketplace.  EADS, which famously has waffled on bidding for the US Aerial Tanker replacement, and has had development problems on both its Airbus A380 commercial jet and its Airbus A400M military transport planes, has also had problems developing its Euro-centric UAV.  The Talarion is a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) focused on the UAV needs of France, Germany, and Spain.  It is no coincidence that those countries are EADS shareholders.  Other countries, including the United Kingdom of Great Britain, have also been mentioned as possible buyers.

EADS is currently paying for Talarion system development and risk-reduction studies, even though it still lacks firm orders.  According to this Der Spiegel article, if EADS doesn’t receive firm orders, the program will be “frozen”.  The article reports—

EADS defense chief Stefan Zoller said the Talarion project would have to be frozen by this summer if Germany, France and Spain do not place concrete orders for the drone. Developing the drone will cost the three countries an estimated total of €1.5 billion, plus a further €1.4 billion to procure 45 models. So far the countries have invested €60 million into the project.

The article concludes:  “The company has said it would continue to invest its own money in the project, but only until mid-2010.”

There are many more UAV programs and aircraft that we could have discussed, but these six seem to represent a good cross section.  Of course, there are many smaller drones and UAVs that are in use today, and the marketplace keeps expanding.  However, it is obvious from the Talarion program that just having a UAV isn’t enough; one must also have customers with money and need.

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