Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle System Demonstration Program First Flights and Beyond

1.

DARPA/USAF
Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
System Demonstration Program
First Flights and Beyond
T TO
Tactical Technology Office
®
18 July 2002
Col Michael Leahy, PhD
Program Director
DARPA/TTO
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #1 - Distribution Unlimited

2.

UCAV System Concept
• Revolutionary New Tactical Airpower
– Force Enabler - Preemptive and Reactive SEAD
– Provide Persistent All Weather Kinetic and
Electronic Attack Capability
– Augment Manned Force Structure
– New CONOPS for High Risk or High Payoff Missions
AWACS
Airborne
Imagery
JSTARS
National
Assets
• New Paradigm in Aircraft Affordability
– Reduced Acquisition Costs (>50% Reduction)
– Dramatically Lower O&S Cost (>75% Reduction)
– Maintain Mixed Force Structure
Prosecution of Advanced
IADS & Time Critical
Targets
Link
Spot
SAR
High Survivable Design
For First Day Penetration
AT3
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #4- Distribution Unlimited
2

3. UCAV Operational System (UOS)

MISSION CONTROL STATION
• Task Allocation by Phase of
Mission (FAO, AOR)
• Dynamic Mission Planning &
Replanning
• Multiple Vehicles-toOperator ~ 4:1
• Knowledge Based Functions
to Aid in Decision
Making/Mission Execution
• Object-Based Common
Software Architecture
F-16
Contingency
(FAO)
AOR
FAO C2
FAO C2
Spot
Link SAR
FAO
Link
AT3
Reactive SAM Site Preemptive
SUPPORT SYSTEM
• Flexible Transport or Self Deployment
• 10+ Year Storage
• Integrated Manned /
Unmanned Squadron
• Simulation Based Training
• Lean Logistics/PHM
• Supportable LO
COMMUNICATIONS
S/C Band LAN for LOS,
EHF MILSTAR & UHF DAMA SATCOM
MIDS Intra-flight Link
V/UHF Voice/ATC
AIR VEHICLE
• ~24,000 / 14,000 lb Gross/Empty Weight
• High subsonic med/high altitude
• Wide range of current & advanced weapons
• ESM & On-Board SAR Targeting Solution
• Affordable Stealth to the Next Level
F-117
66 ft
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release - Distribution Unlimited
3

4. One Program -- Four Main Thrusts

X-45A Check-Out
(Spiral 0)
Demonstrate UCAV technical feasibility,
military utility and operational value
Critical Demos
(Spiral 0)
X-45B
(Spiral 1)
Acquisition Planning
Rapidly field capabilities to support
Warfighter’s incremental CONOPS
(Spiral 2, 3,...)
98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
Spiral
UCAV
0/1System
-- System
Demo
Demo
Program
Program
10 10
SpiralBlock
2/Block
Block
20 20
Spiral
3/Block
Effects-Based Development
Block
30 30
Spiral
4/Block
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #7 - Distribution Unlimited
4

5. X-45A Configuration

3.7 ft
26.5 ft
33.8 ft
26.3 ft
UCAV X-45
Empty Weight:
8,000 lb
Fuel Volume:
2,690 lb
Payload Capability:
1,500 lb
Operating Altitude:
35,000 ft
Cruise Mach:
0.80
Honeywell F124-GA-100 Engine
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case #39929 slide #1 - Distribution Unlimited
5

6.

X-45A Vehicle Integration
Fuel Tanks Above Payload Bays, and
Between Wing Carry-Through Bulkheads
Two-Dimensional Vectoring
Exhaust Nozzle System
AlliedSignal F124-GA-100 Engine
Multiple TE Control
Surfaces
Detachable
Dry Wings
Full Size
Payload Bay
with Palletized
MMS, VMS, and
Flight Test
Equip
Fwd Retracting
Modified T-38 MLG
Full Size Payload Bay
With Multiple Bomb Rack for
JDAM or SDB
Modified
F-5E NLG
Nose Boom Air Data
UCAV X-45
Centerline-Integrated Propulsion
System with Top-Mtd Inlet
43o Leading/Trailing
Edge Alignment
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case #39900 slide #3 - Distribution Unlimited
6

7.

X-45A Avionics Installation
VMS Computers (2)
FAA Transponder
SATCOM
Power Amp
Features:
• Installs in RightHand Weapons Bay
• Dimensions:
• 12 Feet Long
• 2 Feet Wide
• 2 Feet High
• Weight: 600 lbs
• Pallet Serves as
Plenum for ECS
ESM Receiver
(TRECS)
T-RECS Recorder
FOCC Air Data Terminal
(L-Band Datalink)
UHF Transmitter/Receiver
(LOS and SATCOM)
MIDS-FDL
MMS Mission Processor
UCAV X-45
C-Band Transponder
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case #39900 slide #4 - Distribution Unlimited
7

8. X-45A Test Accomplishments

Both X-45A vehicles delivered to Dryden
First X-45A in Systems Check-Out
Structural Mode Interaction
Tow test
Combined Systems Test/EMC Safety Of Flight Test
System Build 1.03
Low Speed Taxi Test – Oct 01
Medium Speed Taxi Test – Feb 02
System Build 1.04
High Speed Taxi Test – Apr 02
System Build 1.05
First Flight – 22 May 02
Second Flight – 13 Jun 02
UCAV X-45
8

9.

X-45A First Flight
May 22, 2002
Objectives:
Flight Duration: 14 mins
• Safe first landing and gather data to
reduce risk for flight 2
• Gear down and reduced C&C
• Takeoff at 68% Fuel
• Rotation Speed: 154 knots
• Airspeed: 195 knots
• Altitude: 7,500 feet
• Landing Speed: 175 knots
Successfully demonstrated flight characteristics
and basic aspects of aircraft operations
UCAV X-45
9

10.

Take-Off & East Test Loop
T7: 7,500 CM 0
P52: 4,000 CM 1>3
To re-join East Loop
at 7,500 ft. Go-To
Route: eLoop
WP: T1
Else s/d @ to 5,000 to P34
T7
P52
T6
P51
Turn @
500 agl
set 195 kt.
T5
P50
T6: 7,500 CM 0
P51: 5,500 CM 1>3
T5: 7,500 CM 0
P50: 6,000 CM 1>3
T8
~1+20
Str/Desc
~1+45
Str/Lvl
4,000
T4
7,500
T1
5,000
~45 sec
Str/Lvl
Join East Loop
at 7,500 msl
T2
P34
UCAV X-45
T3
6,000
10

11.

Landing Lakebed 35
P39
2,269
GSI
3,069
IAF
P38
P37
4,000
lb35
Landing
Segment
5,000
P36
3,500
UCAV X-45
P35
P34
11

12.

X-45A 2nd Flight
June 13, 2002
Flight Duration: 31 mins, 37 seconds
Objectives:
• Conduct constant alpha air data
circles at 195 and 175 KCAS
• Conduct level flight accel/decels to
gauge power effects on air data
• Conduct waypoint turns at 175 KCAS
• Evaluate a lower landing speed of 170
KEAS
Flight was essentially flawless and all
objectives were met
UCAV X-45
12

13. System Check-Out Flight Layout

Flight envelope will be expanded following
this plan (notional):
• System Build 1.06 -- Aug 2002
– Flight 3: Swing Gear
– Flight 4: 250 KCAS at 15k ft
– Flight 5: Eval climb/descent
• System Build 1.07 -- Nov 2002
– Flight 6: 25k ft
– Flight 7: 0.75M at 35k ft
– Flight 8: Open Weapons Bay Door
SCO completion in Dec 2002
UCAV X-45
13

14. Spiral 0 Demo Recent Highlights

Mission Simulations
Weapons Loading
Maint/Repair Sim
Weapon Release/Initial Point
SAR Image Point
Threat 2
Target 2
Target 1
Containerization/Shipping
Wing Attachment
Threat 1
Early and Sustained Air Force Involvement
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #15 - Distribution Unlimited
14

15. Spiral 0 Demo End-State

• Multi-Vehicle Operations
UHF Satcom
Concept of Ops
Demo
Inter-Vehicle
Communications
– Inter-Vehicle Comm
– Dynamic/Reactive Taxi
– Coordinated Flight
» Rendezvous
» Escort Formations
» CAP/Loiter Patterns
» Collision Avoidance
– Contingency Management
– Distributed Control
– Dynamic Retasking
– Cooperative targeting
Multi-Vehicle
Distributed
Control
Dynamic
Retasking
Replanning
Multi-Vehicle
Coordinated
Flight
Weapon
Release
• Fixed Geometry Taxi
• Autonomous Ground Ops
• End-to-End Demonstration
– Preemptive Destruction (Block 2)
– Peacekeeping (Block 3)
PD SEAD CONOPS
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #22 - Distribution Unlimited
15

16. Spiral Development Approach

Core
Functionality
X-45A
UCAV X-45
Fieldable Air Vehicle
&
LO Supportability
X-45B
Payloads
&
Productionization
Future Missions
&
Upgrades
A-45
A-45
Block 10
Block n
16

17. X-45B: Spiral 1 Air Vehicle

Design Drivers
• Tool to Complete Spiral 1 Demonstrations
• Incorporate X-45A Lessons Learned
• Demo Production of Affordable LO Airframe
• Integration of LO Apertures & Antennas
• Integrated Weapons & Distributed Avionics
• Maintenance of LO Airframe Materials
• Incorporation of C2 Open Architecture
• Prove All Critical Aspects of CONOPS
• Robust Baseline for Operational Aircraft
Refined Airframe with Best Available Engine
Best Available/Affordable Survivability Suite
SAR, Multi-ship ESM, MILSTAR, and Air Refueling Provisions
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #24 - Distribution Unlimited
17

18. X-45B Configuration

4 ft
36 ft
47 ft
32 ft
UCAV X-45
Empty Weight:
14,000 lb
Fuel Volume:
5,400 lb
Payload Capability:
2,000 lb
Operating Altitude: 40,000 ft
Cruise Mach:
0.85
GE F404-GE-102D Engine
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case #39929 slide #2 - Distribution Unlimited
18

19.

Spiral 1 Demo Highlights
• Battlespace Interoperability
Deployment
Cooperative Manned / UCAV Operations
All UCAVs Used
Base Operations
PD SEAD Mission
Mission Planning
• Intelligent Multi-Vehicle Flight Ops
– Dynamic Replanning/Autorouting for
Survivability & Targeting Updates
– Attack Planner with Stores Management
– CM Situational Awareness & Response
– Multi-ship Combat Operations
• Supportability
Deployed MCS
Focused on SEAD/EA/Strike
UCAV X-45
– Safe Operation around Manned Aircraft
– Use Off-board Targeting Info
– Deployment/Weapon loading/Turn Time
– LO Maintainability Evaluation
• Graduation Exercise
– Operate in a Joint Strike Force with
Manned Aircraft
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #28 - Distribution Unlimited
19

20.

UCAV Technology Base
Current Critical Focus Areas
SAR
Engine
Development
Develop limited life, fuel efficient, affordable
engine for insertion into UOS
Develop SAR that is conformal to existing
moldlines (LO), minimize apertures
In Flight
Refueling
Apertures
RWR
GPS
MILSTAR
ESM
UHF SATCOM
MIDS/IFF
Flush Air Data Port
Develop affordable low observable avionics
apertures.
UCAV X-45
Develop capability for in flight refueling, to extend
mission range.
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #30 - Distribution Unlimited
20

21. UCAV Path to Combat Ops

FY98
FY99
FY00
Vision
FY01
FY02
FY03
FY04
Advanced Technology Development
UOS Analysis
FY05
FY06
FY07
Risk Reduction & Operational Evaluation
System Demonstration
Program
Transfer to
System A Design/Fab/Int/SCO
X-45A Rollout
Air Force
Block 1 S/W & Demos
Block 2 S/W & Demos
System Block Evolution
1 – Single vehicle
2 – Multi-vehicle
3 – Smart single vehicle
4 – Smart multi-vehicle
5 – Joint exercise with
manned systems
Block 3 S/W & Demos
UOS Refinement
System B Design/Fab/Integ/SCO
Spiral 0
X-45B Rollout
Block 4 S/W & Demos
Spiral 1
Spiral 2
Block 5 S/W & Demos
Incubation
-3
-2
FY08
Program Cycle Timeline
-1
Effects Based Development
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
UOS Refinement
Development
ATP
Software Build & Test
Fabrication & Assembly
Operational Assessment
User Assessment
UCAV X-45
21

22. Summary

X-45A flight testing proceeding -- first two flights complete
– System Check Out (SCO) flights complete end of fall 2002
Block 2 software in work
– Targeting multi-vehicle flight tests summer 2003
X-45B system design underway
– Defining the requirements for a “fieldable prototype”
– Solid foundation for early operational assessments
Acquisition program funded -- planning underway
– Pushing to field systems for early operational assessment
– Continuing to lean forward on innovative acquisition approaches
UCAV X-45
PUBLIC RELEASE
Approved for Public Release Case # 39746 slide #33 - Distribution Unlimited
22

23.

UCAV X-45
23