Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

This PE focuses USAF efforts on long endurance platform projects and their associated sensors and communications suites. Efforts include, but are not limited to, optionally piloted airships, Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPAs), or more standard aircraft platforms flown as manned or unmanned. The Integrated Sensor Is Structure (ISIS) project intended to develop a radar that is fully integrated into a station-keeping, stratospheric airship. The ISIS project effort was completed in FY 2015. The Medium Altitude Global ISR and Communications (MAGIC) project was developing a multiple-day, medium altitude ISR unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to provide long endurance surveillance with a multiple sensor payload. This concept was initiated by the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) as a Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) in FY 2010. Aurora Flight Sciences (AFS)'s Orion Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) concept was chosen as the JCTD candidate by OSD/Director of Defense, Research and Engineering (DDR&E) per the recommendation of the Combatant Commands. The MAGIC/Orion RPA initiative was subsequently released from the JCTD process and transitioned to the Air Force as the sponsor and 645th Aeronautical Systems Group (AESG, a.k.a. BIG SAFARI Systems Program Office) as the manager of this developmental initiative in FY 2011. AFS and the 645th AESG performed flight test series demonstration August 2013 to March 2015 at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, CA. The flight test demonstration completed in FY 2015. The Block 0 (a.k.a. prototype) air vehicle and associated ground test articles have been re-located to Aurora Flight Sciences in Manassas, VA. Follow-on development of the Orion RPA Block 1 air vehicle and system continues with the remainder of the FY 2015 $20M Congressional Add and the addition of the FY 2016 $5M Congressional Add. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Source ID
0305205F_7_3600_PB_2017
Change Summary Explanation
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Altitude
  • Combatant Commanders
  • Contracts
  • Engineering
  • Lessons Learned
  • Medium Altitude
  • Product Development
  • Remotely Piloted Vehicles
  • Standards
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space

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