Grounded ambitions

56 Pages·2015·10.39 MB·English

Volume 20 Number 4
August/September 2015
Grounded
ambitions
UGVs show off their increased versatility
CHANGING PLAYING JAMMING
ROLES CATCH-UP SESSION
Tactical UAV developments Unmanned marine systems EW payloads
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CONTENTS
3 Editorial Comment
Editor
Richard Thomas Editor Richard Thomas considers the progress 17
[email protected]
[phone] of the unmanned systems sector across the land,
Asia-Pacific Editor air and sea domains.
Gordon Arthur
[email protected]
News
North America Editor
Scott R Gourley 4 Aussie Herons fly in civil airspace
[email protected]
A review of some of the latest developments
Staff Reporters
from around the unmanned systems industry.
Beth Maundrill
[email protected]
Grant Turnbull
[email protected] 10 Attachment theories
Contributors The variety of payloads that can be incorporated
Claire Apthorp, Pieter Bastiaans, onto a UGV is steadily increasing as the technology
Angus Batey, Peter Donaldson,
Eugene Gerden, Neelam Mathews, sees a wider range of applications across both the
Jonathan Tringham, Andrew White commercial and military markets. Grant Turnbull
Production Department Manager
looks at some of the main growth areas.
David Hurst
Sub-editor
Adam Wakeling 17 Once the dust settles
Graphic Designer Despite completion of a number of tactical 43 Signs of life
Kam Bains
UAV procurements following the drawdown in The Indian UAS market is looking strong after years
Commercial Manager
Christian Letessier Afghanistan, the class remains a valuable asset for of stagnation. Neelam Mathews rounds up the latest
[email protected] militaries around the globe preparing for the next developments.
[phone]
era of operations, discovers Andrew White.
Editor-in-Chief
Tony Skinner 46 Risky business
Managing Director 27 Support, protect, attack The growing realisation that unmanned systems
Darren Lake
Technological innovation at the core systems level is can provide a cost-effective and safe method of
Chairman
Nick Prest resulting in some exciting new capabilities in the field conducting infrastructure inspections could result
Subscriptions of UAV-based electronic warfare. Peter Donaldson in a market boom. Richard Thomas examines where
Annual rates start at £65 reports on some recent key industry developments. progress is being made.
Tel: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web: shop.shephardmedia.com
34 Into the mainstream? 52 Interview
Unmanned Vehicles is published six times
USVs are starting to get noticed by civil and military Tekever Group unveiled the shipborne AR3 Net Ray
per year – in February/March, April/May,
June/July, August/September, October/ agencies, as OEMs begin developing platforms UAV recently, putting it in direct competition with
November and December/January – by
that are multi-mission, have greater autonomy some established industry players. Richard Thomas
The Shephard Press Ltd,
268 Bath Road, Slough, Berks, SL1 4DX. and can accommodate more advanced payloads. talked to COO Ricardo Mendes about the market
Air Business Ltd is acting as mailing agent. Claire Apthorp considers their potential utility. and the challenges ahead.
Articles contained in this publication may
not be reproduced in any form without the
written permission of the publishers.
© The Shephard Press Ltd, 2015.
ISSN 1351-3478 Front cover: New payload technology is expanding the range of applications for UGVs. (Photo: iRobot)
Print Buxton Press, Derbyshire, UK
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www.UVonline.com Volume 20 Number 4 | August/September 2015 | UNMANNED Vehicles
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3
EDITORIAL COMMENT
Getting the edge
Progress is very much the byword for this landlocked nature of the Afghan conflict and
edition of Unmanned Vehicles, both in the the prolonged counter-insurgency in Iraq.
military and commercial sectors, as planners As recently as two years ago, sailors in
and developers figure out new ways to use the US 5th Fleet admitted during a media
platforms at sea, on the ground and in the air. embarkation that they were lagging behind
More than 70 countries are currently using other nations in the use of USVs and UUVs,
UAS in some form and this figure will only and were only just coming to terms with the
increase as operating techniques and system SeaFox mine countermeasures system.
capabilities improve and become more varied. Of course since then we have seen
One of the driving forces of this developments in the Common USV
developmental curve has been the conflicts in programme and the addition of other
Afghanistan and Iraq, theatres where multiple unmanned platforms to the maritime
nations operated unmanned vehicles in a bid portfolio. The USN’s efforts to integrate such
to gain a strategic edge. More often than not, systems is indicative of the industry as a whole
that edge would be information, so platforms in an ongoing game of catch-up.
on the ground and in the air became The benefits, however, may become a
dedicated intelligence gatherers, pushing little clearer for those operating in a naval
technological boundaries in imagery, analysis environment, given the potential increases in
and identification. endurance that a USV or UUV can provide the
In a permissive air environment the tactical operator, notwithstanding the progress ship-
UAV has become king and is now relied on based UAS are making as they are permanently
to provide high-definition EO/IR and EW embarked on operations.
capabilities as miniaturisation expands the There are also a number of ‘new’ nations to
options available to operators. the industry that are looking to establish
Much the same is happening on the ground sufficient infrastructure to design and develop
as UGV platforms are being looked at in a an indigenous unmanned capacity, rather
modular context, rather than limited to their than relying on off-the-shelf purchases from
original design specification, with EOD foreign firms.
systems being adapted to provide a range of To this end, in this issue we take a look at the
new capabilities in information-gathering and developing Indian market and investigate the
situation awareness, for example. recent comings and goings after manufacturers
Again, this is driven by improved were tasked by the government to find, renew
technological capability, miniaturisation and improve domestic solutions for unmanned
(thanks in part to the use of COTS products) military needs (see p43).
and a progressive attitude on the part of This effort is very much a ground-up plan
industry and clients to explore new of action, complemented by some overseas
applications of unmanned systems. procurements, and differing from other
However, it has not been plain sailing for national unmanned programmes that have
the maritime sector, which has faced different simply been purchased – intellectual property
challenges, in part due to industry not having and all – and marketed as a national capability.
RESPONSE
quite the same military impetus due to the Richard Thomas, Editor
Unmanned Vehicles’ editorial team is
always happy to receive comments on
its articles and to hear readers’ views IN THE n Small UAS n Data links
on the issues raised in the magazine. NEXT
n Training n Radar payloads
Contact details can be found on p1. ISSUE
www.UVonline.com Volume 20 Number 4 | August/September 2015 | UNMANNED Vehicles
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NEWS
Aussie Herons fly in civil airspace
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) flew a MDA provides ‘power-by-the-hour’ services
pair of IAI Heron UAVs in civil airspace from a under a contract designating 1,000 flight hours
commercial airport for the first time during annually for an initial three years. No 5 Flight
Exercise Talisman Sabre 2015. comprises about 20 personnel, including five
The aircraft operated from Rockhampton air vehicle operators.
Airport throughout the course of the bilateral The RAAF has established its own organic
exercise. Heron conversion course for pilots, with the first
Wg Cdr Matthew Bowers, commanding iteration having taken place from March to May
Photo: author
officer of No 5 Flight, told Unmanned Vehicles: this year.
‘It’s the first time for us to operate a military UAV typically lasting ten hours while cruising at an The aircraft is seen as an interim capability for
from a civilian airport in civilian airspace.’ altitude of 13,000ft. the RAAF, allowing the force to retain and
He explained that the platforms were treated ‘The army loves the capability,’ stated expand experience.
as just another aircraft by civil ATC. The RAAF had Bowers. ‘Ground services can’t get enough ISR.’ Bowers commented: ‘The intention is to
previously signed an MoU with Airservices He enthused over the aircraft’s capabilities expand operations outside civil restricted
Australia detailing responsibilities and during Talisman Sabre: ‘Its performance has been airspace and military aerodromes in preparation
integration for such UAV flights in civil airspace. outstanding, and controls are in place to ensure for future capabilities.’
The Herons, operated under a three-year safe operations… It’s gone off really well.’ Australia will field up to seven Northrop
contract signed with MacDonald, Dettwiler & The Herons, which have an endurance of 24 Grumman MQ-4C Tritons beginning in 2021,
Associates (MDA) in October 2014 – and which hours, carry an IAI MOSP payload with EO/IR with the HALE platform intended to operate
offers three one-year extensions – successfully cameras, plus an EW package. The platform alongside Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft.
flew over unpopulated areas in low/medium- includes a laser pointer, but this has been Bowers predicted that the RAAF would
density airspace as part of their first expeditionary deactivated for domestic flights. Bowers said eventually acquire a platform such as the
deployment. The aircraft served both red and the RAAF would like to add a laser designator, General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper.
blue forces during the exercise, with missions and possibly a radio relay in the future. By Gordon Arthur, Hong Kong
UAV options limited for RN’s new carrier
UK Defence chiefs have been tasked by partners like the US to ensure these ships… will probably too expensive and the rotary side of
Prime Minister David Cameron to explore ways be able to project drones, special forces and things is already heavily funded with marinising
to project UAVs to counter terrorism, but the strike capabilities [to combat terrorist threats].’ the Apaches and the Merlin programme.’
lack of a catapult on the Royal Navy’s new Justin Bronk, research analyst at RUSI, said Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military
aircraft carrier will limit embarked unmanned platforms such as the ScanEagle, already in aerospace at the IISS, said the UK would have to
operations. service with the RN, could operate from the new determine what operational emphasis carrier-
In a statement released on 13 July –just days carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, but the aircraft borne unmanned vehicles should have.
after the government pledged to continue to would be limited to improving situation ‘It depends on the timescales, there always
meet the NATO baseline defence spending awareness given that it had ‘no kinetic capability’. was an interest from the naval side on
target of 2% of GDP – Cameron called on He added: ‘The US Navy is heading down the operations from the carrier. My impression is
officials to invest more in counter-terror strike route, deep penetration, stealth and ISR that [what is being proposed] is ISR, which is
capabilities and prioritise resources to protect with the X-47B, and anything like that needs a understandable. The ScanEagle fits elements
the UK from evolving threats. catapult to get airborne. With Reaper, the wings of that requirement, but ideally you need
It states: ‘The Prime Minister is keen for the are too big [to operate from carriers] and it is persistence, time on station and radar payload.’
defence review to explore how best to work with not structurally marinised. The Fire Scout is By Richard Thomas, London
UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2015 | Volume 20 Number 4 www.UVonline.com
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5
NEWS
NATO CMRE goes passive
On the web
NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and choice,’ the spokesperson said. ‘If on the other hand
Experimentation (CMRE) concluded its participation extreme energy persistence is the criterion, the Lockheed deploys
in trials of two UUVs for passive maritime surveillance WaveGlider may be the preferred solution. UTM components
in June. ‘From the technology perspective, we intend 5 August 2015
The trial, named Project Perseus, was conducted to go forward towards an integrated – surface and
during 2014 and 2015 in collaboration with Spanish sub-surface – multi-sensor monitoring capability, USMC orders 75 SUGV robots
technology company Indra and saw use of a UUV with data fusion and multiple classification features.’ 4 August 2015
glider and a joint surface/sub-surface unmanned The CMRE said the trial saw the use of integrated
platform as surveillance vehicles. payloads fitted to the two AUVs to detect and classify Lockheed eyes UAS for JAGM
CMRE scientists and engineers worked to design, fast boats and other maritime threats. 4 August 2015
develop and demonstrate at-sea concepts of The passive sonar surveillance systems proved
China restricts UAV
continuous, real-time passive underwater acoustic effective due to their real-time continuous
tech exports
systems for maritime surveillance. Future plans could monitoring capability and the availability of
4 August 2015
see the addition of enhanced monitoring and functionalities such as detection, location-finding and
classification capabilities. vessel classification, the spokesperson stated.
Insitu to build Blackjacks
A spokesperson said surveillance demonstrations The CMRE added that the technology would help
for US forces
were made with both the Slocum Glider in 2014 and detect anomalous behaviour in marine traffic and in
3 August 2015
the Liquid Robotics WaveGlider in 2015. future could be operated within a network to
‘For applications requiring a high level of continuously monitor maritime areas of interest.
Ferra bags Triton
covertness, the underwater glider may be the best By Richard Thomas, London
UAS supplier contract
31 July 2015
Mexico introduces UAV tech
Transtrex releases UAS
restriction system
capability,’ explained Arturo Galvan, manager at 29 July 2015
the company.
While the UAVs are both fixed-wing and run on Skystar’s the limit
gasoline engines, they are capable of VTOL via 24 July 2015
electric motors.
According to Galvan, DroneTech is currently USS North Dakota
working on the final stages of the VTOL technology deploys UUVs
23 July 2015
for the AV-2 and planned to begin flight tests in July.
Photo: DroneTech UAV The AV-1 Albatross is the larger of the two aircraft,
with a wingspan of 5.5m and endurance of up to 60
Mexico-based company Drone Tech UAV is set to hours, while the AV-2 Pelican has a wingspan of 3.5m.
complete the test flight programme of its new ‘While there is a market for this kind of capability in
aircraft, the AV-1 Albatross, it was announced at the Mexico, it is a very small market – that’s why we have
Paris Air Show in June. opened an office in the USA.’
While the company was unable to bring the UAV The company’s US office is in San Antonio, Texas,
to the exhibition, a video was displayed of the AV-1 although Galvan noted that all of the development
conducting flight tests. Once these are completed, and technology behind the aircraft came from the
Drone Tech UAV will begin a test campaign on its company’s Mexican site. Visit
second model in development, the AV-2 Pelican. ‘In terms of customers, we have had interest from
www.UVonline.com

‘Flight tests on the AV-2 will follow final people within the US, Mexico and Italy,’ he added.
for the full stories and latest news
development on the vertical take-off and landing By Beth Maundrill, Paris
www.UVonline.com Volume 20 Number 4 | August/September 2015 | UNMANNED Vehicles
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NEWS
Further progress for UK Watchkeeper
The UK’s Watchkeeper tactical UAS could Palmer said development had continued support. Pierrick Lerey, strategy and marketing
operate from austere airstrips by 2017, it following the UK withdrawal from Afghanistan, director for UAS and ISR at Thales, said the
has emerged. with some 400 flying hours accrued since proposed French Watchkeeper programme
During a media briefing at the Thales facility operations had concluded. At present, two full would see around 35% of the system built and
at Gennevilliers on 2 June, Lt Col Craig Palmer, systems are in use. sourced in France. The UAS itself would be
British Army Watchkeeper programme ‘Post-Afghanistan, the first student will be constructed in the UK.
manager, said: ‘The next milestone will be trained by UK instructors in October 2015,’ he ‘Watchkeeper is now a modular project and
reaching full operational capability by 2017, added. ‘We are building our confidence and we have strong prospects in the EU and Middle
including de-icing and [taking off from] austere now doing army training in the UK.’ East. The UK programme is funded up to 2042
airstrips. Developments in a few years could Flights are being conducted in civil and and we plan to launch a “customer club”, where
include sensors, data links and bigger engines.’ restricted military airspace around Salisbury at stocks, training and feedback can be shared,’
The army is continuing its development altitudes of up to 11,000ft. he said.
programme, while advancing efforts to A total of 54 Watchkeepers had been ordered The platform is a development of Elbit
integrate the platform into civil airspace and by the British Army, which aims to operate a total Systems’ Hermes 450.
carry out operator training. of 13 packages, including trained personnel and By Richard Thomas, Gennevilliers
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UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2015 | Volume 20 Number 4 www.UVonline.com
UV-04-15_p04-08_News.indd 6 06/08/2015 15:41:03
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NEWS
Heads turned
SOLUTIONS FOR HARSH
by UGV concept ENVIRONMENTS
Turning heads among the vast range of
vehicles on display at the Paris Air Show in June
was a concept vehicle developed by loitering
munitions manufacturer UVision that married
its HERO range to a UGV.
The aim was to demonstrate that it was
possible to have the vehicle optionally manned
or unmanned, with a single operator controlling
both the UGV – on this occasion a modified
Tomcar platform – and loitering munition,
according to president and CEO Yair Dubester.
‘The [UGL-H30] is a concept to show that you
can deploy loitering munitions on unmanned
ground vehicles, which are becoming more
popular, or ships and aircraft.’
With a history of developing unmanned
platforms, Dubester said that the UAV market
was becoming ‘saturated’, and saw the Air Force
opportunity to start the development path to S. Push-Pull and ratchet
cre‘Tahtee t UheA VH EmRaOrk feamt isil gy.oing in two directions – Photo: U. co InPn 6e7 cotr oIPr s68 rating
towards larger UCAVs and then the small
From 2 to 114 contacts
commercial systems. The main business used
Solder, crimp or print contacts
to be tactical UAVs, but there are so many
360° shielding for full EMC shielding
companies looking to create their own systems.’
Chrome plated brass
UVision used Le Bourget to display
Vibration resistance
its full six-system line-up of HERO loitering
munitions. The multi-operational beyond-line-of- Aluminium shell with nickel plating
sight systems are capable of carrying out Salt spray corrosion resistance
up to 1000 hours
pinpoint strikes and are vehicle or man-portable.
‘War has changed – it is now urban, Cable assembly service
asymmetric and the answer is loitering
munitions at very low cost,’ Dubester added. ‘We
LEMOSA - Switzerland
worked for four years to develop this family.
Phone: [phone]
‘Really these munitions are missiles. You can Fax: [phone]
tell this when it moves, as a missile skids to turn, [email protected]
while an aircraft banks. It is very hard to take a Contact your local partner on www.lemo.com
missile and make it fly like an aircraft, which is
why we added the fins.’
The smallest of the range weighs visually selected when one presents itself. The HERO range is also capable of high-speed
3kg, making it man-portable, and has an In cases where the attack has to be aborted, transit flight and low-speed loitering, depending
endurance of 30 minutes. The system allow the munition can be recalled and another on the tactical needs of the mission.
targets to be predetermined using GPS, or target selected. By Richard Thomas, Paris
www.UVonline.com Volume 20 Number 4 | August/September 2015 | UNMANNED Vehicles
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NEWS
US Army to acquire TSP sensors
Up to 69 Tactical Signals Intelligence Payload Lt Col Xaviera-Chevonne Williams, product The $70 million indefinite-delivery,
(TSP) sensors, manufactured by BAE Systems, manager sensors – unmanned and rotary- indefinite-quantity contract awarded to BAE
could be delivered to the US Army for use in wing, confirmed that the procurement of Systems also covers engineering support
the service’s unmanned programmes. further systems was planned. services for the army and US Special
In May, the company was awarded a ‘Our army procurement objective quantity Operations Command.
contract to deliver 12 TSP sensors for the is 69. We are on contract to procure 30 TSP The TSP is capable of capturing a 360° aerial
MQ-1C Gray Eagle UAS, with a further 18 systems under LRIP, and the programme field of view, and can detect, identify and
recently requested, according to officials at plans to procure 39 more when approved for geo-locate electronic emitters for operators on
the US Army’s Program Executive Office for full-rate production,’ she said. the ground to investigate. The system is
Intelligence, Electronic Warfare and Sensors. Williams added that no alternative sensors adaptable to other manned and unmanned
The total number acquired under low-rate were being considered for the MQ-1C aerial platforms.
initial production (LRIP) is now 30 TSP units. programme. By Richard Thomas, London
Sense and avoid comes of age
‘We are leveraging internal product and a variety of other manned and remotely
availability and doing as much as we can with piloted aircraft.
the internal capability that we have. This is a A NASA release at the time stated that
continuation of work we have been doing for objectives of the programme included
the aerospace industry as a whole, and evaluation of the performance of ACAS Xu
focused on safely operating in US airspace,’ algorithms using Traffic Collision Avoidance
Wiebold told Unmanned Vehicles. System (TCAS II) and Automatic Dependent
‘It is probably going to be another two Surveillance – Broadcast (ADS-B) messages.
years away, but we believe it is going to be a Wiebold said that most of Honeywell’s
discrimination for the UAV and a requirement SAA system was being developed in-house,
in future. calling it a ‘natural evolution’ of legacy work
Photo: NASA/GA-ASI ‘We’re aiming to be sensor-agnostic – it done by the company.
could consist of a kind of package with a ‘We are looking at all the different sensors
Development is continuing on Honeywell separate LRU, or a separate card in the such as ADS-B and TCAS and also the non-
Aerospace’s sense-and-avoid (SAA) system, motherboard, but the end state is to get a cooperative – those that aren’t broadcasting,’
with officials saying the final product would certifiable product.’ he explained.
‘probably be another two years away’. Current plans would see the system
Work began in 2011 as the company looked nn PROOF OF CONCEPT applied to Group 3 UAVs, although Wiebold
to get a head start on its rivals, according to In January this year Honeywell, NASA, the FAA conceded that there could be scope for future
business development manager Howie and General Atomics announced that they had development and application to Group 1
Wiebold, with industry anticipating a US FAA successfully demonstrated a proof-of-concept and 2 platforms.
decision on integrating unmanned systems SAA system, following flight tests in November A European consortium working as part of a
into the national airspace. and December 2014. European Defence Agency initiative recently
The FAA has since begun work on the These evaluated the system, including also conducted flight tests of the Mid-air
Airborne Collision Avoidance System for a sensor fusion algorithm developed by Collision Avoidance System aimed at the
Unmanned Aircraft (ACAS Xu) to determine Honeywell, on collision avoidance and self- integration of UAVs into civil airspace.
how best to achieve UAS separation. separation using an adapted Predator B UAV By Richard Thomas, London
UNMANNED Vehicles | August/September 2015 | Volume 20 Number 4 www.UVonline.com
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