Dubai Airshow 2013: Adcom Systems unveils Global Yabhon HALE UAV
Gareth Jennings, Dubai - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
17 November 2013
United Arab Emirates (UAE) defence company Adcom Systems publically unveiled its Global Yabhon high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the Dubai Airshow on 17 November.
The carbon-fibre aircraft, which features Adcom's distinctive double fore and aft main-wing configuration, is still in its prototype stage, but will shortly begin flight trials, the company's chief execuitve officer and general designer told IHS Jane's .
"We will be doing wind tunnel testing this month," said Ali Al-Dhaheri, "with flight trials to begin in six months."
Measuring 18 m in length, with a height of 4.9 m and a wingspan of 25 m (the double wing configuration affords it a 70 m 2 lifting surface), the 3.5 tonne (empty) Global Yabhon is in the same class of UAV as the US-built Northrop Grumman Global Hawk. However, according to Al-Dhaheri, this is where the similarities end.
"With a maximum take-off weight of 10 tonnes and a payload of 6.5 tonnes, the Global Yabhon can carry considerably more than the Global Hawk. Whereas the Global Hawk [is equipped with] just two [electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR)] sensors and a synthetic aperture radar [SAR], our aircraft has [an EO/IR] sensor and 18 hardpoints," he said.
The prototype displayed at the Dubai Airshow was shown carrying two Adcom Systems Yabhon Thunder cruise missiles (240 km range), two Finmeccanica torpedos, and two Adcom Systems Namrod stand-off missiles. Its EO/IR sensor turret is mounted on the aircraft's chin. According to Al-Dhaheri, Adcom Systems has developed a wing-kit for the torpedoes that will give them a 70 km stand-off range when dropped from altitude (company literature gives the Global Yabhon a 50,000 ft service ceiling).
While the displayed aircraft was fitted with two turbofan jet engines (Adcom Systems is considering powerplants from General Electric, Honda, and Williams), Al-Dhaheri said a turboprop-driven version of the Global Yabhon was also being considered. The Global Yabhon's 6,500 kg fuel capacity gives it an endurance of 40 hours.
Also displayed next to the Global Yabhon was the company's Conex-style ground control station (GCS). While IHS Jane's was not permitted to view inside the GCS, Al-Dhaheri said the Global Yabhon was fully autonomous (including take-off and landing), although the operators had a safety-override capability.
While Al-Dhaheri declined to comment on potential customers, he did say that at least one operator had been signed up. Earlier in 2013, Russia announced that it was looking to acquire the company's United 40 Block 5 medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE), and so there could be synergy in fielding the Global Yabhon also. Al Dhaheri said Adcom Systems was not targeting the Middle East market, but was instead focusing its efforts on North and South America, and Europe.
Janes
