Medium Altitude Global ISR and Communication (MAGIC)
Abstract
Additional, persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance capability is critically needed across the Combatant Commands. Unmanned air systems provide the bulk of our persistent ISR capability. New generation UAS capabilities are needed for affordability and increased flexibility. The next leap in capability is envisioned to be a medium altitude long endurance UAS capability. The outcome of this effort is demonstration of technologies enabling 120 hour sortie endurance with nominal 1000 pounds payload (maximum of 2600 lbs) at 15,000 feet with modular design allowing for integration of a myriad of payloads including EO/IR, SIGINT, Ground Moving Target Indication, wide area surveillance, communications relay, and strike packages. The demonstration of this 5-day capability will validate decreased manning levels necessary to operate autonomous systems thereby reducing life-cycle costs. Additionally, the integration of advanced avionics, commercially available propulsion, and standards based (open-architecture) interfaces will allow the Department an affordable, flexible solution to the CoCom flexible mission demands. This project will demonstrate a suite of technologies enabling 5-day endurance and reliability. Subsequent efforts will evaluate payload flexibility and modularity. The lead service/agency is the Air Force. The plans are for subsystem demonstrations and assessments in 2011. This project is sponsored by USCENTCOM. Planned Transition Strategy: 1) Develop and validate manning for long-endurance, autonomous ISR platforms. 2) Capability to provide flexibility of configuration with open-architecture design. 3) Provide core technologies to USAF (303rd AESW) for further development of a deployable long-endurance UAS.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- 022aee57cac2e1cb9688a1c89f3b85b2