World Of UAV Russia,USA,Israel,Pakistan.......

[Super Falcon]

welll everyday seems to be new killer is arriving in the scene Air to ground or Air to See UAV seems to be very very hot topic in defence of any Country's hit list Israel recently produced HERMES 900 lookin like Predator. lets talk on the issue threats to Islamic world and countermeasures and what suitable state of the art UAV will be for other muslim countries to counter Israels everyday new UAV development i will put its all specification. pakistan is gone with Italian UAV which is good but not a killer yet there are other UAV in development phases in PAC but still i dont see they willl get tag with themselves of killers. so what PAF do

 

[Super Falcon]

Hermes 900 is a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system principally designed to allow the Israeli Defence Force to perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) operations. It is primarily used to capture real-time imagery of the battlefield and transmit it to a universal ground control station (UGCS). It is derived from the Hermes 450 UAV.

The Hermes 900 UAV is designed and manufactured by Elbit Systems. The maiden flight was on 14 December 2009.

The advanced UAV system offers fully automated take-off and landing even under adverse weather conditions. Flying at an altitude of 33,000ft, Hermes 900 provides operators with real-time information on battlefields by performing surveillance and target acquisition over a large area.

Variants

Hermes 1500, Hermes 450 and Hermes 180 are three variants of the Hermes 900 UAV. The Hermes 1500 variant is manufactured by Elbit Systems. The variant is a highly reliable twin-engine UAV equipped with a range of payloads.

Hermes 1500 differs from Hermes 900 in maximum take-off weight, endurance and payload weight. The maximum take-off and payload weight of the Hermes 1500 UAV are 1,750kg and 400kg respectively.

The Hermes 450 UAV is the Israeli Defence Force's primary UAV. The design and features of the 450 variant are the same as those of the Hermes 900 UAV. Hermes 450 has completed more than 65,000 flight hours. The variant was selected as the baseline for the UK Watchkeeper.

The Hermes 450B is an all-weather, ruggedised structure UAV. It is an advanced version of the Hermes 450 UAV.

"The advanced UAV system offers fully automated take-off and landing."The Hermes 180 UAV is the third variant. It is a small range UAV used for ISTAR missions. The Hermes 180 variant differs from the Hermes 900 in take-off and payload weights, endurance, maximum speed and engine. The variant is powered by a 38hp rotary UEL engine.

The maximum take-off and payload weights of the Hermes 180 are 195kg and 32kg respectively, while the maximum speed and endurance are 105k and 10h.

Design

The Hermes 900 UAV has been designed to provide maximum endurance while increasing flight economy and reducing fuel consumption during flight transition phases. Integral satellite communication terminal operations beyond the line of sight can be carried out by the nose fitted to the aircraft.

Features

The Hermes 900 UAV is configured for multiple operations, even under adverse weather conditions. It uses multiple sensors and satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended-range data capture and transfer. Its features include state-of-the-art avionics, retractable landing gear and internal automatic take-off and landing systems (IATOL).

The UAV also features composite structures, high mobility and built-in growth potential. It is also equipped with modern avionics such as an ATC radio, radio relay and an IFF transponder.

Navigation

The Hermes 900 UAV can be controlled manually from the ground control station or through autonomous mode. It is fully equipped with automatic launch and recovery (ALR) system, which helps in automatic safe landing during communication failure with the GCS.

Sensors

"Commercial-off-the-shelf technology is used for converting sensor data."The Hermes 900 UAV has electro optical (EO) and infra-red (IR) sensors, thermal surveillance equipment and laser designator and electronic intelligence sensors (ELINT, COMINT).

The EO sensor converts light rays into electronic signals for capturing images, real-time data and videos. The laser designator is used in Hermes 900 UAV for targeting enemy battlefields.

Thermal surveillance equipment is used to capture high-resolution images at night, even in clouds, rain, smoke, fog and smog.

Radars

The Hermes 900 UAV is equipped with synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a ground moving target indicator (GMTI), electronic warfare (EW), signal intelligence (SIGINT) and communication intelligence (COMINT).

Engine

The Hermes 900 UAV is powered by a single Rotax 914 turbo aircraft engine. It was manufactured by Austria's leading aircraft engine supplier, BRP-Rotax. It can produce 74.6kW of output power.

Performance

The Hermes 900 UAV can fly at a maximum altitude of 33,000ft. The maximum and cruise speeds of the aircraft are 222km/h and 103km/h respectively. The maximum endurance of the UAV is 40h. The maximum take-off weight is 970kg.

Universal ground control station

Processing, retrieving and storing real-time data provided by the Hermes 900 UAV are undertaken by the UGCS. The UGCS, manufactured by Elbit Systems, can control two UAVs at a time.

A single operator can control the air vehicle and its payload. The air vehicle and UGCS can communicate through secure, redundant line-of-sight data-link or beyond line-of-sight satellite communications, enabling state-of-art mission managing, automated taxiing, independent flight and automatic take-off and landing systems common to all Hermes UAVS. The UGCS system includes a ground data terminal, a remote video terminal and a flight line tester / loader.

Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology is used for converting sensor data such as live and stored images, imagery and spatial information including EO, SAR, moving target indicator (MTI) maps, SIGINT and electronic support measures (ESM) into actionable intelligence.

 

[Super Falcon]

Falco is a state-of-the-art medium-altitude endurance and tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed and manufactured by the Italian sensors developer Selex Galileo. It will be co-produced by Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) at its Kamra facility in Punjab province. The co-production of Falco began in August 2009. Falco is principally employed by the Pakistan Air Force for optronic and electronic surveillance applications, and homeland security operations.

Though the Falco UAV is large enough to accommodate both a missile and targeting system, it will currently be used for only reconnaissance and surveillance applications. Falco will be equipped with laser-guided missiles in the future to carry out offensive operations. The Falco UAV has one hard point on each wing and will carry a load capacity of up to 25kg.

Falco UAV design

The Falco UAV system has been designed to perform missions such as target detection, localisation, identification and designation through its on-board sensor suite. It also captures information about enemy battlefields and transfers it to commanders at ground stations.

"Falco is principally employed by the Pakistan Air Force for optronic and electronic surveillance."The system is equipped with automatic take-off and landing facility (with STOL performance), fully redundant and fault-tolerant control systems, digital buses and control link equipment, automatic area surveillance modes and near-real-time target image processing, mission preplanning, retasking, mission simulation and autonomous navigational systems.

Falco comprises a ground control station (GCS), ground data terminal (GDT), ground support equipment (GSE) and four Falco air vehicles including payloads. The GCS manages mission planning and retasking, mission simulation for operator training, and mission rehearsal and playback.

The GCS operator can control the payloads and sensors while collecting data from the battlefield. The data collected can be evaluated and processed through C4I net during the mission planning phase enabling the aircraft's independent operation features. Being an unmanned air vehicle, the aircraft can be flown either manually or in automatic mode, including automatic take-off and landing operations.

Orders and deliveries

Finmeccanica's defence equipment manufacturer Galileo Avionics was awarded a contract by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) in June 2008 to supply 12 to 20 Falco UAVs for three to four Falco systems.

Galileo Avionics has delivered the first Falco UAV system, which includes four UAVs and a ground control station. The second system is due for delivery in the near future and third is held as an option.

Landing gear

The fixed tricycle-type landing gear has been designed by Selex Galileo. It can avoid payload and structural damage caused to aircraft by heavy landings (decks landings or parachute recovery). It is also used in semi-prepared landing strip operations.

Sensors

Sensors being used in the Falco UAV include a thermal imager, a colour TV camera, a spotter or a laser designator, NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) sensor, electro optic (EO) sensor and an infrared (IR) sensor.

"The Falco UAV flys at a height of 6,500m and can carry a maximum payload of 70kg."The NBC sensors enable army personnel to detect any nuclear, biological and chemical attacks from enemies. Electro-optic sensors increase the range and vision of aircraft at low-light levels. They convert the light rays into electronic signals.

Infrared sensors are primarily used by ground vehicle operators for clear visibility of the battlefield. They capture infrared rays emitted by objects.

Radar

The radars being used by the Falco UAV include synthetic aperture radar (SAR), maritime surveillance radar (MSR), self-protection equipment and ESM (electronic support measures). The synthetic aperture radar deployed in Falco captures high-resolution images of the battlefield even in bad weather conditions, using highly modern digital electronics technology.

The electronic support measures radar helps Falco in threat detection, and examines the area to determine signals emitted from the surrounding radars. It is primarily used for examining the battlefield and provides the ground station commandars with relavant data.

Performance

The Falco UAV flys at a height of 6,500m and can carry a maximum payload of 70kg. It has the capacity to fly at a maximum speed of 60m/s with an endurance of eight to14 hours. It is powered by a single 49kW (65hp) gasoline engine to provide required electricity for the aircraft during its operation in air.

Communications

The ground data terminal (GDT) offers communication link range between the GCS and Falco air vehicle flying at a range of over 200km. It uses jam-resistant data transmission in real time. The GDT provides data, reports, annotated images and processed video clips of the battlefield to commanders at the ground control station.

 

[Super Falcon]

falco carries 70 kg and hermes carries 970 kg alot if different when we talk about a punch this is a killer punch which israeli hermes delivers to enemy infantry and tanks battalion

 

[Super Falcon]

Heron / Machatz 1 is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system primarily designed to perform strategic reconnaissance and surveillance operations. It is designed and manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) at its Malat division, Israel. The advanced system offers fully automated take-off and landing, even under adverse weather conditions.

Flying at a height of 30,000ft, Heron provides its operators with real-time information on enemy battlefields by performing surveillance and target acquisition over a large area.

Initially, the Heron UAV was deployed by the Indian Air Force and was used for high-altitude land surveillance and maritime patrol missions. Later, Israeli and Turkish Air Forces acquired the UAV system for similar applications.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates the Heron UAV in Afghanistan for surveillance, reconnaissance, security and escort and battle damage assessment.

Heron features

The Heron UAV is configured for multiple operations, even under adverse weather conditions. It uses multiple sensors and satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended-range data capture and transfer. Its features include state-of-the-art avionics, retractable landing gear, and automatic take-off and landing systems.

Orders and deliveries

The Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a $150m contract to IAI in May 2005 to supply 30 Heron UAVs and ten Elbit Systems ground stations along with three or four UAVs for each ground station. Out of the total ten ground stations, two were delivered in November 2008, with the remainder scheduled for delivery in 2009.

"Heron / Machatz 1 is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system."The Israeli MoD awarded a multiyear supply support contract worth $50m to IAI for the supply of Heron UAVs to the Israeli Air Force (IAF). Heron, named Shoval ('trail' in Hebrew), has replaced the Searcher I and II UAVs. The Heron UAV system was delivered to the IAF in March 2007.

IAI has also supplied 50 Heron medium-altitude low-endurance UAVs to the Indian Army, under a $220m contract. The deal was scheduled to be completed by December 2004 but was postponed due to changes in the ernment at New Delhi. It was completed in 2009. The Indian Army will deploy the Heron UAVs on its borders with Pakistan and China. IAI also upgraded the Russian built 32 Hind Mi-24 helicopters for the Indian Army.

In 2009, one Heron UAV was supplied to US forces in El Salvador by IAI's US subsidiary Stark Aviation to fight against drug traffickers. The electro-optical sensor in the UAV has ensured maximum coverage of the area.

IAI's Heron UAV will be used by Australia in 2010 under a new C$95m ($88.1m) lease aggrement for two years with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates (MDA). The operational service will begin in 2010 with one year extension period. The services offered will include maintenance and logistics to provide real-time, multisensor intelligence information directly to the ground station.

UAV variants

Eagle and Heron TP are the two variants of Heron. While Eagle is being developed by EADS for the French Airforce, Heron TP has been designed for the IAF. Both Eagle and Heron TP are designed with autonomous capability including automated take-off and landing.

Eagle can fly 40 hours at a height of 30,000ft. It can carry 250kg payload and various sensors such as MPR (maritime patrol radar) , SAR (synthetic aperture radar) / MTI (moving target indicator), EO (electro-optics) / IR (infrared) payloads, SIGINT (signal intelligence), COMINT (communication intelligence), laser designator and communications relays.

Eagle has two variants – Eagle 1 and Eagle 2. Eagle 1 is powered with 115hp Rotax 914 engine while Eagle 2 has a 1,200hp PT6A engine. Eagle 2 can fly at an altitude of 45,000ft.

Heron TP, also called Eitan. can carry multiple payloads and perform multple missions such as COMINT, SIGINT and IMINT (image intelligence) or SAR and communications relay.

Heron TP can fly at 45,000ft with an endurance of approximately 36 hours. The first flight of Heron TP was in 2006.

Navigation

The GPS-enabled Heron can be controlled either manually from the ground control station or through autonomous mode. It is fully equipped with automatic launch and recovery (ALR) system which helps in automatic safe landing during communication failure with the GCS.

Engine

The Heron UAV has a single 115hp Rotax 914 turbo aircraft engine. It was manufactured by Austria's leading aircraft engine supplier BRP-Rotax. The engine has the capacity to produce 5,800rpm output power.

Sensors

"Heron provides its operators with real-time information on enemy's battlefield."Heron UAV has EO and IR sensors, thermal surveillance equipment and laser designator. The sensors were supplied by Northrop Grumman and Tamam Division of IAI. The EO sensor converts light rays into electronic signals for capturing images, real-time data and videos.

The laser designator is used in the Heron UAV for targeting the enemy battlefield. Thermal surveillance equipment is used to capture high resolution images during night by penetrating through clouds, rain, smoke, fog and smog.

The UAV also comprises a direct line-of-sight (LoS) datalink, UAV airborne data relay for beyond LOS missions and ground-based data relay for communicating with the ground control station (GCS).

Radars

Electronic support measures help the Heron in threat detection and examines the area to determine signals emitted from the surrounding radars. It is primarily used for examining the battlefield area and provides the ground station commanders with relavant data. The AIS gathers details of ships such as vessel type, vessel name and destination.

The radar systems for the Heron have been manufactured by IAI's subsidiary ELTA Systems. ELTA has manufactured the MPR to identify vessels from very long distances and to use silhouette target acquisition. MPR also provides SAR images and detects ground vehicles using its ground moving target indicator (GMTI) mode.

Ground control system

The processing, retrieving and storing of the real-time data provided by Heron UAV will be undertaken by the ground control system. The state-of-art commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) technology is used at GCS for converting the sensor data such as live and stored images, imagery and spatial information including EO, SAR, MTI maps, SIGINT and ESM into actionable intelligence.

A large common map display is installed in the GCS. It monitors the multidimensional situational picture of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data provided by the Heron.


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The Heron UAV was primarily designed to perform strategic reconnaissance and surveillance operations.

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Initially, the Heron UAV was deployed by the Indian Air Force and was used for high-altitude land surveillance and maritime patrol missions.

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The Heron UAV uses multiple sensors and satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended-range data capture and transfer.

 

[Super Falcon]

The Turkish Ministry of Defence (MoD) awarded a $150m contract to IAI in May 2005 to supply 30 Heron UAVs and ten Elbit Systems ground stations along with three or four UAVs for each ground station. Out of the total ten ground stations, two were delivered in November 2008, with the remainder scheduled for delivery

 

[Super Falcon]

IAI has also supplied 50 Heron medium-altitude low-endurance UAVs to the Indian Army, under a $220m contract. The deal was scheduled to be completed by December 2004 but was postponed due to changes in the ernment at New Delhi. It was completed in 2009. The Indian Army will deploy the Heron UAVs on its borders with Pakistan and China. IAI also upgraded the Russian built 32 Hind Mi-24 helicopters for the Indian

 

[Super Falcon]

Look at that heron UAV it is betet than predator man and what turkey is buying from israel what kind of deal it is no muslim country but anything from israel why turkey is buying i dont know what acctually is happenening is turkey have any secret contacts with israeli govt

 

[Super Falcon]

The Zephyr family of solar-electric-powered unmanned air vehicles is being developed by QinetiQ in the UK with the UK Ministry of Defence, under a jointly funded programme. The Zephyr high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) autonomous unmanned system can provide high-quality surveillance data over large areas in real time. The system is capable of capturing and disseminating information, while operating at altitudes of more than 18km.

The QinetiQ development programme aims at providing a HALE UAV for long-endurance operations of up to three months at altitudes above the weather and air traffic (above 50,000ft), offering an operational low-cost persistent military capability by the end of the decade.

"The Zephyr high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) autonomous unmanned system can provide high-quality surveillance data."The Zephyr UAV exceeded the world record for the longest duration unmanned flight in August 2008. Zephyr successfully completed an 82-hour flight, reaching an altitude of more than 60,000ft during a trial held at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The US Department of Defense funded the demonstration flight under a joint capability technology demonstration (JCTD) programme with the UK MoD. Zephyr was flown on autopilot and by satellite communications.

The Zephyr HALE UAV is being developed by QinetiQ for military and civil applications including surveillance, communications relay, remote sensing, mapping, and atmospheric sensing missions. Military applications include low-cost long-term battlespace awareness. Civil applications could include pipeline, crop and forestry fire monitoring, fisheries protection and border control.

Development programme
The concept development of the Zephyr UAV started in 2003. The first flight trials of Zephyr began in December 2005 at the White Sands Missile Range. Two prototype Zephyrs with wingspan up to 12m were flown to a maximum altitude of 27,000ft and for 4.5 hours and six hours which were the maximum flight duration times permitted under the missile range restrictions.

In July 2006, flight trials at White Sands involved three prototype air vehicles with a wingspan up to 16m. A flight of 18 hours endurance was achieved including seven hours of night-time flight.

The trials included the operation of a number of electro-optical and infrared imaging payloads and the real time transmission of images and video from the air vehicle in flight. The flight trials also included the air vehicle being used as a communications relay platform and demonstrated the capability to provide beyond line of sight communications between radio handsets at long distances in mountainous terrain.

In 2006 the Zephyr development programme included the development of the flight control and power systems and particularly the refinement of the rechargeable batteries with the potential of extending the mission endurance initially to weeks and then to around three months.

QinetiQ is developing a Zephyr HALE UAV desktop simulator for operator training.

Zephyr air vehicle
The air vehicle is of ultra lightweight carbon-fibre construction and weighs 30kg. The wingspan is up to 18m.

During daylight hours the air vehicle is solar powered. The upper surface of the aircraft wings are covered by amorphous silicon arrays developed and supplied by United Solar Ovonic. At night the air vehicle is powered by lithium sulphur batteries, supplied by Sion Power, that are recharged during daylight hours by the solar power arrays.

"The Zephyr UAV exceeded the world record for the longest duration unmanned flight in August 2008."The air vehicle is equipped with a solar charger and bespoke auto-pilot developed in-house at QinetiQ.

The solar arrays provide about 1.5kW, sufficient power to fly at altitudes over 60,000ft during the day and charge the batteries. The rechargeable lithium sulphur batteries store sufficient energy to power the air vehicle overnight without falling to below 50,000ft, so the air vehicle maintains altitude above normal commercial air lanes and above most weather systems. The batteries power two wing-mounted two-bladed propellers.

Launch and recovery

The air vehicle is launched by hand. Recovery is by belly landing as the air vehicle has neither landing gear nor landing parachutes.

Payloads

The air vehicle is fitted with a removable payload pod that can carry a lightweight electro-optical sensor or a communications relay payload.

For persistent surveillance missions the UAV is fitted with an optical sensor payload and uses a global positioning navigation system (GPS) to remain on station. QinetiQ is developing a range of ultra lightweight and robust sensor payloads for Zephyr

 

[Super Falcon]

Zephyer will be good for the countries which have lot of $$$$$ likes of UAE,Saudis and whole of middle eastern countries to save themselves from israeli growing UAV threats

 

[Super Falcon]

RQ-4A Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system which provides military field commanders with high resolution, near real-time imagery of large geographic areas.

The programme is funded by the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO) and managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Air Force.

Northrop Grumman Corporation, Ryan Aeronautical Centre is the prime contractor and the principal suppliers include Raytheon Systems (sensors), Rolls-Royce North America (turbofan engine), Boeing North American (carbon fibre wing) and L3 Communications (communications system).

"Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance, unmanned aerial reconnaissance system."The Global Hawk air vehicles are built at the Northrop Grumman (formerly Teledyne Ryan) aeronautical facility in San Diego.

Global Hawk development

In March 2001, the US Department of Defense awarded Northrop Grumman a contract for the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase of the programme which concluded in February 2003 with the final delivery of the seventh pre-production (block 0) vehicle.

In June 2001 a contract was placed to begin low-rate initial production (LRIP) for two production air vehicles and the mission control element of the system's ground station, to be completed by December 2003.

The first production vehicle (block 10) rolled out in August 2003. A further LRIP contract for four vehicles was placed in February 2003 and a third in October 2004 for two vehicles. Block 10 deliveries were completed in June 2006.

The US Navy had two RQ-4A air vehicles delivered in 2005. In April 2008, the USN selected the RQ-4N marinised variant of the Global Hawk RQ-4B Block 20 for the broad-area maritime surveillance (BAMS) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) requirement.

The system design and development (SDD) contract awarded to Northrop Grumman requires the delivery of two UAVs with mission payloads and communication suites, one forward operating base mission control system, one systems integration laboratory and one main operating base mission control system.

The RQ-4N will have a Northrop Grumman active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, Raytheon electro-optic / infrared sensors, L-3 communications suite and Sierra Nevada Corp. Merlin electronic support measures (ESM). The RQ-4N is planned for maiden flight in 2011 and service entry in 2014.

RQ-4B next generation

Northrop Grumman is developing the next-generation, RQ-4B, which has a 50% payload increase, larger wingspan (130.9ft) and longer fuselage (47.6ft), and new generator to provide 150% more electrical output. Three RQ-4B air vehicles (block 20) were initially ordered plus a further five ordered in November 2005. Block 20 aircraft also have an upgraded sensor suite.

The first block 20 Global Hawk completed a maiden flight in April 2007 and the first was delivered in June 2008. 26 block 30 with a signals intelligence (SIGINT) payload will be ordered and 15 block 40 with the multi-platform radar technology insertion programme (MP-RTIP) radar, to enter service from 2011. The US Air Force plans a total of 54 air vehicles.

"The
V-configuration of the tail provides a low radar and infrared signature."The block 40 Global Hawk, with the multi-platform radar technology insertion programme (MP-RTIP), has been selected by Nato for the alliance ground surveillance (AGS) programme. The original proposal had manned and unmanned elements but the Alliance decided to go ahead with a UAV-only programme in September 2007. Northrop Grumman will be the prime contractor.

The Australian Defence Force has plans to purchase a squadron of Global Hawks to replace a number of P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.

Record-breaking flights

In April 2001, Global Hawk made aviation history when it completed the first non-stop flight across the Pacific Ocean by an unmanned, powered aircraft, flying from Edwards AFB, California, to the Royal Australian Air Force Base, Edinburgh, South Australia.

Global Hawk successfully participated in a series of exercises with the RAAF, the Royal Australian Navy and the US Navy. Guinness World Records has recognised the flight as the longest (13,840km) by a full-scale unmanned aircraft.

In August 2003, Global Hawk became the first UAV to receive authorisation from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly in national airspace.

Unmanned reconnaissance capability

Global Hawk can carry out reconnaissance missions in all types of operations. The 14,000nm range and 42-hour endurance of the air vehicle, combined with satellite and line-of-sight communication links to ground forces, permits worldwide operation of the system.

High-resolution sensors, including visible and infrared electro-optical systems and synthetic aperture radar, will conduct surveillance over an area of 40,000nm² to an altitude of 65,000ft in 24 hours.

Six Global Hawk demonstrator vehicles have been deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan since 2002 and Operation Iraqi Freedom since 2003, completing over 4,300 combat hours.

Two ex-USAF Global Hawk demonstrators were transferred to NASA's Dryden Research Center at Edwards AFB, California in January 2008, for use as airborne science research platforms.

Flight and navigation control
The vehicle's flight control, vehicle management software and navigation functions are managed by two integrated mission management computers (IMMC) developed by Vista Controls Corporation, California. The IMMC integrates data from the navigation system and uses Kalman filtering algorithms.

The prime navigation and control system consists of two KN-4072 INS/GPS (inertial navigation system / global positioning system) systems supplied by Kearfott Guidance & Navigation Corporation of Wayne, New Jersey.

"The Global Hawk has a 14,000nm range and 42-hour endurance."The KN-4072 includes a monolithic ring laser gyro (MRLG) which operates in conjunction with an embedded differential ready C/A code GPS receiver for enhanced navigation performance and faster satellite acquisition. A Northrop Grumman (Litton) navigation system is installed on the IR/TV/SAR payload.

Sensors
Raytheon Space & Airborne Systems supplies the Global Hawk integrated sensor suite (ISS) which includes the synthetic aperture radar and the electro-optical and third-generation infrared sensor system.

A 10in reflecting telescope provides common optics for infrared and electro-optical sensors. The electro-optical / infrared sensor operates in the 0.4 to 0.8 micron visible waveband and the 3.6 to 5-micron infrared band. In spot collection mode the coverage is 1,900 spots a day with spot size 2km² to a geological accuracy of 20m circular error of probability. In wide area search mode, the swath is 10km wide and the coverage is 40,000nm² a day.

The synthetic aperture radar and ground moving target indicator (GMTI) operates at X-band with a 600MHz bandwidth, and 3.5kW peak power. The system can obtain images with 3ft resolution in its wide area search mode and 1ft resolution in its spot mode.

Raytheon is contracted to supply one enhanced integrated sensor suite (EISS) which is said to improve the range of both SAR and infrared system by 50%.

The Raytheon ground station receives the high-quality imagery obtained by the air vehicle sensor suite. The ground system forwards the imagery to military commanders and users in the field.

Northrop Grumman is prime contractor, with Raytheon as major subcontractor, for the USAF multi-platform radar technology insertion program (MP-RTIP). MP-RTIP is an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar that can be scaled in size for different platforms.

Three MP-RTIP systems are being built for Global Hawk and three for the E-10A multi-sensor command and control aircraft (MC2A). Global Hawk with MP-RTIP is scheduled for delivery in 2011.

"The Global Hawk flies high at a loiter altitude of 65,000ft minimising exposure to surface-to-air missiles."In January 2006, a Global Hawk made its first flight carrying Northrop Grumman's high-band system production configuration unit (HBS PCU), part of the USAF's airborne signals intelligence payload, being developed for operational deployment in 2008.

Northrop Grumman is also looking at other payloads including hyperspectral sensors for chemical and biological agent detection.

In November 2003, Global Hawk completed a series of flight tests in the USA and Germany carrying an EADS electronic intelligence (ELINT) payload. The 'Euro Hawk' is being offered to the German Air Force as a replacement SIGINT platform.

In February 2007, the German Air Force awarded a contract to Eurohawk GmbH (a joint venture company formed by Northrop Grumman and EADS) for the development of Euro Hawk. Under the contract, one demonstrator will be delivered in 2010 followed by four UAVs between 2011 and 2014. Euro Hawk will replace the German AF Breguet Atlantic fleet.

Communications
Global Hawk has wide band satellite data links and line of sight data links developed by L3 Communications. The 'bulge' at the top front surface of the fuselage which gives Global Hawk its distinctive appearance, houses the 48in Ku-band wideband satellite communications antenna. Data is transferred by Ku-band satellite communications, X-band line-of-sight links and both Satcom and line of sight links at UHF-band.

Survivability
For increased survivability the mission is planned for threat avoidance using available theatre assets such as AWACS, combat air patrol and JSTARS. The aircraft flies high at a loiter altitude 65,000ft which minimises exposure to surface-to-air missiles. The aircraft's modular self-defence system includes an AN/ALR 89 radar warning receiver, an on-board jamming system and an ALE 50 towed decoy system.

Air vehicle construction
The wings and tail of the aircraft are of graphite composite construction. The V-configuration of the tail, built by Aurora Flight Sciences, provides a low radar and infrared signature. The wings, constructed by Vought Aircraft Industries, have a span of 116.2ft, with hard points for external pods up to 1,000lb each. Vought and ATK are fabricating an enhanced wing, one of a number of system improvements to enable Global Hawk to carry an increased payload.

The aluminium fuselage contains pressurised payload and avionics compartments. Honeywell Aerospace, Torrance, California, supplied the environmental control systems.

"Global Hawk made the first non-stop, unmanned, powered flight across the Pacific Ocean."The landing gear is supplied by Heroux Inc. of Quebec, Canada. The nose gear which is a derivative of the F-5 design is height adjustable to suit the runway characteristics. The landing gear automatically retracts at an altitude of 4,000ft.

Global Hawk is equipped with an AE 3007H turbofan engine supplied by Rolls-Royce North America. The engine is mounted on the top surface of the rear fuselage section with the engine exhaust between the V-shaped tail wings. Smiths Aerospace is providing a new electric generator system to more than double electrical power.

Mission planning
Mission planning for the Global Hawk was developed by GDE Systems Inc (now BAE Systems, Electronics & Integrated Solutions). The Raytheon Intelligence & Information Systems mission control ground station includes a shelter measuring 8ft×8ft×24ft housing the communications, command and control, mission planning and image processing computers with four workstations for the mission control staff and officers. The mission control centre has data up- and down-links to the Global Hawk vehicle directly and via the Ku satellite and the UHF satellite systems.

The Raytheon launch and recovery ground station is housed in an 8ft x 8ft x 10ft shelter equipped with two workstations and the launch and recovery mission computers. The launch and recovery station has up- and down- data communications links to the Global Hawk vehicle and to the UHF communications satellite.

Transportability
The complete mission control element (MCE) and the launch and recovery element (LRE) is transportable in a single load on the C-5B transporter aircraft and in less than two loads on the C-17 transporter.


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Global Hawk taxis onto the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base in preparation for flight.

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Global Hawk lifts off 25 seconds after brake release.

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Global Hawk has a maximum altitude of 65,000ft.

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Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system for the US Air Force.

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Global Hawk approaches the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

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The Global Hawk payload includes synthetic aperture radar, digital CCD camera and third-generation infrared sensor system.

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Touchdown on the centre line of the main runway at Edwards AFB.

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[Super Falcon]

RQ-1 Predator is a long-endurance, medium-altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Surveillance imagery from synthetic aperture radar, video cameras and a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) can be distributed in real-time both to the front line soldier and to the operational commander, or worldwide in real-time via satellite communication links. MQ-1, armed with AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, is the multi-role version which is used for armed reconnaissance and interdiction.

A contract was awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems in January 1994 to execute the Tier II, medium-altitude endurance Predator programme. The Predator system first flew in 1994 and entered production in August 1997.

Predators are currently in production for the US Air Force and are operational with the USAF 11th and 15th Reconnaissance Squadrons. Over 125 Predators have been delivered to the USAF. 36 additional MQ-1B Predators (with Hellfire missile installation kits) were ordered in September 2007. Six Predator UAVs are in service with the Italian Air Force. Italian company Meteor was responsible for assembly of five of the six. The Italian system was deployed to Iraq in January 2005.

"Predator is a long-endurance, medium-altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance."Predator UAVs have been operational in Bosnia since 1995 in support of Nato, UN and US operations and as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom, flying over 500,000 flight hours on over 50,000 flights. The MQ-1 Predator achieved initial operating capability (IOC) in February 2005.

General Atomics is the prime contractor and the main subcontractors include: Versatron / Wescam for the electro-optical Skyball Gimbal; Northrop Grumman for the synthetic aperture radar; L3 Communication for the wideband satellite communications link; and Boeing for the intelligence workstation and mission planning system.

In February 2001, the Hellfire-C laser-guided missile was successfully fired from a Predator air vehicle in flight tests at Nellis air force base, Nevada. In November 2002 in Yemen, a Predator UAV was used to drop a Hellfire missile which destroyed a civilian vehicle carrying suspected terrorists. A Northrop Grumman Bat submunition was successfully dropped and a FINDER mini-UAV launched from a Predator UAV in August 2002.

MQ-9 Reaper Hunter / Killer
In May 1998 General Atomics was awarded a block 1 upgrade contract to expand the capabilities of the Predator system. System upgrades include development of an improved relief-on-station (ROS) system which allows continuous coverage over areas of interest without any loss of time on station, secure air traffic control voice relay, Ku-band satellite tuning and implementation of an air force mission support system (AFMSS).

The upgrade also covers a more powerful turbocharged engine and wing de-icing systems to enable year-round operations. The upgraded Predator, the Predator B, has been operational in the Balkans since April 2001. In March 2005, the USAF awarded a further contract for the system design and development (SDD) of MQ-9 Reaper Hunter / Killer. 21 MQ-9 have been ordered and eight delivered to the USAF.

The first USAF MQ-9 squadron, the 42nd Attack Squadron, was formed in March 2007. It is based at Creech AFB in Nevada. A decision on full-rate production of the MQ-9 is expected in 2009.

The USAF first deployed the MQ-9 Reaper to Afghanistan in October 2007, where it is being used for precision strikes. The MQ-9 Reaper flew its first operational mission in Iraq in July 2008.

The MQ-9 Reaper has an operational ceiling of 50,000ft, a maximum internal payload of 800lb and external payload over 3,000lb. It can carry up to four Hellfire II anti-armour missiles and two laser-guided bombs (GBU-12 or EGBU-12) and 500lb GBU-38 JDAM (joint direct attack munition). In May 2008, a USAF Reaper successfully test dropped four Raytheon GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II 500lb bombs, which have laser and GPS guidance.

The MQ-9 sensor payload can include the General Atomics Lynx SAR (synthetic aperture radar). Lynx also features ground moving target indicator technology. The Predator is to be flight tested with a L-3 communications tactical common datalink (TCDL).

"The Predator B unmanned air vehicle has an operational ceiling of 50,000ft."In August 2005, a version of Predator B, called Sky Warrior, was chosen for the four-year system development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the US Army's extended range / multi-purpose (ER/MP) UAV programme – 11 Sky Warrior systems, each with 12 air vehicles and five ground control stations.

Initial operating capability is planned for 2009. Two block 0 Sky Warrior UAVs were deployed to Iraq in April 2008.

Also in August 2005, the US Department of Homeland Security / Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP) ordered two Predator B systems for monitoring of the USA's south-west border. The first was delivered in late 2005, the second in September 2006. Two further systems were ordered in October 2006, for monitoring operations on the border with Canada.

In September 2006, the UK requested the foreign military sale (FMS) of two MQ-9 Reaper systems with Lynx SAR, multi-spectral targeting systems and one ground station. Deliveries began in mid-2007 and the RAF deployed the system in Afghanistan in November 2007. In January 2008, the UK requested the sale of an additional ten MQ-9 systems.

In August 2008, Italy requested the sale of four MQ-9 Reaper systems with three ground stations.

System components
A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal. The Predator air vehicle is 27ft in length and has a 49ft wingspan. The system operates at an altitude of 25,000ft and at a range of 400nm.

The endurance of the air vehicle is more than 40 hours and the cruise speed is over 70kt. The air vehicle is equipped with UHF and VHF radio relay links, a C-band line-of-sight data link which has a range of 150nm and UHF and Ku-band satellite data links.

Payload
The surveillance and reconnaissance payload capacity is 450lb and the vehicle carries electro-optical and infrared cameras and a synthetic aperture radar. The two-colour DLTV television is equipped with a variable zoom and 955mm Spotter. The high resolution FLIR has six fields of view, 19mm to 560mm.

The Raytheon multi-spectral targeting system (MTS-A) is fitted on the MQ-1/9 Predator. The MTS-A provides real-time imagery selectable between infrared and day TV as well as a laser designation capability. MQ-1 can employ two laser-guided Hellfire anti-armour missiles with the MTS.

The Northrop Grumman TESAR synthetic aperture radar is fitted on the MQ-1 and provides all-weather surveillance capability, has a resolution of 1ft. Other payload options, which can be selected to meet mission requirements, include a laser designator and rangefinder, electronic support and countermeasures and a moving target indicator (MTI).

The USAF plans to equip a number of MQ-1 and MQ-9 Predators with a version of the Northrop Grumman airborne signals intelligence payload (ASIP) from 2010. Northrop Grumman was awarded a contract for the development and flight testing of the system on an MQ-1 in April 2008. ASIP is being tested on the U-2 reconnaissance aircraft and will also be fitted on the RQ-4 Global Hawk.

Ground station
The UAV ground control station is built into a single 30ft trailer, containing pilot and payload operator consoles, three Boeing data exploitation and mission planning consoles and two synthetic aperture radar workstations together with satellite and line-of-sight ground data terminals.

"Predator is 27ft in length and has a 49ft wingspan."The ground control station can send imagery data via a landline to the operational users or to the Trojan Spirit data distribution system which is equipped with a 5.5m dish for Ku-band ground data terminal and a 2.4m dish for data dissemination.

Operation
Predator follows a conventional launch sequence from a semi-prepared surface under direct line-of-sight control. The take-off and landing length is typically 2,000ft. The mission can be controlled through line-of-site data links or through Ku-band satellite links to produce continuous video.

Video signals received in the ground control station are passed to the Trojan Spirit van for worldwide intelligence distribution or directly to operational users via a commercial global broadcast system. Command users are able to task the payload operator in real-time for images or video on demand

 

[Super Falcon]

Neuron is the European Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator for the development, integration and validation of UCAV technologies and is not for military operational deployment. Dassault unveiled a life-size model of Neuron at the 2005 Paris Air Show. The operational UCAV is expected to be a larger design than the Neuron demonstrator.

A main aim of the Neuron programme is to sustain and develop European manufacturers' aeronautic and other technologies for next-generation combat aircraft and UAVs.

By summer 2005, a series of memorandums of understanding had been signed and industrial teaming arrangements been set up. By the end of 2005, the governments of France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland had agreed to invest in the Neuron programme.

In February 2006, the Neuron programme was formally launched with the award, by the French DGA on behalf of the participating nations, of a contract to Dassault as prime contractor for the design and development of the Neuron demonstrator.

This began a 15-month feasibility phase. DGA awarded a contract for a 19-month project definition phase in June 2007. This will be followed by production of a Neuron demonstrator with first flight in 2011. Flight tests will begin in France followed by tests in Sweden then Italy.

The UCAV will be able to launch precision-guided munitions from an internal weapons bay and will have a stealth airframe with reduced radar and infrared cross-sections.

PROGRAMME

Dassault Aviation is the design authority with responsibility for the general design, system architecture, the flight control system and final assembly together with ground tests and flight tests. Dassault's UAV and UCAV design capability was developed under a sequence of experimental development and validation programmes, Aeronef Validation Experimental (AVE). Dassault started the AVE LogiDuc programme (AVE Logistics to Demonstrate UCAV) in 1999.

Saab Aerosystems, based in Linkoping, Sweden, is responsible for overall design, fuselage, avionics, fuel system, flight control, airworthiness, autonomy, multi-payload capabilities, structural design and manufacture and ground and flight testing.

"The Neuron UCAV will incorporate highly advanced avionics, stealth and network centric technologies."Saab has built strong capability in UAV and UCAV technology with the SHARC Swedish Highly Advanced Research Configuration demonstrator, FILUR Flying Innovative Low-observable Unmanned Research UAV, the EuroMALE European Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV with EADS and the establishment of the Link Lab drone development centres, a joint venture with Linkoping University. Technology development on the Neuron program would be applicable to planned upgrades of the Saab Gripen fighter aircraft which is expected to remain in service until about 2035.

In March 2004, Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) and Dassault signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Dassault UCAV programme which became the Neuron programme. Under the terms of the MOU, HAI is responsible for the engine exhaust and the rear fuselage section, and the test rig.

EADS CASA of Spain is responsible for the wings and also the ground station and integration of the data link. EADS CASA and Dassault signed the MOU agreement in May 2005.

Ruag in Switzerland is responsible for the weapons interface and wind tunnel testing.

Alenia Aeronautica in Italy is responsible for the development of the electrical power system, the air data system, development of the Smart Weapon Bay, and for flight testing.

During 2005, Turkey formally applied to take part in the EADS MALE Medium Altitude Long Endurance UAV program and the Dassault led Neuron programme and is currently waiting a response to establish the scope and timing of any possible participation.

NEURON DESCRIPTION

The Neuron is of similar appearance to the AVE-C which is the second prototype of the Dassault Petit Duc and which has high manoeuvrability unstable yaw aircraft control. Like the Ave-C, the Neuron has no tail fin and a swept W-shaped wing design

The system will incorporate highly advanced avionics, stealth and network centric technologies. Simulations and flight tests will demonstrate the capability of flight in controlled airspaces and the operation of the Neuron in a network centric battlefield environment.

The air vehicle fuselage length and the wingspan are approximately 10m. The empty weight of the air vehicle is around 4,500kg and with a full payload the weight will be about 6,000kg. The air vehicle has tricycle-type landing gear for runway take-off and landing.

"The UCAV will be able to launch precision-guided munitions from an internal weapons bay."Neuron will have the capability to carry two laser guided 250kg (550lb) bombs in two weapon bays. The air vehicle is expected to have an endurance of several hours and high subsonic speed i.e. a maximum speed of Mach 0.7 to Mach 0.8.

The unmanned Neuron will be controlled from ground based stations and from control stations in combat aircraft such as the French Rafale or the Swedish Gripen.

In June 2005, Thales was selected to develop the datalink system for Neuron. The system will connect the ground control station with the UCAV by a high-rate NATO standard STANAG 7085 datalink and a low-rate datalink: The high-rate datalink will allow secure transmission of application data (video, imagery and radar) and air vehicle command and control data. The low-rate datalink will use secure technologies and a different frequency band to ensure data integrity.

ENGINES

The air vehicle will be powered by two Adour Mk 951 jet engines from the Rolls Royce and Turbomeca joint venture RRTM. The Adour Mk 951 is already fitted on BAE Systems Hawk 128 aircraft. The air intake is in a flush dorsal position above the nose.

 

[Super Falcon]

Hunter is a joint tactical unmanned aerial system in service with the US Army. In 1989, the US Army, Navy and Marines initiated a joint unmanned aerial vehicle programme. TRW (now Northrop Grumman) and Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) Malat Division won a low-rate initial production (LRIP) contract in 1993 to supply seven Hunter systems. The systems entered service in 1996. Hunter has also been sold to France and Belgium.

The Hunter system is capable of carrying out the following missions: real-time imagery intelligence, artillery adjustment, battle damage assessment, reconnaissance and surveillance, target acquisition and battlefield observation.

"The Hunter system is capable of carrying out a range of missions: from target acquisition to battlefield observation."Since 1999, Hunters have been deployed in Macedonia, in support of NATO forces in Kosovo. In the first three months of Operation Allied Force, Hunters flew over 600 flight hours per 30-day period, providing imagery and real-time data. The Hunters operated in relay with two air vehicles airborne simultaneously for each mission.

Since March 2003, Hunter UAVs, deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, have flown more than 600 reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition missions. From November 2004, two US Army Hunter UAVs have been used for border patrol in Arizona by the US Department of Homeland Security. B-Hunter UAVs were deployed by Belgium in July 2006, in support of the European Union Force (EUFOR) in the Congo. An accident in October 2006 has led to the suspension of B-Hunter operations by Belgium.

The MQ-5B Hunter has a heavy fuel engine, a 'wet' or fuel-carrying extended centre wing with hard points capable of weapon carriage, a new avionics suite and automated take-off and landing capability. First flight of the MQ-5B was in August 2005. In February 2006, flight tests confirmed the MQ-5B's endurance at more than 21 hours, nine hours more than the RQ-5A. The MQ-5B is fielded by the US Army in Iraq and Afghanistan and it has been reported that, in September 2007, the US Army used an MQ-B Hunter deployed in Iraq to drop a laser-guide bomb on a target – the first US Army use of an armed UAV.

In November 2008, The US Army purchased an additional 12 MQ-5B Hunter air vehicles with six Block II ground control stations and eight tactical common data link systems.

MQ-5C Extended Hunter (E-Hunter), a larger version of Hunter, has been developed for longer endurance and higher-altitude (up to 20,000ft) tactical missions. the first flight was in April 2005. E-Hunter has a new tail assembly, and a longer centre wing which extends mission endurance to 30 hours.

In October 2002, a series of flight tests demonstrated Hunter's ability to carry and deploy the Northrop Grumman BAT (brilliant anti-tank) submunition. The BAT submunitions destroyed a BMP combat vehicle and incapacitated a moving T-72 tank. In August 2003, Hunter successfully deployed a derivative of the BAT, the Viper Strike precision munition with semi-active laser seeker instead of infrared and acoustic sensors and 1.8kg (4lb) warhead.

RQ-5A
The RQ-5A Hunter air vehicle is a fixed-wing, twin-tail boom aircraft with a dual rudder. It is propelled by two Moto-Guzzi petrol engines, each developing 60hp.

"Hunter is a joint tactical unmanned aerial system in service with the US Army."The air vehicle can be launched from a paved or semi-paved runway or it can use a rocket assisted (RATO) system, where it is launched from a zero-length launcher using a rocket booster. The RATO launch is useful on board small ships and in areas where space is limited.

The air vehicle can land on a regular runway, grassy strip or highway using arresting cables.

The B-Hunter, produced by IAI for Belgium, has an automatic landing and take-off (ATLND) system. The ATLND is based on a laser tracker sensor that is used to automatically guide the air vehicle to a flare point.

MQ-5B
The MQ-5B has the same fixed-wing, twin tail-boom design but with a fuel-carrying centre wing lengthened to 10.44m (34.25ft). It is powered by two 'heavy fuel' diesel engines developed by Northrop Grumman, one to 'push' and one to 'pull' the air vehicle. These allow the air vehicle to operate at higher altitudes of 6,100m (20,000ft) and increase endurance from 12 hours to 15 hours.

The new avionics suite includes upgraded mission computers, a new LN-251 global positioning system / inertial navigation system (GPS/INS), an APX-118 IFF transponder and an auxiliary power distribution unit. The suite introduces a relay mode that allows one Hunter to control another at extended ranges or over terrain obstacles.

The extended centre wing has two external hard points capable of carrying weapons such as the Northrop Grumman Viper Strike laser-guided munition. The external payload is 60kg (130lb) on each wing.

"US Army Hunter UAVs have been used for border patrol."Hunter payloads
The primary payload on the RQ-5A is the multi-mission optronic payload (MOSP), developed by IAI Tamam, which includes television and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) to provide day / night surveillance capability. US Army Hunters operating in Macedonia are being fitted with new sensors including a third-generation FLIR and a spotter for the day TV camera.

Hunter is capable of carrying other advanced mission payloads and has been used as a payload demonstration platform. Payloads have included a laser designator and various communications systems. A communications relay payload extends VHF/UHF communications beyond line of sight. Electronic countermeasures payloads have included communications warning receiver, communications jammer and radar jammer supplied by Northrop Grumman.

In June 2003, Northrop Grumman tested a Hunter UAV equipped with a SAR/MTI (synthetic aperture radar / moving target indicator) payload.

Ground control station
The GCS-3000 ground control station, manned by two operators, tracks, commands, controls and communicates with the air vehicle and its payload. One ground control station can control one air vehicle or two air vehicles in relay. An enhanced mission planner provides flexible automated tactical mission planning and access to digital terrain elevation data (DTED), CD ROM map data and data from the Defense Mapping Agency (DMA).

"The MQ-5C
E-Hunter has been developed for longer endurance and higher-altitude missions."The GCS has three control bays and an optional intelligence bay. The pilot control bay controls the flight of the air vehicle. An observer control bay controls the payload functions. The navigation control bay is equipped with a digital map display which traces the flight path and monitors the progress of the mission. The intelligence bay provides data processing and distribution capabilities.

The communications uplink channels (UPL-1 and UPL-2) and the downlink channel (DNL) use fixed coded frame format.

An optional spread spectrum modem on the main uplink channel provides anti-jam capability.

IAI Malat has developed a compact ground control system (CGCS) which can be adapted for airborne, small ship and forward tactical deployment.

Remote video terminal
A remote video terminal is used at tactical operations centres to receive and display real-time video and telemetry from the airborne vehicle. The RVT is connected to a directional antenna to receive signals from the air vehicle flying up to a range of 40km from the terminal. The RVT can alternatively be connected directly to the ground control station

 

[Super Falcon]

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