Battlespace Awareness - Long Endurance UAS ISR Capability
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 will endeavor to demonstrate 120 hour sortie endurance with nominal 1000 puonds 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, and communications relay. 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 ISR demands. This project will initially demonstrate 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 a final demonstration and assessment in 2011. This project is sponsored by USCENTCOM.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2011
- Source ID
- 0948fee0506618c2956f3fc1ba1a2a0c