Lockheed Martin - Multi purpose long endurance (MPLE) UAV

[fightingirish]

Lockheed Martin and Skunk Works unveiled a concept of medium-altitude /long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) called "Multi purpose long endurance" (MPLE) at the AUVSI yesterday.
Links:
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/08/auvsi-skunk-works-unveils-medi.html
http://lockheedmartinpackers.com/auvsi/factsheets/DS-ADP-MPLE.pdf
http://lockheedmartinpackers.com/auvsi/

Edit: I will attach the PDF and the screenshots later during the day.

 

[AeroFranz]

This is Lockheed's attempt to enter the MALE market. Aerovironment has the lead because they are already flying their hydrogen-electric powered Global Observer.. Boeing should be flying their hydrogen Phantom Eye by year's end (roll-out already occurred), and Aurora should fly their Diesel Orion at about the same time.

Frankly I see this as just a study, maybe running interference at the most.

 

[Triton]

Photographs of Lockheed Martin MPLE by Stephen Trimble.

Source:
Trimble, Stephen "#AUVSI: Skunk Works unveils medium-altitude surprise" The DEW Line August 23, 2010
http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/08/auvsi-skunk-works-unveils-medi.html

 

[fightingirish]

Stephen Trimble has updated his blog.

[...]MPLE will challenge the Aurora Flight Sciences' Orion vehicle for a new Air Force Research Laboratory contract to demonstrate a medium-altitude surveillance aircraft that can remain airborne for five days, says Bob Ruszkowski, a Skunk Works systems engineer. Ruszkowski declined to clarify MPLE's propulsion system, although he ruled out a hydrogen-fueled aircraft. MPLE is actually a scaled-down version of a much larger concept design developed by Skunk Works, he adds.[...]

Link: http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2010/08/auvsi-skunk-works-elaborates-o.html

Edit:
I presume that the "much larger concept design developed by Skunk Works" is high-altitude surveillance UAV (HALE) to compete against Boeing ‘Phantom Eye’.