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El INTA integrará un UAV con pilas de combustible en mayo
29/04/2010 (Infodefensa.com) Madrid
El Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial (INTA) tiene previsto comenzar en mayo con la integración final en el prototipo de vuelo de su primer UAV de pilas de combustible, más conocido como proyecto AVIZOR, según el Boletín de Observación Tecnológica en Defensa.
La revista, que publica la dirección general de Armamento y Material del Ministerio de Defensa español, explica en su último número que los técnicos del INTA están realizando diferentes ensayos tanto del sistema de pila de combustible como del sistema de almacenamiento en sus instalaciones del Área de Energías Renovables.
"Se han realizado los ensayos del motor eléctrico en las instalaciones del Servicio de Actuación de Motor y Vehículos del INTA y se están realizando diferentes trabajos relacionados con la integración de todos los equipos en el modelo de pruebas del proyecto", afirma Graciano Martínez Fuente en el artículo citado.
El proyecto AVIZOR consiste en sustituir en los en los vehículos aéreos no tripulados desarrollados por el INTA para misiones de vigilancia y observación (SIVA) el sistema de propulsión convencional por uno basado en pilas de combustible tipo PEM (Proton Exhange Membrane).
Este sistema con motor eléctrico tiene como principales ventajas: Baja detectabilidad, alta disponibilidad, alta eficiencia, bajos niveles de mantenimiento y bajos niveles de contaminación, entre otras.
El prototipo en que trabajan los técnicos del INTA tiene un peso máximo del avión es de 300 kg, la autonomía de aproximadamente 1 hora y una altura máxima de entre 1.000 y 3.000 m.
El sistema de pila de combustible a instalar en el AVIZOR consta de:
- Un stack o apilamiento de celdas de combustible, con una potencia media máxima de 27 kW, trabajando en modo dead-end
- Un sistema de refrigeración con agua desionizada como refrigerante con capacidad de disipar 22kW con un caudal de 1900 l/h
- Utilización de oxigeno como oxidante, evitando la utilización de compresor de aire y sistema de humificación de gases, y
- Un sistema auxiliar de energía formado por 110 baterías ion-litio capaz de aportar una potencia de 8kW durante dos minutos.
Para esta aplicación, se considerarán solamente motores sin escobillas o brushless, ya que, de esta manera ocasional, los escobillas pueden ser peligrosas en presencia de gases de las características del hidrógeno y oxigeno.
El motor eléctrico proporciona una potencia de 30 kW en funcionamiento continuo, pudiendo suministrar 50 kW durante aproximadamente 90 segundos.
* Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) and Bell Helicopter, a Textron Company (NYSE:TXT) have joined forces to develop and demonstrate Fire-X, a new medium-range vertical unmanned aerial system (VUAS).
* The Fire-X system integrates the mature unmanned systems architecture developed in the U.S. Navy's MQ-8B Fire Scout program with the Bell 407 helicopter, an FAA-certified helicopter that's been in commercial service since 1996.
* Fire-X represents Northrop Grumman's entry in an anticipated competition by the U.S. Navy in 2011 to demonstrate a new medium-range UAS.
* Fire-X's first flight is expected by the end of CY2010. The development and demonstration program is being funded entirely by Northrop Grumman and Bell Helicopter.
* Fire-X will carry ISR sensors, but will also offer military users enhanced cargo hauling, payload, and endurance capabilities. It is being designed to operate with nearly any type of current or future military standards-based control segment, including the Navy's Tactical Control Station, and the U.S. Army's One System® ground control station
* Fire-X will be backed by Bell Helicopter's global logistics support, training, and industry-leading customer service. Bell's customer service has been rated number one for the last 16 years.
Addressing the growing demand for tactical, medium altitude long endurance (MALE) UAV platforms, TAI (Turkish Aerospace Industries) has unveiled its latest UAV called TIHA. The new TIHA weighs 1,500 kg (maximum takeoff weight) and has a wingspan of 17 meters.
Configured to carry multiple payloads weighing up to 250 kg, the TIHA carries 250 kg of fuel, enabling a 24 hour mission at an altitude of 30,000 feet. The TIHA will be able to cruise at a speed of 250 knots. The TIHA system is developed for day and night missions, providing real-time image intelligence for surveillance as well as detection, identification and tracking of fixed and moving targets.
NAVY LEAGUE SEA AIR SPACE, WASHINGTON '' 3 May 2010 '' General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA‑ASI), a leading manufacturer of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), tactical reconnaissance radars, and surveillance systems, today introduced Sea AvengerTM, a carrier-based derivative of its Predator® C Avenger® UAS, to fulfill the U.S. Navy's need for an unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (UCLASS) system. The company formally proposed Sea Avenger to the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) via a Request for Information (RFI) submitted on 30 April.
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Like Predator C Avenger, Sea Avenger presents a low-risk, high technology ready procurement option as it leverages more than 18 years of Predator-series UAS development, manufacturing, and system support, along with one million flight hours of operational experience. In addition, many Predator-series elements, components, and subsystems already provide mature, proven, and affordable mission capabilities desired by the Navy for a UCLASS system.
Anticipating a future requirement for a carrier-based UAS, GA-ASI designed specific features into its Predator C Avenger to facilitate subsequent development of an aircraft uniquely suitable for carrier operations that would also integrate seamlessly into the carrier air wing. These include a highly fuel-efficient engine and inlet design, retractable electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, internal weapons bay, and folding wings. The aircraft's structure was also designed with the flexibility to accommodate carrier suitable landing gear, tail hook, drag devices, and other provisions for carrier operations.
Elbit Systems has secured the launch order for its new Hermes 900 unmanned air vehicle, with the purchase forming part of a roughly $50 million deal with the Israeli defence ministry.
Also covering a further batch of smaller Hermes 450s, the contract will lead to deliveries over the next three years, says Elbit.
Based on the Israeli company's Hermes 450 design, which has now accumulated more than 170,000 flight hours, the Hermes 900 can operate at altitudes above 30,000ft (9,150m).
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First flown in Israel last December, the tactical UAV has a wingspan of 15m and a maximum take-off weight of 1,100kg (2,420lb), including a payload of up to 300kg.
Northrop y Bell se asocian para desarrollar una versión no tripulada del Bel 407
Northrop Grumman y Bel Helicopter van a desarrollar conjuntamente este año un helicóptero no tripulado para el mercado militar.
El plan de las compañías para desarrollar una versión no tripulada del Bell 407 fue anunciado el lunes en el mitin anual de la Liga Naval en Washington. El anuncio coincidió con una solicitación formal de información de la US Navy sobre posibles sistemas no tripulados de despegue y aterrizaje vertical.
El programa, que por ahora se le conoce como “Fire-Xâ€, usará los controles que Northrop ha desarrollado estos últimos años para el VTUAV MQ-8B Fire Scout en el mayor y más capaz helicóptero de Bell. “Parece que la Navy quiere un UAV más capaz en el futuro”dijo un ejecutivo de Northrop. Combinando el sistema no tripulado “demostrado y probado”de Northrop con el Bell 407 da a los socios una solución de bajo costo y bajo riesgo para demostrar la capacidad a las Fuerzas Armadas. El US Army también está interesado en usar helicópteros no tripulados para reconocimiento, combate y abastecimiento.
The US Army surpassed the one million UAV flight hour mark in April, and is now flying up to 25,000 UAV flight hours per month in support of combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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The hand-held Raven UAS, medium-altitude Extended Range Multi-Purpose (ERMP) UAS and the hover-and-stare, two-foot long, vertical take-off gas-powered Micro Air Vehicle (gMAV) are among the new UAVs added to the fleet in the last seven to eight years; the Army now operates 87 Shadow UAS systems, 6 Hunter systems, 9 ERMP variants, 1,300 Raven systems and 16 gMAV systems.
ST. LOUIS, May 10, 2010 -- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] today unveiled the fighter-sized Phantom Ray unmanned airborne system, a test bed for advanced technologies.
“We are on a fast track, and first flight is in sight,”said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Phantom Works. “Phantom Ray is on schedule to fly in December, about two years after this project began. This is a tremendous accomplishment for Boeing and the Phantom Ray team.â€
Phantom Ray is scheduled to begin taxi tests this summer. The first flight in December will be followed by up to nine additional flights over approximately six months. Phantom Ray is designed to support potential missions that may include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; electronic attack; strike; and autonomous aerial refueling.
07:40 GMT, May 10, 2010 defpro.com | Despite having been deployed to Afghanistan since 17 May, the German Armed Forces‘ newest reconnaissance asset, the Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) has only had few chances to take a glimpse of the country from above. The is basically due to a minor incident at the end of the unmanned aircraft's first flight: after having completed a successful flight and landing, the taxiing Heron collided for, so far, undisclosed reasons with a parking C-160 transport aircraft, damaging both aircraft. Since 29 April, the German ISAF troops resumed flight operations with the Heron and carry out initial trials, scheduled to last for several weeks.
As the German Ministry of Defence (MoD) recently explained, portraying the UAV's current activities in Afghanistan, the trials are to prove whether the system meets the performance requirements and will deepen the operators' experience of the planned operational procedures. As soon as the trials have been successfully completed, the Heron is to be transferred to its daily intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) duty with the ISAF troops in northern Afghanistan.
The Bundeswehr has leased three Heron 1 systems, including four ground stations, form Israel's IAI for an initial one-year period with an option for a two-year extension. The Heron's have been selected as an “interim solution”for Germany's SAATEG project (imaging surveillance system for the depth of the deployment theatre), for which the Bundeswehr also considered to buy the US MQ-9 Reaper (formally Predator B) of a “domestic”solution by EADS. However, both alternatives were considered too expensive which in consequence led to the leasing of the Israeli unmanned air system (UAS).
By Craig Hoyle
Sagem will move its Patroller unmanned air vehicle to the French air force's Istres flight-test centre this week, having recently completed a third series of trials with the developmental system.
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Flight tests conducted from Cergy-Pontoise airfield near Paris from 22-30 April validated the design's triple-redundant avionics equipment and showcased the performance of its Sagem Euroflir electro-optical/infrared sensor and Ku-band datalink.
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An operational version of the medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV would offer operators a mission endurance of 20-30h, with the type to fly at up to 25,000ft (7,620m).
"Patroller meets virtually all French requirements for long-endurance drones, at a reasonable cost," says Sagem. Future system options include the addition of satellite communication equipment, pod-mounted sensors and potentially air-launched weapons, it adds.
(Source: US Department of Defense; issued May 10, 2010)
AeroVironment, Inc., Simi Valley, Calif., was awarded a $11,198,967 firm-fixed-price contract to definitize and exercise not-to-exceed fiscal 2010 option for 113 full rate production Raven systems, 113 Raven initial spare packages, and Raven engineering services.
This effort procures 63 Raven systems; 63 Raven initial spare packages; Raven engineering services; and logistics support for the family of systems proof of principle.
Work is to be performed in Simi Valley, Calif., with an estimated completion date of Jan. 30, 2011. One bid was solicited with one bid received.
Boeing presenta el demostrador no tripulado Phantom Ray
Boeing presentó hoy el Phantom Ray, un UAV con el tamaño de un caza que es un demonstrador de tecnologías avanzadas. Todo va según el plan y se espera que vuele en diciembre, dos años después de que empezara el proyecto. Phatom Ray empezará haciendo pruebas de taxi este verano, y el vuelo en diciembre será el primero de diez que se efectuaran en los seis meses siguientes. Phatom Ray se ha diseñado para que pueda realizar misiones que incluyan la inteligencia, vigilancia y reconocimiento (ISR), la supresión de defensas aéreas enemigas, guerra electrónica, ataque, y reabastecimiento de combustible en vuelo.
Los primeros vuelos probaran sus cualidades de vuelo y después los sistemas y misiones a ser probados dependerán de las necesidades futuras de las fuerzas armadas. Phatom Ray es un desarrollo basado en el X-45C y ha sido construido por la división Phantom Works de Boeing
Fuente: http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=1202
El US Army empieza a usar aerostatos en Afganistán
El US Army ha empezado a usar aerostatos en Afganistán para vigilar los alrededores de sus bases. El Sistema de Vigilancia Persistente usa un aerostato, conectado por un cable a la estación de control en tierra, que porta cámaras día/noche que permiten vigilar el perímetro de la base. Ya hay siete sistemas instalados en Afganistán y se espera que el número llegue a 31 a finales de este año. Los sistemas están siendo operados por contratistas civiles. Por ahora los aerostatos están equipados con el sensor MX-15, de múltiples campos de visión y aumentos, pero se prevé que en el futuro se añadan otros sensores.
14:11 GMT, May 20, 2010 HUNT VALLEY, Md. | AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today that Sweden's lead system integrator, Saab AB (publ), has selected AAI's Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (TUAS) for use by the Swedish armed forces. As the winner of a competition conducted by Saab on behalf of the Swedish Ministry of Defence, AAI has contracted to provide two Shadow 200 systems and associated services under the $31.4 million award.
(Source: Textron Systems; issued May 19, 2010)
HUNT VALLEY, Md. --- AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company, announced today that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) have amassed a record 500,000 flight hours, roughly 90 percent of which have been in support of U.S. Army and Marine Corps combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Integrated Systems Air Combat Systems, San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $303,337,052 contract which will provide production of two Global Hawk Block 30 air vehicles, two Global Hawk Block 40 air vehicles, and related program sustaining support efforts. At this time, $17,681,554 has been obligated. 303 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-09-C-4001 P0004).
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Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., San Diego, Calif., was awarded a $30,000,000 contract which will provide for congressionally mandated advance procurement long-lead associated with two Block 30 and two Block 40 Global Hawk air vehicles; two in-line airborne signals intelligence payloads; two multi-platform radar technology insertion program sensors; two in-line sensors; and other items and activities required to protect the production schedule for Lot 10. At this time, the entire amount has been obligated. 303 AESG/SYK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity (FA8620-10-C-4000).
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., Poway, Calif., was awarded on May 14 a $195,510,000 fixed-price-incentive-fee contract for the procurement of supplemental hardware, low-rate initial production in support of the Extended Range Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aircraft System and hardware in support of Communications-Electronic Research Development and Engineering Center.
The RAF's Reaper programme has achieved the milestone of providing more than 10,000 hours of armed overwatch in support of UK and coalition forces in Afghanistan.
The UK Reaper Remotely Piloted Air System (RPAS) has been deployed to Afghanistan since October 2007 and provides a persistent, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capability.
Since November 2009, Reaper has been supporting operations 24-hours-a-day and more Reaper Remotely Piloted Aircraft are planned to be delivered later this year.
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