Predator C

[funtz]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/gene...ine=New Predator C Hints At Stealth, Weaponry

This seems to be a interesting development, a small(ish.. in comparison to the planes) U(C)AV with added advantage of signature reduction, based on a existing product which will reduce costs. With a endurance of 20 hours, can be launched from the carriers.

Excellent, seems to be a fit for the US military forces.

 

[AndiPandi]

I think the development in this area will be the factor that totally destroys the JSF business case, reducing the amount of planes of all versions, both for US forces and european partners. A "Predator D" (or another UCAV) that trades some of the 20-hour endurance for speed and a weapons bay taking 2 x 2000 lb weapons will probably be around in 5 years time. This plane will be both stealthier and cheaper than any version of the F-35 and more suitable to penetrate for example the iranian air defense.

Wasnt there rumours of some new stealthy UAV operationg from Afghanistan and penetrating Pakistanian air space? Is it this one?

 

[funtz]

I think the development in this area will be the factor that totally destroys the JSF business case, reducing the amount of planes of all versions, both for US forces and european partners.

A "Predator D" (or another UCAV) that trades some of the 20-hour endurance for speed and a weapons bay taking 2 x 2000 lb weapons will probably be around in 5 years time. This plane will be both stealthier and cheaper than any version of the F-35 and more suitable to penetrate for example the iranian air defense.

Wasnt there rumours of some new stealthy UAV operationg from Afghanistan and penetrating Pakistanian air space? Is it this one?

With F-22 production going down, F-35 might have to do more lot of the air to air duties, its a multi role strike plane, so it should be around for a lot more time.

This could be it, although the rumors had painted a much more cooler looking plane. rumors going around do that a lot.

 

[Grim901]

I think the development in this area will be the factor that totally destroys the JSF business case, reducing the amount of planes of all versions, both for US forces and european partners. A "Predator D" (or another UCAV) that trades some of the 20-hour endurance for speed and a weapons bay taking 2 x 2000 lb weapons will probably be around in 5 years time. This plane will be both stealthier and cheaper than any version of the F-35 and more suitable to penetrate for example the iranian air defense.

Wasnt there rumours of some new stealthy UAV operationg from Afghanistan and penetrating Pakistanian air space? Is it this one?

I'd read that it was one of X-45 prototypes that was flying from Afghanistan now.

In 5 years time there are going to be a couple of viable UCAVs that could take JSF business, but whether the technology is mature enough to trust it with replacing the majority of the manned fighter/strike fleets of Western nations is another matter and one that won't happen for some time.

 

[AndiPandi]

I'd read that it was one of X-45 prototypes that was flying from Afghanistan now.

In 5 years time there are going to be a couple of viable UCAVs that could take JSF business, but whether the technology is mature enough to trust it with replacing the majority of the manned fighter/strike fleets of Western nations is another matter and one that won't happen for some time.

True, If you want to attack Iran using UCAVs its a more complex operation then loitering over Taliban-land. But if they are cheap and doesnt have any pilots I guess you can afford to lose a few more aircraft compared with a manned operation as long as enough of them reach their target.

I guess much depends on the ability to operate from carrier ships. Has any fixed wing UAV ever been able to take off and/or land on a carrier ship (trials included) using the same system (catapult/arrestor wires) as manned aircrafts?

 

[Firn]

My humble opinion is that a VLO UCAV will become an ever more important component of the whole system. A combination of VLO UAV and UCAV will be the eyes and spearheads of any larger "western" strike mission against a relative well protected target - in cojuncture with an AEW&C and according to the mission, mulit-role fighters.

Small, cheap and endurant VLO variants of UAV like the Scaneagle or Integrator fitted with various sensor packages will be able to penetrate an enemy airspace with a very low risk of detection. Equipped with a combination of sensor packages consisting of IRST (Infrared Search and Track), RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) or/and AESA radars will ISR the area. The "hot" compontents of the GBAD will be geolocalized and if needed attack by a combination of stand-off weapons delivered by the artillery or the airforce or the VLO UCAV in the next echelon.

Will be continued.

 

[Firn]

1) Echolon 1 - The Honey Bee Swarm

Small, cheap and endurant VLO variants of UAV like the Scaneagle or Integrator fitted with various sensor packages will be able to penetrate an enemy airspace with a very low risk of detection. This swarm will be equipped with a combination of sensor packages consisting of IRST (Infrared Search and Track), RWR (Radar Warning Receiver) or/and AESA radars will ISR the area. The "hot" compontents of the GBAD will be geolocalized. Even opposing "cold" VLO fighters like the F-22 controlled by an AEW&C might get detected by the dispersed swarm of very compact VLO UAV when they try to close in with the screened AEW&C which is hanging back 150+ km. Some Bees might be used as comm. relays.

2) Echolon 2 - The Bumblebee Swarm

VLO UCAV like the Avenger C or X-45 are the "bomb trucks" and might also carry a limited number of AAM. Heavier, larger and faster they are more suscitable to detection but the fine ISR or the honey bees will allow them to increase their surviveability. SEAD and high-value targets their secundary. For self- or AEW&C defense they might use their AAM. BVR might be a feasible addition and could be offer on a relative fast VLO UCAV supported by the AEW&C rather impressive attack capabilities against an manned interceptor vectored for the AEW&C, the "honey pot" aka "bee queen".

3) Echolon 3 - The Bee queen

The AEW&C will coordinate the C4ISR and help to weave the picture togheter from a safe distance. A second AEW&C might be sometimes necessary as the workload of the Bee Quenn will be heavy and slow, endurant Bees and Bumblebees might require a great persistence of their Queen.

4) Echolon 4 - The Hornets

Modern manned mulit-role fighters will according to the mission guard the Bee queen and possibly the Bumblebees, create air superiority and/or deliver strikes with guided bombs and stand-off weapons.

5) Ground- or Seabased assets might deliver heavy long-ranged precision firepower and reduce the strain on the UAV's payload

6) Tankers will offer in the midterm air refueling to the "bumblebee" class of UCAV, while the "bee" class of ISR UAV will most likely have to rely on ground refueling.

BTW: The JSF would IMHO both be an excellent combination of an "Hornet" or and a "Bumblebee", earining them then name "Wasp" or perhaps "Aculeata" if we want to keep the somewhat corret biological taxonomy

 

[Firn]

Infrared systems for Tactical Aviation

From the linked paper:

Although Israel has used security and deliberate misinformation to protect its radar SAM-defeating secrets, the basis of its success is well known. The Israeli’s had superior pre-attack intelligence on the location and emission characteristics of the Syrian SAMs. They began the attack with remotely piloted vehicles, some with sensors to pinpoint the missile sites, some as decoys to entice the radars to emit, and some with lethal warheads to home-in on radar emissions.

Once the sites were located, a well-coordinated attack plan was executed with the help of Hawkeye airborne warning and control aircraft. The attack aircraft were well protected with the latest countermeasures, including support from large dedicated (Boeing 707 variant) electronic countermeasures aircraft. Even some surface-to-surface missiles and artillery shells were specially designed to attack air defense radars.56 No Israeli aircraft were lost, and from the start of the conflict, the Syrian air defense system was effectively destroyed.

Seems that some elements of the outlined plan above have already been used by the Israelis....