U(C)AV ontwikkelingen

[Sparkplug]

@Sparkplug     goede aanvulling

We hebben het hier op DF eens gehad over vervanging A10 in relatie met CAS (Close Air Support) en gebruik van UAV, maar op deze manier kan zo'n Reaper/Mojave best interessant worden.

Het is een goede aanvulling op het wapenarsenaal, maar vanwege de munitie wordt deze gun pod op een veel kortere afstand gebruikt.

[Harald]

Als aanvulling.

The rate of fire of the Minigun in a DAP-6 pod is 3,000 rounds per minute, according to Dillon. The combined rate of fire then of the two pods the Mojave carried during the demonstration was 6,000 rounds per minute. The DAP-6's maximum magazine capacity is also 3,000 rounds, which gives it 60 seconds of total firing time. The pod can be loaded with less ammunition to reduce its overall weight. When empty, a DAP-6 weighs 162 pounds (73.5 kilograms), but this grows to approximately 350 pounds (158.8 kilograms) when fully loaded.


A Dillon Aero DAP-6 gun pod on display. Joseph Trevithick

https://www.twz.com/air/minigun-armed-mojave-drone-now-blasting-targets-at-6000-rounds-per-minute

Deze minigun gun pod heeft het dubbele aan munitie dan de oude SUU-11/A.

@Sparkplug    goede aanvulling

We hebben het hier op DF eens gehad over vervanging A10 in relatie met CAS (Close Air Support) en gebruik van UAV, maar op deze manier kan zo'n Reaper/Mojave best interessant worden.

Compared to even advanced miniaturized precision-guided bombs and missiles designed to lower the risk of collateral damage, guns present advantages in terms of focusing fire on smaller targets or groups thereof. A gun-armed Mojave could be able to more rapidly shift focus from one target area to another from pass to pass than it would be able to with precision-guided munitions. All of this could be particularly valuable when providing close air support in dense urban areas or in other situations where friendly forces or innocent bystanders might be dangerously close to enemy positions. Guns also offer a way to engage larger area targets and provide suppressive fire.

[Sparkplug]

Mojave fires the DillonAero DAP-6 gun pods

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) recently released details of a successful live-fire demonstration involving its Mojave unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Conducted on Apr. 13th, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, the test validated the Mojave's weaponization capabilities and underscored its potential as a multi-mission tactical asset.



.../...

https://alert5.com/2024/04/24/mojave-fires-the-dillonaero-dap-6-gun-pods/

https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-lights-up-the-yuma-desert-in-live-fire-demonstration

Als aanvulling.

The rate of fire of the Minigun in a DAP-6 pod is 3,000 rounds per minute, according to Dillon. The combined rate of fire then of the two pods the Mojave carried during the demonstration was 6,000 rounds per minute. The DAP-6's maximum magazine capacity is also 3,000 rounds, which gives it 60 seconds of total firing time. The pod can be loaded with less ammunition to reduce its overall weight. When empty, a DAP-6 weighs 162 pounds (73.5 kilograms), but this grows to approximately 350 pounds (158.8 kilograms) when fully loaded.


A Dillon Aero DAP-6 gun pod on display. Joseph Trevithick

https://www.twz.com/air/minigun-armed-mojave-drone-now-blasting-targets-at-6000-rounds-per-minute

Deze minigun gun pod heeft het dubbele aan munitie dan de oude SUU-11/A.

[Harald]

Mojave fires the DillonAero DAP-6 gun pods

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) recently released details of a successful live-fire demonstration involving its Mojave unmanned aircraft system (UAS). Conducted on Apr. 13th, at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, the test validated the Mojave's weaponization capabilities and underscored its potential as a multi-mission tactical asset.



Partnering with Dillon Aero, GA-ASI equipped the Mojave with two DAP-6 Gun Pod Systems, each boasting a firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute. During the demonstration, the Mojave completed seven firing passes across two flights, successfully engaging and destroying static targets with an estimated expenditure of 10,000 rounds of ammunition.

GA-ASI President David R. Alexander emphasized the Mojave's multifaceted capabilities. "The live-fire demonstration serves as a powerful testament to the Mojave's versatility," he stated. "This platform can seamlessly transition between sensor, shooter, and support roles, minimizing risk to human personnel while delivering decisive battlefield effects."

The Mojave's unique selling point lies in its Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) capability. Unlike conventional UAS requiring extensive runways, the Mojave can operate from austere locations and unimproved landing zones. Notably, it successfully demonstrated carrier operations during a November 2023 collaboration with the Royal Navy. This flexibility opens doors for deploying the Mojave in previously inaccessible theaters, significantly expanding its operational potential.

The Mojave's live-fire success marks a significant milestone in the evolution of armed UAS technology. Its combination of offensive firepower, multi-mission adaptability, and STOL functionality presents a compelling case for its role in future combat scenarios. As development progresses, the Mojave holds promise to reshape the landscape of unmanned aerial warfare.

It's worth noting that the live-fire demonstration was funded entirely through GA-ASI's internal research and development budget, showcasing the company's commitment to advancing the frontiers of unmanned aerial systems.

https://alert5.com/2024/04/24/mojave-fires-the-dillonaero-dap-6-gun-pods/

https://www.ga-asi.com/ga-asi-mojave-lights-up-the-yuma-desert-in-live-fire-demonstration

[Harald]

Move over FARA: General Atomics pitching new Gray Eagle version for armed scout mission

General Atomics will also showcase its Mojave demonstrator for the first time during the Army Aviation Association of America conference in Denver, a company spokesman said.


General Atomics first revealed photos of the Mojave drone outfitted with M134 miniguns in January 2022.

 General Atomics is positioning a future version of its MQ-1C Gray Eagle combat drone as a potential alternative to the Army's now-canceled Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft effort, the president of its aeronautics unit told Breaking Defense.

The California-based defense firm intends to pitch a short takeoff and landing version of the Gray Eagle — what it calls Gray Eagle STOL — to fulfill the armed scout mission now that the service has halted work on a manned helicopter and shifted the focus to drones.

"We're trying to jump into that [opportunity]," Dave Alexander, who leads General Atomics' aeronautics unit, told Breaking Defense in a recent interview.

Not yet fully designed, a Gray Eagle STOL would build on the company's Mojave demonstrator, which has acted as a "proof of concept" to test capabilities that can be incorporated in future products, said General Atomics spokesman C. Mark Brinkley.

Mojave, whose existence was first reported by Breaking Defense in 2021, already shares common DNA with the extended-range version of the Gray Eagle, adding short takeoff and landing capability and the ability to carry a maximum payload of 16 Hellfire missiles — double that of the baseline MQ-1C.

In its most recent test on April 13 at Yuma Proving Grounds, the Mojave hit ground targets using miniguns mounted on its wings for the first time — providing an alternative to precision-guided missiles typically used by General Atomics drones, Brinkley said.

The company is showing off that Mojave demonstrator to service officials next week during the Army Aviation Association of America conference in Denver, Brinkley said. The aircraft will be displayed in a configuration with two M134 miniguns made by Dillon Aero mounted on its wings.

After decades of failed attempts at replacing the OH-58 Kiowa scout helicopter, service leaders announced in February their hunt would end with the canceled FARA program.

"We are learning from the battlefield — especially Ukraine — that aerial reconnaissance has fundamentally changed," Army Chief Gen. Randy George said at the time. "Sensors and weapons mounted on a variety of unmanned systems and in space are more ubiquitous, further reaching and more inexpensive than ever before."

The Army anticipates that that decision — coupled with ending production on the UH-60 V Black Hawk, keeping General Electric's Improved Turbine Engine Program (ITEP) in the development phase, and phasing Shadow and Raven unmanned aerial systems out of the fleet — will free up $4.5 billion between fiscal 2025-30, with the lion's share reinvested in aviation coffers.

So far, the plan is to give Boeing some of those dollars for CH-47F Block II Chinook production, a new multi-year procurement deal with Lockheed-Sikorsky for UH-60M Black Hawk aircraft, develop and buy unmanned aerial reconnaissance systems like the future tactical unmanned systems, and move out on the launched effects portfolio.

And while it has not yet announced new aviation requirements or program competitions in the wake of that FARA decision, companies like General Atomics are beginning to float potential options.

The goal of bringing Mojave to the show, Brinkley said, is to highlight the versatility that a STOL version of the Gray Eagle could bring to the Army, such as its ability to deploy launched effects and operate in austere environments or onboard ships. The company also intends to show a contested resupply pod that can be carried by the drone, allowing it to carry 1,000 pounds of cargo for ground resupply missions up to 500 kilometers away.

"The opportunity to use UAS [unmanned aerial system] in a new way is tremendous when we look at the requirements that FARA laid out and what FARA was trying to achieve," he said.

Mojave, or a purpose-built derivative, has yet to land its first customer, but Brinkley said interest is "significant, especially internationally following our Mojave carrier demo last year."

https://breakingdefense.com/2024/04/general-atomics-pitching-new-gray-eagle-version-for-armed-scout-mission/

[Harald]

How To Satisfy The Navy's Future Vertical Lift-Maritime Strike Needs With Bell's Rob Freeland

Bell sees a version of its V-280 Valor and its navalized V-247 Vigilant drone concept as the solution for the Navy's ambitious goals.



.../...

https://www.twz.com/air/how-to-satisfy-the-navys-future-vertical-lift-maritime-strike-needs-with-bells-rob-freeland

[Harald]

USMC will designate its Wild Weasel UAV as MQ-58B

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions announced the successful completion of the first phase of the U.S. Marine Corps' Penetrating Affordable Autonomous Collaborative Killer – Portfolio (PAACK-P) program. The accomplishment comes after a live flight test at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, where the Kratos XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) effectively collaborated with F-35 aircraft and demonstrated its electronic attack (EA) capabilities.



The XQ-58A successfully flew alongside two F-35s, showcasing its potential as a "loyal wingman" for manned fighter jets. Furthermore, the Valkyrie's onboard EA payload autonomously detected, identified, and geolocated enemy targets. This data was then transmitted to collaborating aircraft, enabling a coordinated electronic attack against those targets.

The XQ-58A's performance during the PAACK-P Phase 1 testing suggests its suitability for the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses (SEAD) role. By employing electronic jamming techniques, the XQ-58A can neutralize enemy air defense systems, paving the way for manned aircraft to conduct their missions with reduced risk.

The utilization of unmanned systems like the XQ-58A offers a significant cost advantage over traditional manned aircraft. This is particularly relevant for high-risk missions, where the potential loss of a pilot and an expensive fighter jet is a major concern.

The successful demonstration not only validates the XQ-58A's capabilities but also informs the development of the MQ-58B, the planned production variant. Data and lessons learned from the XQ-58A's performance will directly influence the design specifications for the MQ-58B, ensuring it meets the specific requirements of the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Expeditionary (MUX) Tactical Aircraft (TACAIR) for the SEAD role.

The successful demonstration represents a major milestone for the PAACK-P program and the future of Marine Corps unmanned aerial systems. The XQ-58A's combination of affordability, long-range flight capabilities, high speeds, and diverse payload options makes it a valuable asset for the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF). Lt. Col. Bradley Buick, of the Marine Corps' Cunningham Group, emphasized the importance of MUX TACAIR (tactical aircraft) like the XQ-58A, highlighting their potential to enhance the lethality and survivability of manned platforms within the MAGTF.

Kratos Defense & Security, the developer of the XQ-58A, partnered with Northrop Grumman (likely supplier of the EA suite) and various Department of Defense entities, including the Marine Corps itself, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)), the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) for the demonstration.

https://alert5.com/2024/04/03/usmc-will-designate-its-wild-weasel-uav-as-mq-58b/

https://ir.kratosdefense.com/news-releases/news-release-details/kratos-demonstrates-xq-58a-electronic-warfare-capabilities

[Harald]

How Marine MQ-9s Will Adapt For A Pacific Fight, Pave Way For Future Drones

Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One will get its first MQ-9s this summer along with a load of new systems and tactics to test.

Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron One (VMX-1), the specialized Marine Corps unit tasked with operationalizing innovations for the service's air arm, is about to receive two MQ-9 Reapers. The addition of the combat-proven drones into VMX-1's diverse stable will allow the squadron to deliver new capabilities to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF) and improve the ways the service's existing MQ-9s can be used in future high-end conflicts. It will also work to pave the way to an increasingly uncrewed future for the Corps.

.../...

https://www.twz.com/air/how-marine-mq-9s-will-adapt-for-a-pacific-fight-pave-way-for-future-drones

[Huzaar1]

Ik moet zeggen dat dit idd erg interessant is, ook de optie, onderzoek om dit bij helicopters toe te passen om inkomend grondvuur te bepalen.

Helaas is het nu met deze ontwikkelingen erg stil geworden.

Oekr gebruikt een ander systeem, door kaasland geleverd. Maar hebben ze zelf totaal gemodificeerd.

[Harald]

https://magazines.defensie.nl/landmacht/2018/09/12_innovatie_sensor_09-2018

Ik moet zeggen dat dit idd erg interessant is, ook de optie, onderzoek om dit bij helicopters toe te passen om inkomend grondvuur te bepalen.

Helaas is het nu met deze ontwikkelingen erg stil geworden.

[Huzaar1]

Niet iedereen is zo verstandig maar je mag van dit soort niveau militairen wel mogen verwachten dat men beter na denkt.

Maar het systeem op zich vind ik zeer interessant, ik kan me herinneren dat er ook enkele jaren geleden een NL bedrijf was die een geluidssensor ontwikkelde voor defensie. Dit was de Microflow, een systeem dat naar mijn idee makkelijk en relatief goedkoop door defensie aangekocht kan worden en (waar nodig) geplaatst kan worden om een gebied / object te beveiligen tegen drones.

Kon ik maar meer duiden over de rol die NLD hierin heeft gespeeld. Heel interessant.

[Harald]

Maar het systeem op zich vind ik zeer interessant, ik kan me herinneren dat er ook enkele jaren geleden een NL bedrijf was die een geluidssensor ontwikkelde voor defensie. Dit was de Microflow, een systeem dat naar mijn idee makkelijk en relatief goedkoop door defensie aangekocht kan worden en (waar nodig) geplaatst kan worden om een gebied / object te beveiligen tegen drones.

jij bedoeld dit, zie onderstaande artikel. Is getest bij de KL idd en is op missie getest in Mali

https://magazines.defensie.nl/landmacht/2018/09/12_innovatie_sensor_09-2018

[Parera]

Bedankt US top officer. Met zulke praatgrage vrienden heb je geen vijanden nodig. Dit was toch echt geen openbare en niet gerubriceerde informatie.

Wat een pannekoek

Niet iedereen is zo verstandig maar je mag van dit soort niveau militairen wel mogen verwachten dat men beter na denkt.

Maar het systeem op zich vind ik zeer interessant, ik kan me herinneren dat er ook enkele jaren geleden een NL bedrijf was die een geluidssensor ontwikkelde voor defensie. Dit was de Microflow, een systeem dat naar mijn idee makkelijk en relatief goedkoop door defensie aangekocht kan worden en (waar nodig) geplaatst kan worden om een gebied / object te beveiligen tegen drones.

[Huzaar1]

Thousands Of Networked Microphones Are Tracking Drones In Ukraine

Ukraine is using a network made up of thousands of acoustic sensors across the country to help detect and track incoming Russian kamikaze drones, alert traditional air defenses in advance, and also dispatch ad hoc drone hunting teams to shoot them down. This is according to the U.S. Air Force's top officer in Europe who also said the U.S. military is now looking to test this capability to see if it might help meet its own demands for additional ways to persistently monitor for, and engage drone threats.

Gen. James Hecker, head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), as well as Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA) and NATO's Allied Air Command, provided the details about Ukraine's acoustic sensor network and related air and missile defense issues at a press roundtable that The War Zone and other outlets attended earlier today. This gathering took place on the sidelines of this year's Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, which opened today.

https://www.twz.com/land/thousands-of-networked-microphones-are-tracking-drones-in-ukraine

Bedankt US top officer. Met zulke praatgrage vrienden heb je geen vijanden nodig. Dit was toch echt geen openbare en niet gerubriceerde informatie.

Wat een pannekoek

[Parera]

Thousands Of Networked Microphones Are Tracking Drones In Ukraine

Ukraine is using a network made up of thousands of acoustic sensors across the country to help detect and track incoming Russian kamikaze drones, alert traditional air defenses in advance, and also dispatch ad hoc drone hunting teams to shoot them down. This is according to the U.S. Air Force's top officer in Europe who also said the U.S. military is now looking to test this capability to see if it might help meet its own demands for additional ways to persistently monitor for, and engage drone threats.

Gen. James Hecker, head of U.S. Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), as well as Air Forces Africa (AFAFRICA) and NATO's Allied Air Command, provided the details about Ukraine's acoustic sensor network and related air and missile defense issues at a press roundtable that The War Zone and other outlets attended earlier today. This gathering took place on the sidelines of this year's Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium, which opened today.

https://www.twz.com/land/thousands-of-networked-microphones-are-tracking-drones-in-ukraine