Unmanned Drones - All Types for Military and Naval Use

[Pelican]

Dear Members please find below some of my basic research into the military side of
drones. I believe all the links are current. Apols if the same info has already been posted. What state that the various projects are at I know not.

A new Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) ordered for the Royal Air Force will fly non-stop from the United States to RAF Fairford in the UK on the 11th of July, say the MoD
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/trans-a ... no_cache=1

And the Aussies:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/austral ... no_cache=1

New Chinese ‘Sky Hawk’ stealth drone in first public flight
A video featuring China’s new unmanned stealth aircraft, the Sky Hawk, was shown for the first time on China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday.
Developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the Sky Hawk conducted a test flight at an undisclosed location in China, the CCTV report said.
See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-chi ... h8DqKEhK1w
"The drone appears to be similar in shape to the X-44A drone which was recently unveiled by Lockheed Martin." ~~~ Whats new?

DRONE WEAPONERY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO2gcs1YvM

Russia’s new Poseidon underwater drone to carry Nuclear warhead
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russias ... no_cache=1

USN DRONE SHIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtF1R4p_9TI
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18 ... d-a-sister

Did it go into production - I do not know:
China is promoting an unmanned combat helicopter in the international market.
Aviation Industry Corp of China, a State-owned aircraft giant, has put its AV500W unmanned autonomous helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo that opened last Thursday in Tianjin.
The 7.2-metre-long aircraft, developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, has a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kilograms, a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, according to the institute.
The helicopter is reportedly capable of carrying 120 kg of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly four hours.
All of the remotely piloted air systems China has offered to the international market so far have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market.
According to a press release:
“An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs 8 kg and can hit a target 5 km away, the institute said. It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.
The helicopter features good mobility, penetration capability and a high level of automation and has a stealth design. A typical mission would be a precision attack on light-duty armoured vehicles and personnel, the institute said.”
Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.
“The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while,” he said.
The designer added that all of the helicopter’s tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass-production in 2018.
Image attached - if I remember!

JOB CREATION
Remember the Bod who flew a drone over Q.E. at InverG, landed it etc.?
Looks as tho it will do someone some good:
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... 08=UFQxUlR

ANTI DRONE SHOTGUN SHELLS
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017 ... one-amtac/

[ivorthediver]

Welcome news indeed David , and as for the tree huggers decrying technology , perhaps they would prefer it if we all lived in caves and grew pot ........and see how long they would survive without technology medication / key hole Surgery MRI scanners etc......

Yes we could All be selective in picking which ones we personally like or dislike , but in the real world .......... things don't work like that

I think the automated mine clearance idea and development is a major step forward , but as with everything else the more problems you solve the more counter measures are developed and deployed until mans imagination is spent.

The " QE automated munitions system" by example is fine , but like all things automated is subject to maintenance , and if not rigorously performed... and includes redundant back up systems will let you down just like anything else , but as long as the motivation is to promote efficiency and not at the expense of maintenance staff to complete scheduled maintenance programmes all is well .
But crews cost money ££££££££££...... so their motivation is to cut crew costs but sell it as added efficiency to justify the development costs and expand their niche market potential

Me ..Cynical ...

[ivorthediver]

Dear Members please find below some of my basic research into the military side of
drones. I believe all the links are current. Apols if the same info has already been posted. What state that the various projects are at I know not.

A new Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) ordered for the Royal Air Force will fly non-stop from the United States to RAF Fairford in the UK on the 11th of July, say the MoD
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/trans-a ... no_cache=1

And the Aussies:
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/austral ... no_cache=1

New Chinese ‘Sky Hawk’ stealth drone in first public flight
A video featuring China’s new unmanned stealth aircraft, the Sky Hawk, was shown for the first time on China Central Television (CCTV) on Saturday.
Developed by China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation, the Sky Hawk conducted a test flight at an undisclosed location in China, the CCTV report said.
See - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-chi ... h8DqKEhK1w
"The drone appears to be similar in shape to the X-44A drone which was recently unveiled by Lockheed Martin." ~~~ Whats new?


DRONE WEAPONERY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlO2gcs1YvM

Russia’s new Poseidon underwater drone to carry Nuclear warhead
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/russias ... no_cache=1

USN DRONE SHIP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtF1R4p_9TI
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/18 ... d-a-sister

Did it go into production - I do not know:
China is promoting an unmanned combat helicopter in the international market.
Aviation Industry Corp of China, a State-owned aircraft giant, has put its AV500W unmanned autonomous helicopter on display at the fourth China Helicopter Expo that opened last Thursday in Tianjin.
The 7.2-metre-long aircraft, developed and produced at the AVIC Helicopter Research and Development Institute in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi province, has a maximum takeoff weight of 450 kilograms, a maximum speed of 170 kilometres per hour and a flight ceiling of 4,000 meters, according to the institute.
The helicopter is reportedly capable of carrying 120 kg of weapons and equipment. Its reconnaissance version can remain aloft for eight hours while the reconnaissance/combat model is able to fly four hours.
All of the remotely piloted air systems China has offered to the international market so far have been fixed-wing models, making the AV500W the first Chinese unmanned military helicopter available in that market.
According to a press release:
“An armed AV500W typically carries four air-to-ground missiles, which use radar homing technology for guidance. Each missile weighs 8 kg and can hit a target 5 km away, the institute said. It also can carry bombs or a machine-gun pod.
The helicopter features good mobility, penetration capability and a high level of automation and has a stealth design. A typical mission would be a precision attack on light-duty armoured vehicles and personnel, the institute said.”
Jiang Taiyu, one of the chief designers of AV500W, said the aircraft fired weapons during its maiden flight test in August.
“The helicopter is able to take off and land on almost any landform including plateaus and canyons. It can operate in cold and tropical environments. It will be useful in border patrols, counterterrorism operations and low-intensity conflicts because it can carry out very-low-altitude penetration and keep hovering for a while,” he said.
The designer added that all of the helicopter’s tests will be finished before the end of this year and it will be ready for mass-production in 2018.
Image attached - if I remember!

JOB CREATION
Remember the Bod who flew a drone over Q.E. at InverG, landed it etc.?
Looks as tho it will do someone some good:
https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov ... 08=UFQxUlR

ANTI DRONE SHOTGUN SHELLS
http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2017 ... one-amtac/

Well researched post there David , and thanks for it .

It seems that with each passing day the likely hood of STAR WARS and AVATAR creep ever closer

[Pelican]

Another avenue in the unmanned arena:

In a trial performed by the Israeli Navy, a Helicopter Long-Range Active Sonar (HELRAS) dipping sonar was successfully converted for operation onboard the Seagull, Elbit Systems’ Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV).

NATO forces deployed the Seagull USV during a Joint Anti-Submarine Warfare exercise with the Spanish Navy’s Santa Maria-class frigate Victoria and the Royal Navy’s HMS Duncan.

Operating a dipping sonar onboard a USV significantly increases the operational working time compared to a helicopter, however, in circumstances in which speed is required such a platform may not be entirely suitable.

Elbit Systems say:

“The Seagull autonomous multi-mission USV features switchable, modular mission payload suites and can perform, in addition to ASW, Mine Countermeasure missions (MCM), Electronic Warfare (EW), Maritime Security (MS), Hydrography and other missions using the same vessel, mission control system and data links.

Seagull offers navies a true force multiplier delivering enhanced performance to naval operations, reducing risk to human life and dramatically cutting procurement and operating costs.”

The Seagull USV also participated in a joint Mine Counter Measure exercise between the Royal Navy and the Israeli Navy in which the Seagull USV was tasked with securing a path for HMS Ocean, the former British helicopter carrier.

From - https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/israeli ... 0QX8F0rWQM

[ivorthediver]

Thanks for the update David .

[Little h]

NavyLookout on Twitter
‏ @NavyLookout

RN has requested tenders from industry for large unmanned underwater vehicle as testbed for future XLUUV technology

Must operate independently for 3 months, cover 3000nm, deliver 2 tonne payload and provide ASW barrier capability.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... capability …

via @AndyNetherwood

_______________________________________________


Linked document titled:-
Notice
Competition document: developing the Royal Navy’s autonomous underwater capability

Published 16 April 2019

------------------------------------------------------------------

Certainly makes for interesting reading

[ivorthediver]

Wonder to what use it will be put Harry

1/ sub watch in the channel
2/ survey scans of sea bed
3/ loiter observation of sensitive locations
4/ monitoring specific sea lanes unobserved
5/ scientific monitoring of a location ......

The list is endless once its up and running [ or should that be patrolling ] and at that price a cheap asset but know doubt they have some ideas in mind.

Thanks for the post Harry .

[Little h]

Another one for the drone enthusiasts

April 18, 2019
The Royal Navy and Maritime Autonomous Systems – better late than never


Despite pioneering an unmanned mine-hunting system used in the Gulf War as far back as 2003, the RN has since made very little progress in deploying Maritime Autonomous Systems (MAS) operationally. Despite a recent increase in development initiatives, integration of MAS into the core activities and operating doctrine of the fleet seems some way off.

A serving RN officer recently wrote, “The Royal Navy’s strategic design is based in a post-cold war fantasy, where carrier or littoral strike groups can operate around the world, uncontested”.

Full article continues at Save The Royal Navy

[ivorthediver]

Well can only agree with the sentiments expressed there Harry ,[ and the last one you posted seemed to be addressing this issue , if there are any companies willing to take it on board ]

I personally don't want the Navy to become totally autominus , but aids like this can only help in my book and help protect the" Jacks and Jills " to which you refer.

[Pelican]

In view of the previous posts above the following may be of interest:

USN Orders Four Orca XLUUV Drone Submarines From Boeing

The US Navy has recently ordered four Orca Extra-Large Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (XLUUVs) from Boeing, in a contract worth $43 million. The Orca XLUUVs are very large diesel-electric drone submarines intended to gather intelligence, place or clear naval mines, attack other ships or submarines, conduct stand-off strikes, and more.

The Orca is a design based on the Boeing Echo Voyager demonstration submarine with a range of 6,500 nautical miles. The vessel measures 51 by 8.5 by 8.5 feet and has a dry weight of 50 tons. The Echo Voyager has a maximum speed of around eight knots underwater and can dive to depths up to 11,000 feet deep. Its batteries give it a range of more than 150 miles at a speed of around 3 knots before it needs to surface and use its air-breathing diesel generator to recharge. Boeing has said that Echo Voyager could carry enough fuel to allow it to operate autonomously for up to six months at a time. It has its own sonar-enabled obstacle avoidance system, as well as an inertial navigation system.

See - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJV--X7 ... e=youtu.be