Farnborough 2022: IAI developing Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier-capable Heron UAS
IAI is exploring the capability of its Heron UAS to fly from aircraft carriers, making the most of its ability to take off and land on short runways.
See -
https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/air- ... heron-uas/
MoD has awarded Leonardo UK £60 million 4-year contract to design & develop a 3-tonne Rotary-Wing Uncrewed System (RWUAS).
Part of Project PROTEUS capable of hunting submarines via sonobuoy / dipping sonar to supplement Merlin Mk2
See video at -
https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 5177133056
Leonardo trialled the SW-4 Solo RWUAS technology demonstrator as long ago as 2015.
See photo at -
https://twitter.com/NavyLookout/status/ ... 20/photo/1
Wildcat-based concept c2017
P.S.
UK to develop unmanned anti-submarine helicopter
An unmanned helicopter demonstrator aircraft will be designed and developed in a £60 million contract awarded to Leonardo.
The image above is a file image showing an American equivalent, the MQ-8C.
[See -
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_ ... Fire_Scout ]
The Ministry of Defence say the purpose is to test the viability of larger uncrewed aircraft for the Royal Navy, the three-tonne demonstrator – less than a fifth of the weight of a Merlin helicopter – is expected to provide an alternative to existing aircraft for tracking adversary submarines.
“Trials will test the capability of the aircraft to drop “sonobuoys” – small tube-shaped buoys that track and communicate submarine activity – enabling the aircraft to alert a crewed helicopter and call for support if a submarine is located. Designed to operate at lower cost than crewed aircraft, capabilities derived from the demonstrator could also reduce the exposure of Royal Navy personnel to hostile threats.”
The move will free up existing Merlin helicoters.
“If successful, the new aircraft would provide a platform capable of delivering improved surveillance and intelligence, enabling crewed Royal Navy helicopters to re-deploy on alternative missions if required and bolstering UK defence capability.
Capable of carrying a large payload, combined with the ability to operate in harsh environmental conditions, the aircraft could also demonstrate its utility across a range of requirements. Beyond Anti-Submarine Warfare, the project will address other potential uses including ship to ship resupply and casualty evacuation.”
Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, said:
“The global threat is changing, and it is crucial we remain at the forefront of defence innovation. Exploring cutting-edge, new defence capabilities through programmes with key British manufacturers, will help to ensure our Armed Forces are equipped to deal with the latest threats.”
Director Develop Royal Navy, Rear Admiral James Parkin, said:
“Proving the benefits of larger uncrewed aircraft (rotary and fixed wing) will be key to understanding whether such aircraft can effectively contribute to future Royal Navy capabilities, particularly for Anti-Submarine Warfare.”
Sir Simon Bollom, DE&S CEO, said:
Our team were able to make use of a novel and agile delivery approach to ensure that we can accelerate potential new technologies through to the demonstration phase so that they can be delivered into the hands of the UK Armed Forces at the earliest opportunity if required.
The uncrewed helicopter is due to undertake its first flight in 2025.
Source UKDJ