Asian Defence News: Stealth UAV

Showing posts with label Stealth UAV. Show all posts

August 19, 2014

Are US Air Forces and Chinese PLAAF UAVs the same with minor differences?

US Air Forces X-47B and China's "sword" UAVs the same with minor differences

USAF MQ-9 Predator and and China's Pterodactyl Wing Loong

Only Triton remains one of a kind(not for long)

April 28, 2014

Mystery Stealth aircraft spotted in UK

April 5, 2014

BAE Taranis UCAV At RAAF’s Woomera Airfield

Seems like it is parked there on purpose to be picked up by satellites. The plane hangar is some distance away to the left.

February 28, 2014

More test flights of UK's Taranis stealth drone scheduled over summer

February 20, 2014

British Taranis Stealth UCAV is Expanding Flight Envelope over Australia

A side view of the Taranis UCAV in flight. Photo: BAE Systems/MOD

The serrated contour of the weapon’s bay is clearly seen in this photo, where the stealthy Taranis shows its belly and underwing area on a banking turn. Photo: BAE Systems, UK MOD.

Taranis awaiting takeoff at Woomera Test Range, South Australia. Photo: BAE Systems/UK MOD

Taranis on the runway. Photo: BAE Systems/UK MOD

Last week the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and BAE Systems confirmed that the Taranis stealthy Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator surpassed all expectations during its first flight trials last year. Since the first flight, conducted August 10th, 2013 the UCAV has been expanding the flight envelope in preparation for the follow-on operational demonstration phase.

Taranis is designed to demonstrate the UK’s ability to create an unmanned air system which, under the control of a human operator, is capable of undertaking sustained surveillance, marking targets, gathering intelligence, deterring adversaries and carrying out strikes in hostile territory.

Taranis made its maiden flight at the Woomera test range in South Australia on Saturday 10th August 2013, under the command of BAE Systems’ test pilot Bob Fraser. The first flight lasted only 15 minutes, in which the demonstrator aircraft took off, rotation, ‘climb-out’ and returned for landing. In a number of follow-on flights that took place last year, Taranis extended flight duration to one hour, operating at a variety of altitudes and speeds, as part of the envelope testing.

“The findings from the aircraft’s flight prove that the UK has developed a significant lead in understanding unmanned aircraft which could strike with precision over a long range whilst remaining undetected.” BAE Sources said, indicating the technological advances made through Taranis will also help the UK MOD and Royal Air Force make decisions on the future mix of manned and unmanned fast jet aircraft and how they will operate together in a safe and effective manner for the UK’s defences. The MOD is considering a yet undefined ‘Future Combat Air System ‘FCAS’ – possibly a UCAV to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in RAF service as the Typhoon reaches retirement by 2030. The UK and France announced an agreement to explore collaborate in the development of such platform, at an investment of £120 million. The two countries are expected to sign a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the two-year program in July 2014.

January 13, 2014

How the WZ-2000 became China's first unmanned combat air vehicle?

Model of WZ-2000

A former executive of China National Guizhou Aviation Industry Group has revealed how the WZ-2000 became China's first industrially manufactured multi-purpose attack unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) a decade ago.

In an interview with the Chinese-language Guizhou Daily, Yang Shaowen, now a member of China's national unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) expert team, described how the WZ-2000 was developed virtually from scratch in Guizhou until its maiden test flight on Dec. 26, 2003.Explaining that the development of the WZ-2000 had to be kept under wraps for the last 10 years, Yang said his inspiration for building a domestic UAV came out of the Kosovo War. After the United States and NATO employed UAVs at the outbreak of the war in March 1999, Guizhou Aviation chairman Zhou Wancheng, and Yang, who was the company's aircraft design chief at the time, became convinced that unmanned vehicles are the future of modern warfare.

Several months later, Yang looked into the local UAV market and was told that Guizhou was not equipped to research or develop the technology and in any case did not have the requisite market or customer channels. Yang added that Guizhou Aviation was the ninth company in China to tackle UAVs, with none of those that came before it ever successfully carrying out a test flight.

This did not deter Yang, Guizhou Aviation and its parent company, the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, forming alliances with other organizations spearheading UAV research and development in China, including top universities, aviation companies and military research organizations.

A mock up of the WZ-2000 was publicly displayed at the 2000 Zhuhai Airshow, with a more accurate model on display at the 2002 event.The maiden test flight was scheduled for Mao Zedong's birthday on Dec. 26, in 2003. The planned 27-minute test flight lasted 74 minutes after the vehicle had difficulty reading its actual height from the ground, though by the end the UCAV managed to complete several flight maneuvers before a successful landing.

The flight was witnessed by Zhang Xiang, then-deputy commander of the Second Artillery Corps of the People's Liberation Army, as well as other military personnel. Zhang said although the test flight was imperfect, this was expected of new technology, adding that he was impressed with how the testers remained calm when the flight ran into difficulties.

The test flight instilled a lot of confidence in Guizhou Aviation, which surprised many by being the first in the country to do it. After finally earning military approval, Guizhou Aviation, which by then had a dedicated research team of more than 100 people, received its first UAC order in 2005, helping boost funding from a meager 1 million yuan (US$1.65 million) by an additional 10 million (US$16.5 million).

By 2008, the WZ-2000 officially became China's first UAV in industrial production.The second generation WZ-2000 has reportedly undergone significant improvements. On Nov. 13, 2009 in Lanzhou, the capital of northwest China's Gansu province, the WZ-2000 fired its first ammunition, which was reportedly just 1.2 meters off the target from a distance of several thousand meters."In the UAV sector, the most technologically advanced are the US, the UK and China. As for seeing China's most advanced UAV, you'll have to come to Guizhou," Yang said.

April 4, 2013

SHEPHERD-MIL, an UAV which looks like a native bird

It looks like a native bird, with the same flight characteristics. Capable of gliding at great height with its engine off, the device is invisible in sensitive missions.
Especially useful to scare away gregarious birds in civilian and military airfields, as well as for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations in critical infrastructures, the fight against terrorism, and drug trafficking in areas of difficult access.

SHEPHERD-MIL, a UAV with different applications for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance missions will be featured along with other products and systems at the exhibition.

EXPAL will participate in HOMSEC 2013, displaying some of its most innovative solutions in the security area. Among other products, SHEPHERD-MIL, an UAV which looks like a native bird with the same flight performance, will be featured. This UAV is characterized by the glide-ratio and noiseless motor that make it invisible, silent and unobtrusive in sensitive missions. SHEPHERD-MIL was initially developed as a bird strike avoidance system, and currently is used in situations where the safety and protection are key.

SHEPHERD-MIL is equipped with cameras and geolocation software. The system is especially suitable for border surveillance missions, firefighting, and anti-drug trafficking operations amongst others. Furthermore, EXPAL has adapted and integrated the SHEPHERD-MIL into its Fire Support System (TECHFIRE), transforming the SHPEHERD-MIL into a specific version, Unmanned Forward Observer (UFO-UAV) that functions as a complement for the forward observer.

February 4, 2013

India’s stealth fighter : Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft concept

January 14, 2013

British stealth drone to undergo first test flight

It can fly faster than the speed of sound, cannot be detected by radar and has no pilot. This is the new robotic plane that will become the next generation of front line bombers for the British military.

The drone, which is named Taranis after the Celtic god of thunder, has been designed to fly intercontinental missions to attack targets and can automatically dodge incoming missiles.

The aircraft, which has cost £125 million to build, is intended to be the first of a new generation of aeroplanes that will reduce the need to risk human lives on long, dangerous missions.

It is to be flown for the first time in a series of tests over the Australian outback in the spring in an attempt to demonstrate the technology to military chiefs.

Currently the Royal Air Force uses Tornado GR4 bombers as its front line strike aircraft, although the Typhoon Eurofighter is expected to replace it in the coming years.