Unmanned Combat Air Veh(UCAV) Adv Cp/Proto Dev

Abstract

The 2005 Quadrennial Defense Review published February 2006 and OSD Advanced Technology & Logistics Executive Committee Memorandum of February 2006 supported direction to restructure the Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS) program into a new Navy UCAS program. The Navy UCAS program will develop an unmanned, longer-range, carrier-based aircraft capable of being air-refueled to provide greater standoff capability, to expand payload and launch options, and to increase naval reach and persistence. The Navy was directed to demonstrate carrier operations, including Autonomous Aerial Refueling, of a Low Observable (LO) planform UCAS and to mature required technologies to a Technology Readiness Level-6; which, is required for a potential follow on acquisition program. The Navy UCAS designed for autonomous launch and recovery as well as operations in the Carrier Control Area, is comprised of an Air Vehicle Segment, a Mission Control Segment (MCS) and a government led Aircraft Carrier Integration Segment. The scope of the Navy UCAS effort includes design, development, integration, and validation of an unmanned, LO planform Air Vehicle Segment and MCS in the land-based and shipboard environments. Evaluations will be conducted to investigate MCS interfaces with shipboard systems such as Primary Flight Control displays, Landing Safety Officer displays, and Carrier Air Traffic Control Center stations. The Navy UCAS program will be structured to match program resources to United States Navy objectives and constraints with the goals of identifying and maturing critical technologies and reducing the risk of carrier integration of a UCAS. Candidate Technology Maturation efforts include transformational communications, advanced integrated propulsion, aircraft carrier suitable materials, LO sensors and apertures, sense and avoid functionality (in an LO environment), autonomous operations (software algorithms and interfaces), and computer resource data storage and access systems. Modeling, simulation, analysis, industrial capability assessments, system/component development, and analysis of architectures and concept designs are being developed as a result of the demonstration. Maturation of candidate technologies support the evaluation of alternatives needed for a future milestone decision.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: 0604402N_7_1319_PB_2015
• Change Summary Explanation: Technical: FY14 program plan reflects Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of Navy direction to continue the program to include additional test and at-sea periods. FY15 funding continues demonstration and integration efforts as directed by Chief of Naval Operations and Secretary of Navy. Schedule: Systems Development- Ship Integration and Installations (Build 2) from 4th QTR 2013 to 3rd QTR 2015 Autonomous Aerial Refueling (AAR) System Integration Installation from 2nd QTR 2014 to 3rd QTR 2015 Surrogate/Air Vehicle Flight Test from 3rd QTR 2013 to 4th QTR 2015 Test & Evaluation- Surrogate Testing from 4th QTR 2013 to 2nd QTR 2015 Land Based Carrier Control Area Testing from 4th QTR 2013 to 4th QTR 2015 Sea Trials- From 1st QTR 2014 to 3rd QTR 2015 Added CV Demonstration 1st QTR 2014 , CVN Integration Ops 4th QTR 2014 and CVW Integration Ops 2nd QTR 2015
• Service Agency Name: Navy

Entities

Organizations

• United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Autonomy

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Traffic
• Aircraft Carriers
• Aircrafts
• Carrier Based Aircraft
• Engineering
• Logistics
• Logistics Support
• Naval Operations
• Navy
• Nimitz-Class
• Refueling
• Refueling In Flight
• Ships
• Supply Chain Management
• Test And Evaluation
• Vehicles

Readers

• Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
• Military Science and Technology Research and Modernization.
• Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

• Autonomy