Before Predator: The Early History of USAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft

Transcription

1 Before Predator: The Early History of USAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft Kenneth P. Katz 2013 SFTE 44th International/SETP Southwest Flight Test Symposium October 2013

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3 Terminology Drone Aerial target Special purpose aircraft (SPA) Remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) Unmanned air system (UAS) Remotely piloted airplane (RPA)

4 Kettering Bug

5 Reginald Denny

6 Radioplane OQ-3

7 Radioplane OQ-3

8 Culver PQ-14B

9 Radioplane OQ-19

10 Northrop Radioplane YQ-1B

11 Ryan XQ-2

12 Ryan Q-2A

13 Ryan Q-2C (BQM-34A)

14 BQM-34A Recovery

15 Northrop Radioplane XQ-4

16 QF-80

17 QB-17

18 Lockheed X-7

19 North American X-10

20 Ryan 147B Lightning Bug

21 Strategic Photo Reconnaissance Options 1960s Option Advantages Disadvantages Supersonic high-altitude manned aircraft (A-12 Oxcart) Reconnaissance satellite (KH-1 through KH-4 Corona) RPA (Ryan 147) Flexibility Avoid most threats with its high speed, altitude and stealth Long range with aerial refueling Invulnerability to air defenses National sovereignty does not extend into space Flexibility No risk to crew Risk to crew A surface-to-air missile can fly faster and higher Extraordinarily difficult technical challenges Lack of reliability Predictable trajectory Little maneuverability Analysis must wait for film to be returned to earth Inferior photographic quality Complexity of film capsule recovery Lack of reliability Poor navigation accuracy Complexity of launch and recovery Short range compared to manned aircraft with aerial refueling Vulnerability to air defenses

22 Ryan 147SC (AQM-34L) Buffalo Hunter

23 Lockheed D-21 Tagboard

24 Lockheed D-21B Senior Bowl

25 Ryan 154 (AQM-91A) Compass Arrow

26 Ryan 154 (AQM-91A) Compass Arrow

27 Strategic Photo Reconnaissance Options 1970s Option Advantages Disadvantages Supersonic high-altitude manned aircraft (SR-71A Senior Crown) Reconnaissance satellite with film return (KH-9 Hexagon) Reconnaissance satellite with digital sensors and downlink (KH-11 Kennan with Satellite Data System relay) RPA (Ryan 154/AQM-91A Compass Arrow) Flexibility Reliability Avoid most threats with its high speed, altitude and stealth Long range with aerial refueling Multi-sensor capability Invulnerability to air defenses National sovereignty does not extend into space Photographic coverage and resolution Invulnerability to air defenses National sovereignty does not extend into space Near-real time image downlink Flexibility No risk to crew Risk to crew A surface-to-air missile can fly faster and higher Diplomatic constraints against overflights of certain nations Predictable trajectory Little maneuverability Analysis must wait for film to be returned to earth Complexity of film capsule recovery Predictable trajectory Little maneuverability Digital photograph coverage and resolution generally adequate but inferior to film Reliability inferior to manned aircraft Some vulnerability to missiles and manned interceptors Complexity of launch and recovery Short range compared to manned aircraft with aerial refueling Diplomatic constraints against overflights of certain nations

28 Ryan BGM-34A Have Lemon

29 Boeing YQM-94A Compass Call-B Gull

30 Ryan YQM-98A Compass Call-R Tern

31 Tactical Strike and Reconnaissance Options 1970s Option Advantages Disadvantages Manned tactical aircraft (A-7, A-10, F-4, RF-4C, F-16, F-111) Flexibility Responsiveness Reliability Air-to-air capability Aircrew has situational awareness to respond to threats and opportunities Aircraft can fit in hardened aircraft shelters Risk to crew Armed RPA (BGM-34C) No risk to crew Reliability inferior to manned aircraft Poor navigation accuracy Complexity of launch and recovery with attendant low sortie rates Vulnerability of launch airplanes and recovery helicopters on the ground and in the air Vulnerability of datalink to jamming and interference Low bandwidth and line-of-sight limitations of datalink

32 Ryan YBQM-145A Peregrine

33 Scathe Mean

34 Leading Systems Inc. Amber

35 GAASI = General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. GAASI Gnat-750

36 GAASI Predator

37 Lockheed Martin/Boeing RQ-3A Dark Star

38 Ryan (Northrop Grumman) RQ-4A Global Hawk

39 GAASI MQ-1B Predator

40 Conclusions US Air Force RPAs have a long history. The primary obstacle to RPA deployment has been technological, not institutional and cultural resistance. Once adequate navigation, communications and sensor technology became available, the US Air Force rapidly adopted RPAs. RPAs have thrived under unconventional sponsorship and program management (Big Safari, CIA, DARPA, NRO) and using boutique contractors (Radioplane, Ryan, GAASI, Leading Systems Inc.).

41 From Past to Present

42 Into the Future