http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/512/| As unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) continue their push into many fields of modern aviation, in particular in reconnaissance, strike and close air support missions, the US Army is carrying out tests to further improve the target envelope of existing weapon systems.
As the US Army recently reported, the service’s newest and most advanced UAS, the MQ-1C Extended Range/Multi-Purpose (ER/MP) UAS based on the US Air Force Predator, completed a series of tests with the Hellfire II UAS missile. The latter is specially designed for us on unmanned aircraft and, according to the Army, provides a 360-degree targeting ability.
The firing tests have been preceded by integration testing between the MQ-1C contractor General Atomics’ Software Integration Laboratory, the El Mirage Flight Test Facility, and Edwards Air Force Base.
Firing Tests at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station
The tests, carried out at the China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in California, were intended to demonstrate the missile’s ability to engage a wider target envelope than its former variants. On the occasion of the successful tests, which already began in November 2009, the Deputy Project Manager, Army Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Tim Owings, stated that nine perfect or near-perfect missile firings were achieved.
Having been the first firings of missiles from the MQ-1C Warrior, the tests started with dry runs against a target with an inert test missile on the inboard rail of the right wing. Upon receiving positive results for the data transmission between the missile, the aircraft and the China Lake Range Control Center, a successful “cold” pass was carried out, using a live powered missile and primarily assuring that the missile locks on to the target.
The more advances stage in the testing, involving a “hot” firing of the missile, proved that the missile performs as expected. The firing test provided a successful impact, after the approach was controlled by and coordinated between the mission payload operator and air vehicle operator, or AVO, at precise waypoints during the flight.
Greater Flexibility in Combat
Capable of being fired in any direction and correcting course to search and strake its target, the Hellfire II UAS missile is expected to provide UAS with a greater flexibility in ground attack missions.
“The Hellfire UAS missile can take advantage of a 360 look-around angle. The ball on the UAV can swivel 360 degrees – and with this missile you can engage targets that are below you, behind you and well off-axis from what a typical Hellfire can do,” said Owings. “There were nine successful shots. The big point is the laser designation system, the weapons system and the UAV all performed as designed and as expected. It was a really clean test.”
As the Army reported, “the test firing helped pave the way for the ERMP’s successful completion of a Milestone C review, marking approval for the UAS Project Office to enter into Low Rate Initial Production.”
The milestone C, confirming production readiness and program acquisition maturity, will allow the Army to purchase two complete systems, each including 12 aircraft, as well as eight aircraft for training purposes and for replacement of war-loss. According to Owing, the first set of aircraft (four weaponised MQ-1C) is scheduled to be deployed to Afghanistan in July 2010.
Powered by a Thielert Centurion heavy fuel engine (HFE), the Warrior is capable of flying for more than 30 hours. It can operate with or without satellite communications data links. In addition to four Hellfire missiles, the deployed aircraft will carry an advanced targeting system for immediate situational awareness and target detection.
Pushing forward the importance of UAS attack capabilities
The tests have been a real first in different aspects, as this was not only the first missile firing from the MQ-1C. The Hellfire II UAS is also the first missile specifically designed for the use on an unmanned aircraft, pushing forward one step further into the age of unmanned warfare. An ongoing poll at defpro.com on the future of UAVs shows that only 50% of the voters think that UAS’ might replace unmanned aircraft in the field of ground attack and CAS (see http://poll.fm/18yg3) (To put this into perspective: The voters show a 99% approval for the future prevalence of UAS in the field of reconnaissance and intelligence. – Ed.).
While the long-standing question, whether unmanned aviation may one day replace manned aviation, has to remain open for the moment, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the growing industrial focus, indicate a clear trend towards a significant increase of unmanned systems in modern warfare. The enhanced capability which the Hellfire II UAS may provide to unmanned aircraft may further accelerate this trend.
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By Nicolas von Kospoth, Managing Editor
http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/512/
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February 19, 2010 at 1:13 pm