MAGIC
Abstract
The Medium Altitude Global ISR and Communications (MAGIC) project is an Air Force led technology and concept development to test the ability for a Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) to stay aloft in the medium altitude structure for a multiple day duration mission with a minimum of 1,000 pounds payload capacity of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance sensor systems. The MAGIC concept was initiated by OSD/DDR&E in FY 2010 in response to the COCOMs ranking this type of initiative as the highest priority for a Joint Concept and Technology Demonstration (JCTD). In FY 2011, the Air Force accepted this initiative as the sponsor and MAGIC was subsequently removed from consideration as a JCTD and transitioned into the Air Force as a developmental project. Data gathered from the development of the MAGIC project will support end-to-end long endurance ISR planning. Persistent ISR supports both regular and irregular warfare. The challenge to supporting regular and irregular warfare is the integration of legacy ISR architectures with emerging end-to-end infrastructures. The MAGIC project will provide the USAF with critically needed data regarding sensor and aircraft performance parameters at a multiple day duration at medium altitude flight. This data will augment the persistent ISR study completed by ACC and AFMC in 2nd Quarter FY 2011 and the AF/A9 Endurance UAV study completed in 3rd Quarter FY 2012. This project is designed to address the requirement laid out in two separate Joint Urgent Operational Needs (JUONs) for long dwell and persistent ISR. The objectives laid out in the JCTD competition and selection of Aurora Flight Sciences' Orion RPA is being honored by the Air Force. The test objectives for the Orion RPA MAGIC project is for a flight duration of five days (120 hours) with a minimum sensor payload of 1,000 pounds flown at 20,000 feet altitude. In FY 2010, OSD/DDR&E (now ASD/R&E) provided $5M of initial funding to AFRL to initiate the MAGIC project. In FY 2011, ASD/R&E provided an additional $5M to keep the MAGIC project development moving forward. The Air Force followed suit and provided $10M of FY 2011 Below Threshold Reprogramming (BTR) to allow the Aurora Flight Sciences' Orion RPA development team to set up an operational endurance engine bench test and software integrations lab in preparation for a future five-day duration flight demonstration of the Orion RPA. Congressional Adds of $19M in FY 2012 and $50M in FY 2013 provided the Endurance UAV program manager with the funding needed for the continuation of the Orion RPA development and flight testing through the 120-hour duration demonstration projected for mid to late FY 2014. In January 2012, Aurora Flight Sciences at their Manassas, VA facility performed a 123 hour duration endurance engine bench test. In December 2012, Aurora Flight Sciences assembled the Orion RPA to begin a series of ground testing efforts in preparation for the first flight series of tests projected to be conducted at NAWS China Lake, CA in the 4th Quarter FY 2013. All the electrical and avionics continuity checks, to include multiple engine runs and low speed taxi tests, were completed by May 2013. The Orion RPA and associated ground systems were shipped to NAWS China Lake, CA in July 2013 for the first flight series testing; first flight was accomplished on 24 August 2013. The Orion RPA reached an altitude of 8,000 feet altitude during the 3.5 hour inaugural sortie. Additional flight testing continues with the long endurance objective flight demonstration of 120 hour duration carrying a payload of 1,000 pounds to 20,000 feet projected for June or July 2014.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 67A026_0305205F_7_3600_PB_2015