US Navy’s UCLASS / CBARS / MQ-XX / MQ-25 Stingray Program

TomcatViP said:
IMOHO we should not put aside so easily the little inlet in front to understand how the event on top acts as a valid inlet.

One of the AvWeek stories confirms that the small inlet is for avionics cooling.
 
Technically speaking they could use the accelerated exhaust from the avionics cooling flow to help create suction / laminar flow in the main intake (though personally I think the intake is big enough that it won't need such a system).
 
Video with interviews:
https://youtu.be/5oSSgVgu5oY
Navy Recognition's Day 1 video coverage at the Navy League’s Sea-Air-Space 2018 Exposition. In this video we are focusing on Naval Aviation:
» General Atomics MQ-25
» Lockheed Martin MQ-25
» Boeing MQ-25
» General Atomics EMALS milestone aboard CVN 78
» Raytheon integrating JSOW-C aboard F-35C
Notice, how the wings and the tail folds up on the General Atomics MQ-25 model.
Code:
https://youtu.be/5oSSgVgu5oY
Another video:
Defense & Aerospace Report said:

General Atomics’ Alexander on Unmanned Tanker Offering for US Navy MQ-25 Program

Dave Alexander, president of aviation systems at General Atomics, discusses the company’s offering for the US Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray unmanned tanker aircraft competition during an April 11, 2018, interview with the Defense & Aerospace Report Editor Vago Muradian. The interview was conducted at the Navy League’s 2018 Sea-Air-Space Symposium outside of Washington. [...]
https://youtu.be/axoPosCg-WY
Code:
https://youtu.be/axoPosCg-WY
 
https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/983417610845990912
 

Attachments

  • DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U.jpg
    DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U.jpg
    351.2 KB · Views: 109
  • DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U_.jpg
    DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U_.jpg
    171.7 KB · Views: 119
flateric said:
https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/983417610845990912

If that's to scale that looks a lot bigger than the one that's been in the recent pictures. ???
 
Are you sure?
 

Attachments

  • HWYu4j7H5z7ReGQy.mp4_snapshot_00.23_[2018.04.09_18.17.44].jpg
    HWYu4j7H5z7ReGQy.mp4_snapshot_00.23_[2018.04.09_18.17.44].jpg
    40.3 KB · Views: 130
That's a rendering. I meant bigger than the real one they've been showing pictures of.
 
sferrin said:
That's a rendering. I meant bigger than the real one they've been showing pictures of.

I think we just don't have anything that really scales the the physical prototype that well. The shots from Sea-Air-Space help -- they show th wing being around 6 feet off the ground, about the same as a Super Hornet. It's bigger than the older outdoor photos made it look.
 
Interesting all that hype about GA-ASI entry revealing as it actually was around since last October
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,16346.msg316229.html#msg316229
 
Hood said:
Lockheed Martin has confirmed its MQ-25 design uses a GE F404 turbofan, also the undercarriage and some electronic systems from the F-35C.
So this puts the LM and Boeing submissions on similar thrust weightings with GA using the a power powerful 16,000lb P&W PW815. Perhaps this suggests the latter has higher gross and maximum weights (and thus more internal fuel tankage)?

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/lockheeds-mq-25-reuses-usn-fighter-engines-landing-447457/

40 kVA from the PW815 is nothing to sneeze at either; the AE3007 for Triton is like 25 - 30 kVA.
 
flateric said:
https://twitter.com/BoeingDefense/status/983417610845990912

Guesstimation ;)
 

Attachments

  • DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U_a.jpg
    DaXNGqgXcAIXh4U_a.jpg
    46.6 KB · Views: 1,531
GA-ASI Avenger ER sets new flight record

11th April 2018

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ (GA-ASI's) Avenger Extended Range (ER) UAS has set a new endurance record by flying for 23.4 consecutive hours, the company announced on 5 April.

The next-generation Avenger ER flew in a representative ISR configuration while carrying out a simulated reconnaissance mission. The flight time reflects a ten hour improvement over the baseline Predator C Avenger aircraft.

The Avenger ER features avionics based upon the Predator B/MQ-9 Reaper, has 3,000lbs payload bay and is capable of flying at over 400kt true air speed. The Avenger is designed to carry payloads such as the all-weather GA-ASI Lynx multi-mode radar and the MS-177 electro-optical/infrared sensor.

The Avenger platform is currently being used as a surrogate for GA-ASI’s proposed MQ-25 platform, including early ground and flight test of the deck handling system, mission specific hardware and software and all flight and mission data links and communications.

With an increased wingspan of 76ft, Avenger ER provides an improved long-loiter ISR and precision-strike capability, supporting a wide array of sensors and weapons payloads. Other improvements include an increase in the maximum gross takeoff weight to 19,500lbs using a co-cured composite centre wing and heavyweight landing gear as well as integration of a dual redundant, light weight brake control capability using a GA-ASI developed lightweight hybrid linear anti-lock brake system.
 
General Atomics’ wands use proprietary gesture recognition algorithms to identify standard hand movements, as designated by Naval Air Training and Operating Procedures, and then translates and sends those commands to the MQ-25 air vehicle, the company said. The aircraft receives the commands and converts them into the appropriate actions.
“MQ-25 will be able to talk back to the controller and other flight deck personnel using a small series of LEDs that change colors and flash to show that they have received a command and indicate the aircraft’s condition or operating state,” said General Atomics’ David Alexander, president of GA-ASI’s aircraft systems. “A safety observer on deck can stop the aircraft instantly any time an unsafe situation is identified. To give you an idea of how the system works, think Wii for aircraft control.”

Source: FlightGlobal.com
 
Lockheed Martin capable of fielding MQ-25 prototype in one year

Lockheed Martin decided against building a MQ-25 prototype
It wanted to focus on the navy’s new requirements instead of older requirements

http://www.janes.com/article/79514/lockheed-martin-capable-of-fielding-mq-25-prototype-in-one-year
 
Nice view ;)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20180428_221719.png
    IMG_20180428_221719.png
    729.4 KB · Views: 1,060
sferrin said:
The GA entry is starting to grow on me.
Yeah I've been reevaluating since Sea Air Space presented more information on the bidders. Prior to the show, I had BA as being in a very good position with GA trying to catch up and LM going through the motions. Today I'd say that all 3 look pretty good for their own reasons.
 
Late Sea Ghost underbelly
 

Attachments

  • 176473174.jpg
    176473174.jpg
    322.3 KB · Views: 780
Skunk Works’ MQ-25 Performs Deck Handling Demo

Lockheed Martin simulated a deck-handling demonstration of its MQ-25 flying-wing design UAV in mid-May at its Skunk Works facility in Palmdale, California, for U.S. Navy officials. Lockheed, Boeing and General Atomics are competing to make a single-engine UAV that can refuel fighters from the carrier deck in the mid-2020s. The Navy is scheduled to award one of the three companies a fixed-price development contract in August for four aircraft, the first of which would fly by fiscal 2021. A ...

http://m.aviationweek.com/defense/skunk-works-mq-25-performs-deck-handling-demo
 
Model at Farnborough. From @RAeSTimR on Twitter
 

Attachments

  • mq25.jpg
    mq25.jpg
    98.4 KB · Views: 814
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ga-asi-completes-string-of-tests-on-its-proposed-mq-450817/
 
Don't know where to put this but here it is

https://www.facebook.com/NATO/videos/1904319269591395/
 
The same video at YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ruSQa1PvC3E
NATO said:
Making aircraft less detectable
A team of NATO experts is developing new technology that will make military aircraft less detectable. Most forms of aircraft need actuators (vertical and horizontal flaps) to enable flight and control.
The technology being developed leaves these flaps redundant in certain phases of flight, replacing them with an active flow control system using air to help manoeuvre the aircraft.
The research into innovative control effectors, or ICE, is being carried out by a NATO task group under NATO’s Science and Technology Organization, which includes representatives from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Illinois Institute of Technology and Lockheed Martin.
The first model of the ICE aircraft was made in 2015, measuring just 28 centimetres in wingspan. It has since undergone numerous rounds of testing in a wind tunnel at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado.
Source:
Code:
https://youtu.be/ruSQa1PvC3E
 
Aaahhhhh.... ICE blowing dust in the vaccum to try altering the attitude... I wonder why this looks like familiar to me. ;)
 
Seems smaller than the Boeing and GA offerings. Or maybe that's just an artifact of the flying wing configuration compared to the more conventional shapes of the other designs.
 
IIRC, it is indeed smaller - the flying wing allowed greater efficiency, meaning that it would end up with a greater portion of fuel available once it was on station, meaning that it could be small and lighter overall with a less powerful and thirsty engine.
 
notice also the wider chord, resulting in less induced drag hence less turbulences for the aircraft in trail (the very one reason why the A-400 struggles to be a good air tanker). This is one of the strong point of the LM design.
 
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1617374/

So apparently Boeing has won the contract...
 
totoro said:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1617374/

So apparently Boeing has won the contract...

Wow, preety fast decision compared to other delayed delayed business.

Is it affect decision of T-X or too small to affect other selection?
 
totoro said:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1617374/

So apparently Boeing has won the contract...

I'm surprised it wasn't announced somewhere. ???

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8V0bdpmKGg
 
litzj said:
totoro said:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1617374/

So apparently Boeing has won the contract...

Wow, preety fast decision compared to other delayed delayed business.

Is it affect decision of T-X or too small to affect other selection?

My money is on LM winning T-X.
 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-wins-big-navy-contract-for-drones-1535666569
 
sferrin said:
totoro said:
https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1617374/

So apparently Boeing has won the contract...

I'm surprised it wasn't announced somewhere. ???

It's such a small acquisition, really. Just four airframes.

Which is why I doubt it will have a lot of impact on the T-X decision.
 

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom