F-16 Uninhabited Air Combat Vehicles.

Abstract

The U.S. Air Force is Actively pursuing unmanned aerial vehicle programs for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. However, the Air Force has not funded any substantial research into bomb or missile carrying "lethal" UAV's, despite the recommendations of the USAF scientific board's New World Vistas, DARPA, and the Air Force 2025 project. With budget constraints and a reluctant to transition to an unmanned combat force, new advance technologies UCAVs are decades from operational status. By modifying the multi-role F-16 fighter into an unmanned aircraft, the USAF can quickly provide a cost-effective interim UCAV. Lockheed Martin has suggested the modification of "boneyard" non-flying F-16 A-models into UCAVs. An investigation of this idea yielded several limitations and concerns that led to the formulation of an alternative F-16 UCAV proposal. Many of the limitations, concerns and costs associated with the Lockheed Martin F-16A proposal are eliminated or reduced by modifying currently flying block 40 and 50 F-16Cs and operational squadrons. With the addition of remote control equipment, a few squadron jets are converted into "dual role" aircraft. The selected dual role F-16Cs can continue to fly as normal "manned" aircraft or, if needed as unmanned remotely piloted UCAVs. Converting a few block 40 LANTIRN laser targeting pod equipped and block 50 Harm targeting system equipped F-16Cs in operational squadrons to dual role UCAVs will quickly provide a cost effective and capable interim unmanned military option. With low modification costs, no new infrastructure requirements, and no need for additional pilots or support personnel, the USAF should immediately start the developments, testing and conversion of a few F-16Cs into dual role UCAVs. As an interim unmanned military option, the F-16C UCAV will provide valuable insights and lessons or future advanced technology UCAV development and operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA367242

Entities

People

  • Kenneth E. Thompson

Organizations

  • United States Air Force Academy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircraft Industry
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Combat Forces
  • Combat Vehicles
  • Control Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Global Positioning Systems
  • Military Organizations
  • Tactical Aircraft
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Systems
  • Unmanned Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerial Unmanned Vehicle Swarm Micro Periodontal Dentistry.
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Directed Energy