US UAV and UCAV Technology

sferrin said:
If you can deal with the host's theatrics the latest episode of Future Weapons has some EXCELLENT footage of the new X-47B.

(Screen cap whilst they were unfolding the wings.)

Nobody dis my bro Mack, dude is a serious badass. Navy Seal, multiple black belts, scout sniper. My boy is Rambo X 10.
 
bobbymike said:
sferrin said:
If you can deal with the host's theatrics the latest episode of Future Weapons has some EXCELLENT footage of the new X-47B.

(Screen cap whilst they were unfolding the wings.)

Nobody dis my bro Mack, dude is a serious badass. Navy Seal, multiple black belts, scout sniper. My boy is Rambo X 10.

LOL yeah but he does tend to get into the moment a bit much at times.
 
Apologise friend. That is the NG X-47B demonstrator in assembly. Another poster asked if the exhaust had a flap on it for thrust vectoring - I hoped to show that it appears it does not.
 
sferrin - best line from "Future Weapons" the stealth episode. A LockMart engineer says about the F-35, "After we leave the battlespace all that's left will be teeth and eyeballs!"

Mack in enthusiastic but he has lived the life so he has walked the walk for sure.
 
Sometimes it can be useful to simply right-click over the picture and select the image's properties... the name of the picture often contains the name of the model shown (which WAS the case here...). :D
 
Hi,

the SkyTote VTOL UAV.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5478/
 

Attachments

  • SkyTote.jpg
    SkyTote.jpg
    60.5 KB · Views: 933
sferrin said:
Matej said:
sferrin said:
If you can deal with the host's theatrics the latest episode of Future Weapons has some EXCELLENT footage of the new X-47B.

(Screen cap whilst they were unfolding the wings.)

Looking at the right, we have the answer about the shape of the engine's nozzle.

Here: (Is it my imagination or is there a suggestion of a flap there at the trailing edge of the nozzle? I've looked the video several times and it's definitely not a video artifact.)

Might be a strap to tie it down on the jig. If it was a flap, would not the hinge line be out of alignment (stealth)?
 
Trident said:
sferrin said:
Matej said:
sferrin said:
If you can deal with the host's theatrics the latest episode of Future Weapons has some EXCELLENT footage of the new X-47B.

(Screen cap whilst they were unfolding the wings.)

Looking at the right, we have the answer about the shape of the engine's nozzle.

Here: (Is it my imagination or is there a suggestion of a flap there at the trailing edge of the nozzle? I've looked the video several times and it's definitely not a video artifact.)

Might be a strap to tie it down on the jig. If it was a flap, would not the hinge line be out of alignment (stealth)?

Yeah, "Race" suggested that as well, and looking at it again I tend to agree with the strap notion.
 
sferrin said:
Yeah, "Race" suggested that as well, and looking at it again I tend to agree with the strap notion.

Yes, he comfortably beat me to it - it's been a long day and I'm somewhat slow on the uptake ;)
 
hesham said:
Hi,

the SkyTote VTOL UAV.

http://www.gizmag.com/go/5478/

index.php

The top picture seems to represent a different design from the bottom one. The top design seems a lot like the old Lockheed "Salmon" tailsitter, with equally spaced fins and rudders.
 
Hi,

the Hydrogen-powered UAV.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13639_3-10214731-42.html?tag=mncol;title
 

Attachments

  • Hydrogen-powered UAV.jpg
    Hydrogen-powered UAV.jpg
    79.6 KB · Views: 281
When I see that second image, I can't help thinking, "It's VATOL, again!?" Of course, it becomes much more doable without the problems of what to do with the cockpit/pilot position during vertical flight.
 
Hi,

the Carter UAV;

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/as-the-croft-flies/Carter%20UAV_blog.JPG
 

Attachments

  • Carter UAV_blog.JPG
    Carter UAV_blog.JPG
    155.4 KB · Views: 370
Hi,

UAV pioneer unveils new design for long-endurance VTOL aircraft.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/03/01/338809/uav-pioneer-unveils-new-design-for-long-endurance-vtol-aircraft.html
 

Attachments

  • UAV.gif
    UAV.gif
    62.6 KB · Views: 306
Artist's impression of Dragonfly MEDEVAC UAV.

Artist's impression of Piasecki MEDEVAC UAV.

Source:
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3a27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3ad31069fe-39a9-45d0-bc53-56226a0b4418&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest
 

Attachments

  • 5783f0de-84cd-4c56-b941-bc9b815fa614.Full.jpg
    5783f0de-84cd-4c56-b941-bc9b815fa614.Full.jpg
    40.2 KB · Views: 237
  • 486a952b-d710-49a1-895e-adbe37bc3022.Full.jpg
    486a952b-d710-49a1-895e-adbe37bc3022.Full.jpg
    13.9 KB · Views: 267
Unmanned Systems Alert From Insidedefense.com

Card: Navy Seeking To Dub Next-Generation Unmanned Fighter 'Cutlass'

Inside the Navy, Nov. 15, 2010 -- The Navy wants to name the service's next-generation unmanned fighter and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft the "Cutlass," and the plan is to have a four- to eight-plane squadron on a carrier deck by 2018, Rear Adm. Kendall Card, director of concepts, strategies and integration for information dominance (N2/N6), said last week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So "on the deck by 2018" that timeline sure seems to indicate "something" is further along the development stage, than I am aware of anyway.
 
I guess Adm Card doesn't know that L3 already has a UAV named Cutlass... of course that's a company name and not 'official'

http://genaero.com/tech_uas/cutlass.htm
 
They could choose something a little bit more successful than the F7 "Gutless" Cutlass...unless they are pointing to the fact that the namesake was also a tailless vehicle.
 
bobbymike said:
So "on the deck by 2018" that timeline sure seems to indicate "something" is further along the development stage, than I am aware of anyway.

Or it's just rampant optimism. X-47B follow on was supposedly slated for introduction around 2018. It's difficult to see something being introduced by then given the state of play with F-35C. That's actually flying and is only going to reach IOC by 2018.
 
red admiral said:
bobbymike said:
So "on the deck by 2018" that timeline sure seems to indicate "something" is further along the development stage, than I am aware of anyway.

Or it's just rampant optimism. X-47B follow on was supposedly slated for introduction around 2018. It's difficult to see something being introduced by then given the state of play with F-35C. That's actually flying and is only going to reach IOC by 2018.
Moreover, the X-47B can't seem to get off the ground. -SP
 
I was wondering if this that Boeing 'unknown' that was in their slide sheet as a 'strike system'? A Boeing air to air ucav maybe? twin engined job?
 
The Navy is presumably talking about UCLASS (unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike), which is not as ambitious as an X-47B-follow-on UCAV would be. It's what GA-ASI is pitching Sea Avenger for.

But Cutlass - NOOOOOOO! It would be like naming an RAF fighter Defiant.
 
LowObservable said:
The Navy is presumably talking about UCLASS (unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike), which is not as ambitious as an X-47B-follow-on UCAV would be. It's what GA-ASI is pitching Sea Avenger for.

But Cutlass - NOOOOOOO! It would be like naming an RAF fighter Defiant.
You may recall that Chance Vought/U.S. Navy named its F7U Cutlass. -SP
 
XB-70 Guy said:
LowObservable said:
The Navy is presumably talking about UCLASS (unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike), which is not as ambitious as an X-47B-follow-on UCAV would be. It's what GA-ASI is pitching Sea Avenger for.

But Cutlass - NOOOOOOO! It would be like naming an RAF fighter Defiant.
You may recall that Chance Vought/U.S. Navy named its F7U Cutlass. -SP

Well; I thinl that's pretty much what he meant, Steve. Giving the name of a US Navy fighter to a USAF aircraft would be like naming an RAF fighter with the name of a Royal Navy fighter... ::)
 
or maybe naming an aircraft after a (sadly) unsuccessful predecessor is not auspicious. I mean, nobody would christen a new liner the "Titanic II", would they?
 
AeroFranz said:
or maybe naming an aircraft after a (sadly) unsuccessful predecessor is not auspicious. I mean, nobody would christen a new liner the "Titanic II", would they?

Well, yeah. But Titanic is a bit extreme an example, don't you think?? LOL
The Northrop Tiger II reused the name of Grumman's F11F, which had not had a very successful career... The McDonnell Phantom II reused the name of its less than glorious predecessor...
 
Hi,

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:685b2650-20c1-403b-965f-e58aaa2d945e
 

Attachments

  • 34f24253-9334-4ec3-bc91-5e3f35b0b8c9.Large.jpg
    34f24253-9334-4ec3-bc91-5e3f35b0b8c9.Large.jpg
    22.1 KB · Views: 328
  • f9ec235f-9d40-480b-982c-a9b7b918f66e.Large.jpg
    f9ec235f-9d40-480b-982c-a9b7b918f66e.Large.jpg
    17.1 KB · Views: 304
So... what now? I think I will start today with something nice from LM.
 

Attachments

  • LM_naval_VTOL_UCAV.jpg
    LM_naval_VTOL_UCAV.jpg
    441 KB · Views: 383
  • LM_naval_tailsitting_UCAV.jpg
    LM_naval_tailsitting_UCAV.jpg
    835.7 KB · Views: 391
Hi,

here is a tipjet VTOL UAV.

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA206738&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
 

Attachments

  • 1.JPG
    1.JPG
    26.9 KB · Views: 235
  • 2.JPG
    2.JPG
    20.1 KB · Views: 91
  • 3.JPG
    3.JPG
    15.9 KB · Views: 94
Hi,

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA252730&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
 

Attachments

  • 5.JPG
    5.JPG
    28.7 KB · Views: 54
  • 4.JPG
    4.JPG
    17.9 KB · Views: 55
  • 3.JPG
    3.JPG
    19.4 KB · Views: 58
  • 2.JPG
    2.JPG
    19 KB · Views: 64
  • 1.JPG
    1.JPG
    20.6 KB · Views: 73
According to StephenTrimble of Steven Trimble's The DEW Line blog, speaking about a Powerpoint presentation to the AIAA presented by Dr. Charles Harris, head of the Research Directorate at NASA's Langley Research Center:


Harris also reveals an image (slide 6) I've never seen before of a US Navy concept for a very new kind of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It seems to combine elements of the old joined-wing SensorCraft idea with ... detachable UCAV's on each wing-tip?

Source:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2011/04/spotted-sensorcraft-revisited.html
 

Attachments

  • 0000012f373fbcc1e5486af4007f000000000001_navy%20thing.jpg
    0000012f373fbcc1e5486af4007f000000000001_navy%20thing.jpg
    28.6 KB · Views: 293
What's this? Looks sorta like a Heron but the back end is all wrong for starters. More photos here:

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?197620-Is-it-a-UAV-or-a-piloted-aircraft-(Yes-I-ve-read-the-information-request-sticky)
 

Attachments

  • UAV%20(16).jpg
    UAV%20(16).jpg
    248.7 KB · Views: 303

Similar threads

Back
Top Bottom