Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Barracuda Demonstrator Unmanned Air Vehicle
The purpose of the Barracuda demonstrator is to demonstrate and test technologies for future agile, autonomous and network-capable UAV systems.	The Barracuda air vehicle has a radius of action of more than 200km and a maximum speed over Mach 0.6.	The Barracuda carries a maximum payload of 300kg.
First flight of the Barracuda air vehicle took place in April 2006 at the San Javier Military Air Base in southern Spain.	Fly-by-wire and flight control systems provide an all-electric-aircraft capability for the Barracuda in flight.	The Barracuda air vehicle is of entirely carbon-fibre construction with a maximum take off weight of 3,250kg.

CL-289
The CL-289 reconnaissance UAV vehicle has been in service with the German and French armies since 1992.	CL-289 being readied for launch.	The UAV has a two-stage parachute system for landing and two airbags which prevent damage on impact.
CL-289 was developed as a tri-national project between Canada, France and Germany.	Aerial reconnaissance image from CL-289.	The air vehicle after recovery.
French and German army systems are being upgraded with new flight software and GPS.	The CL-289 is powered by a solid propellant booster motor for launch and a single stage jet sustainer engine during flight.	The reconnaissance payload consists of an optical camera and an infrared linescanner.
CL-289 Reconnaissance Drone launch.

Fire Scout MQ-8B Vertical Take-Off and Landing Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle
The US Army selected the MQ-8B for the Class IV UAV segment of the Future Combat Systems (FCS) programme.	The MQ-8B Fire Scout is based on the highly successful RQ-8A system developed for the US Navy, which has completed over 245 test flights.	Cutaway drawing of the MQ-8B Fire Scout.
The US Army's FCS Class IV UAV system will detect, locate, identify, track and designate targets, and carry out battle damage assessment.	The MQ-8B Fire Scout has a significantly increased capability compared to the first generation RQ-8A.	Four-view drawing of the MQ-8B Fire Scout.
The MQ-8B fuselage is fitted with side-mounted sponsons for carrying pods or weapons.

Hunter RQ-5A / MQ-5B/C
The Hunter RQ-5A Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle in service with the US Army.	Hunter has a speed of 110 knots, a range of 125km and a maximum endurance of 12 hours.	Hunter provides real time intelligence for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition.
Hunter can be launched using a rocket assisted (RATO) system, for areas where space is limited.	The air vehicle can be launched from a paved or semi-paved runway.	Inside the Ground Control Station.
The Ground Control Station provides tactical mission planning as well as controlling the air vehicle and its payload.	A larger version, Extended Hunter, has been developed for longer endurance and higher altitude missions.	The Remote Video Terminal displays real-time video and telemetry from the airborne vehicle.

IGNAT-ER Long Endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle
The US Army's IGNAT-ER extended range unmanned air vehicle.	The IGNAT-ER UAV has been deployed by the US Army in Iraq since spring 2004.	IGNAT fitted with the General Atomics AN/APY-8 Lynx synthetic aperture radar installed in a 48cm diameter undernose radome.
The IGNAT-ER system has a maximum endurance of 40 hours at an altitude of 8,000m.	The IGNAT-ER system consists of a ground control station and up to eight air vehicles with a ten-person crew.	IGNAT flying over the US Navy amphibious assault ship, USS Tarawa.
The forward payload bay can carry up to 204kg. Each wing is fitted with one hardpoint with a payload capacity of 65kg.

KZO
The KZO reconnaissance UAV.	The KZO launcher and air vehicle.	KZO landing with parachutes and airbags.
The KZO air vehicle is a low wing monoplane with a wingspan of 3.42m and length 2.29m. The wings of the air vehicle are unfolded in preparation for launch.	The KZO's ground control station.	The Mucke electronic countermeasures (ECM) UAV is a version of KZO for electronic warfare.
The Fledermaus electronic support measures (ESM) UAV is a variant with systems for the interception and acquisition of hostile radar and radio communication transmissions.	Six KZO UAV reconnaissance and target acquisition systems are being built for the German Army.	The KZO uses an infrared sensor system to acquire real-time images of targets, as well as position and speed of moving and stationary targets.

LUNA Aerial Reconnaissance and Surveillance UAV
The LUNA medium-range reconnaissance and surveillance UAV system has been in service with the German Army since March 2000.	Preparation for catapult launch take-off in severe winter conditions in Norwegian mountainous terrain.	The LUNA control station set up by KFOR in Kosovo.
The LUNA system being loaded onto a C-130 aircraft for transportation from Germany to Norway for Operation Strong Resolve in 2002.	The control consoles in the Ground Control Station.	A LUNA reconnaissance image from Operation Strong Resolve.
LUNA on the catapult launcher.	Setting up the catapult launcher.	The ground control station installed into the DURO 6x6 armoured all-terrain vehicle used in Operation Strong Resolve.
The radio mast being set up next to the ground control station in Kosovo.	The crew view the digital map displays in the Ground Control Station.

Phoenix
The Phoenix unit on Salisbury Plain, England	The mission pod is mounted on the underside of the fuselage.	The launch vehicle with the Phoenix.
The Phoenix maintenance vehicle and the towed generator.	Ground data terminal.	The two blade propeller is turning as the engine is warmed up immediately prior to launch.
The air vehicle leaves the launch ramp in the Mojave Desert.	After landing Phoenix is loaded onto the recovery vehicle.

Predator RQ-1 / MQ-1 / MQ-9
RQ-1A Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It has a Ku-band satellite data link to provide over-the-horizon mission capabilities.	Predator B is powered by a turboprop engine and can carry a greatly increased payload.	Predator UAVs have been operational in Bosnia since 1995, where they have flown over 600 missions for more than 4,000 hours in support of Nato, UN and US operations.
Predator operated from a tactical control station located aboard the USS Carl Vinson, Nimitz class aircraft carrier. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides Predator with an all-weather, through-the-clouds surveillance capability.	Predator B can conduct multiple missions simultaneously due to its large internal and external payload capacity.	The Predator medium-altitude long-endurance UAV. A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal.
Designated MQ-9 Hunter-Killer, Predator B’s primary mission is interdiction and conducting armed reconnaissance against critical, perishable targets.

RQ-11 Raven
The RQ-11 Raven is a lightweight unmanned aircraft system (UAS) designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for military and commercial operations.	The Raven meets army requirements for low-altitude reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.	The RQ-11A Raven UAV weighs about 1.9kg (4.2lb). It has a flight endurance of 80 minutes and an effective operational radius of about 10km (6.2 miles).
The Raven allows military units to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) over danger zones without committing soldiers.	Launched in just minutes, by hand, into the air like a model airplane, the Raven lands itself by auto-piloting to a near hover.	Launched by hand, Raven provides aerial observation, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges of 10km or more.

Shadow 200 RQ-7 – Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System
The Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) has seen operational service in Afghanistan and in Iraq. It has flown over 190,000 flight hours in more than 47,000 missions.	Shadow 200 is in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps and is used for target acquisition, battle damage assessment and battle management.	Shadow 200 can be launched from a hydraulic rail launcher (shown here) or by standard wheeled take-off, depending on launch site.
Shadow 200 can locate, recognise and identify targets up to 125km from a brigade tactical operations centre, transmitting imagery and telemetry data in near-real time.	The Shadow system includes three air vehicles (plus one spare) with payloads, two ground control stations, portable ground control station, air vehicle transport truck, launch and recovery equipment and personnel carrier.	As well as conventional wheeled landing, Shadow can also land with an arresting hook on the air vehicle and ground-based arresting cables.
The Shadow TUAS can carry payloads up to 27kg, including a variety of sensors and electronic warfare systems, for up to seven hours.

Sperwer
Sperwer B is a long-endurance tactical unmanned air vehicle being developed by Sagem.	The Sperwer B launch test in Kemijarvi, Finland in June 2006.	Sperwer B ignition at Kemijarvi, Finland.
Sperwer B fitted with the Sagem OLOSP electro-optical payload.	Compared to the Sperwer A, the B version has twice the payload capacity and endurance.

TARES Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV)
The maiden flight of the modified TARES system was successfully completed in December 2004.	The UCAV has a range of 200 km and can remain airborne for up to four hours. It can autonomously carry out target search, classification, identification and engagement.	The TARES air vehicle payload consists of a high-resolution infrared seeker and an all-weather Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with millimetre wave seeker, which has a resolution of better than 0.7m.
An automatic launch sequence control gives a high sequential launch rate, with four vehicles capable of being launched in 5min.	The vehicle's cross wing configuration combines the aerodynamic characteristics of a conventional aircraft with those of a guided missile system.	While the air vehicle is in flight, the detected potential targets are continuously classified against predefined algorithms.

Unmanned Little Bird (ULB)
Boeing's unmanned Little Bird (ULB) helicopter demonstrator successfully completed its first unmanned flight in July 2006.	The Boeing ULB can be remotely operated or programmed for autonomous operations in any of its three operational modes: dual pilot, single pilot or unmanned flight operations.	Little Bird making its first autonomous take off and landing in October 2004. An on-board pilot monitors the helicopter but does not actively fly the craft.
The A/MH-6X which combines the A/MH-6M mission-enhanced Little Bird (MELB) with the UAV technologies of the Little Bird demonstrator, making a first flight in September 2006.	The Little Bird seen with the BoeingAH-64D Apache Longbow helicopter. Tests in April 2006 demonstrated the Apache's ability to remotely control the ULB's weapon payload.

Watchkeeper Tactical UAV System
The first flight of the Watchkeeper UAV in British air space took place in September 2005 at the Park Aberporth UAV Systems Event 2005 in Wales.	Flight tests of the Watchkeeper air vehicles are being carried out at the ParcAberporth facility in Cardigan Bay, Wales.	In August 2005, Thales UK was awarded the contract for the Development, Manufacture and Initial Support (DMIS) phases of the Watchkeeper programme.
Watchkeeper on display at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2004.	The WK450 is based on the Hermes 450, a proven system with over 20,000 flying hours in service.	The Watchkeeper monitor.
Watchkeeper will provide the UK armed forces with Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) capability.	Watchkeeper being loaded on a C-130 transport aircraft.

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