Battlefield Airman Targeting Micro Air Vehicle (BATMAV)
Wasp III
The Wasp III is a hand-launched, horizontal-landing SUAS that carries an integrated forward and side-looking electro optical (EO) camera with pan, tilt and zoom. This modular payload is swappable with an infrared (IR) imager. The aircraft can be manually flown or programmed with GPS-based autonomous navigation to perform day or night reconnaissance and surveillance missions at low altitude within a range of three miles. The current purchased inventory is 221 systems with 442 aircraft. Wasp III is funded through USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC) funding lines, using an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to accommodate rapid technology and development changes. This contract is used by al service components in Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to purchase SUAS.
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Wasp III has the following performance:
Altitude: Max 1,000 ft ; Normal Operations: 50-150 ft
Range: 3 miles; Endurance: 45 minutes
Maximum Speed: 40 mph; Cruise speed: 20 mph
Force Protection Airborne Surveillance System
RQ-11 Raven
The Raven is a hand-launched, deep stall vertical landing SUAS (Group 1) that carries a dual forward and side-looking pan/tilt/zoom EO camera and an IR camera. The aircraft can be manually flown or programmed with GPS-based autonomous navigation to perform day or night reconnaissance and surveillance missions at low altitude within a range of 7 to 10 miles. The current purchased inventory is 36 systems with a total of 108 aircraft.
Raven has the following performance:
Altitude: Max 14,000 ft; Normal Operations: 150-500 ft
Range: 7-10 miles; Endurance: 60-90 minutes
Maximum Speed: 60 mph; Cruise speed: 27 mph
Scan Eagle interim solution:
The Scan Eagle is a catapult-launched, SkyHook land/retrieval SUAS (Group 2) that carries an inertially stabilized camera turret containing an EO or IR camera that provides a persistent stare capability and small vehicle resolution from up to five miles away. The aircraft can be semi-manually flown by human operators or programmed with GPS-based autonomous navigation to perform real-time situational awareness missions and force protection information missions at low altitude with a range of 68 miles. The current inventory is one system with six aircraft.
Scan Eagle has the following performance:
Altitude: Max 16,500 ft; Normal Operations: 1000 2,500 ft
Range: 68 miles ; Endurance: 20+ hrs
Maximum Speed: 80 mph; Cruise speed: 55 mph
Raven and Scan Eagle systems have both been purchased with Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) supplemental funding.
3.2 Medium UAS
MQ-1 Predator:
The Predator is an armed, multi-role, long endurance UAS (Group 4) that carries an EO/IR payload, laser target marker, laser illuminator and signal intelligence (SIGINT) payloads. Rated USAF pilots fly these aircraft by one of three methods. These methods are: manual flying, semi-autonomous monitored flight and pre-programmed flight. With two data link options, Predators can be flown LOS within approximately 100 miles of the launch and recovery base or flown BLOS via satellite datalinks. Missions can be controlled from the launch base or through remote split operations (RSO) from worldwide-based mission control elements. The crew and aircraft can re-role to any component of the kil chain during one mission while performing the following missions and tasks: intel igence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), close air support (CAS), combat search and rescue (CSAR) support, precision strike, buddy laze, convoy overwatch, raid overwatch, target development, and terminal air control. Predators are used primarily for persistent ISR functions. The Predator force objective is 185 aircraft, funded through the Military Intel igence Program (MIP).
The Predator has the following performance:
Max Altitude: 25,000 ft ; Employment altitude: 10,000-20,000 ft
Max speed: 120 KIAS; Loiter speed: 80 KIAS
Operational Endurance: 22 hrs
Max payload: 300 lbs externally
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MQ-9 Reaper:
The Reaper is an armed, multi-role, long endurance UAS that carries an EO/IR payload, laser target marker, laser illuminator and synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Seven external hard points allow an open architecture variety of weapon and SIGINT payloads to be carried. Rated USAF pilots fly these aircraft by one of three methods. These methods are: manual flying, semi-autonomous monitored flight and pre-programmed flight. With two data link options, Reapers can be flown LOS within approximately 100 miles of the launch and recovery base or flown BLOS via satellite datalinks. Missions can be controlled from the launch base or through remote split operations (RSO) from worldwide-based mission control elements.
The crew and aircraft can re-role to any component of the kill chain during one mission while performing the following missions and tasks: ISR, CAS, CSAR support, precision strike, buddy laze, convoy overwatch, raid overwatch, target development, and terminal air control. Reapers are used primarily for persistent strike functions while possessing loiter time for ISR functions as well. The Reaper FY10 force objective is 319 aircraft. This wil enable a transition plan for growth to 50 Reaper and Predator combined combat air patrols (CAP) by 4QFY11 and al Reaper by FY16.
The Reaper has the following performance:
Max Altitude: 50,000 ft ; Employment altitude: 25,000-30,000 ft
Max speed: 240 KIAS ; Loiter speed: 100 KIAS
Operational endurance: 18 hrs
Max payload: 3000 lbs externally
3.3 Large UAS RQ-4 Global Hawk:
The Global Hawk can be operated LOS or BLOS and transmit its data to the USAF Distributed Common Ground System (DCGS) or other nodes including the Army tactical exploitation system (TES) for exploitation and dissemination. The Global Hawk force structure contains two baseline models, RQ-4A and RQ-4B, in 4 production blocks, funded by the Military Intelligence Program (MIP). Seven RQ-4A Block 10 aircraft are equipped with EO, IR, and SAR sensors. Six RQ-4B Block 20 aircraft will be equipped with the Battlefield Airborne Communications Node (BACN). BACN provides a Tactical Data Link gateway between Link 16, the Situation Airborne Data Link (SADL) and the Integrated Broadcast System (IBS). Through BACN, users of these three systems can share information and form a common tactical picture.
Further, BACN provides an Internet Protocol based networking capability so military networks can interface and share content across both secure and open internet connections. BACN provides the capability to cross-band military, civilian and commercial communications systems. Further, BACN allows soldiers on foot, or platforms without advanced communications systems to connect via cel ular phones, existing narrow band radios, or even an airborne 802.11 to the battle field network. Forty-two RQ-4B Block 30 aircraft wil have the Enhanced Integrated Sensor Suite (EISS) with EO, IR, and SAR and the Airborne Signals Intelligence Payload (ASIP) for SIGINT collection. Twenty-two RQ-4B Block 40 aircraft will have the Multi-Platform Radar Technology Insertion Program (MP-RTIP) payload; planned capability includes Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar with concurrent high-resolution SAR imagery, high-range-resolution (HRR) imagery, and robust Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) data.
The ground stations (10 for the multi-INT systems; 3 for the Block 40) consist of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE) and the Mission Control Element (MCE). The crew is two pilots (1 for MCE, 1 for LRE), one sensor operator, and additional support that include one Quality Control (QC) manager, and one communications technician.
The Global Hawk has the following performance:
Max Altitude: 65,000 ft (Block 10), 60,000 ft (Blocks 20/30/40)
Max speed: 340 KTAS (Block 10), 320 KTAS (Blocks 20/30/40)
Max endurance: 28 hrs
Max payload: 2,000 lbs (Block 10), 3,000 lbs (Blocks 20/30/40)
