UAV Weapons Integration Challenges vs Traditional Fast Jet 2 nd June 2015 Colin Gambrill, Chief Engineer

Transcription

1 UAV Weapons Integration Challenges vs Traditional Fast Jet 2 nd June 2015 Colin Gambrill, Chief Engineer Compiled by: Lee Parnell, Senior Project Engineer harris.com Harris Proprietary Information Presentation Name 1

2 Proprietary Data This presentation contains data, as indicated, which is proprietary to EDO MBM Technology Ltd. It should not be transmitted to any other organisation or individual without the prior written permission of EDO MBM Technology Ltd Export Controlled Technology This presentation has been checked in accordance with UK DTI Export Control Procedures and has been approved Cleared for Public Release EDO MBM Technology Ltd 2015 harris.com 2

3 Agenda > Prior Experience/Requirements on Manned Aircraft (Where we ve been) > Current Issues with UAV Integration (Where we are) > Future Development Paths (Where we re going) 3

4 A brief on the history of development of stores release PRIOR EXPERIENCE / REQUIREMENTS ON MANNED AIRCRAFT 4

5 Manned Aircraft In the Beginning Man in the loop targeting Guaranteed to launch when commanded Providing its not too cold Primitive weapon safety Multiple carriage somewhat tricky Safety has always been paramount A crew member of a British SS 'Z' Class airship about to throw a bomb from the rear cockpit of the gondola. 5

6 The last 100 years in 60 seconds 6

7 Current Fast Jet Interfaces (Typhoon with EPWII(UK)) Arming Shearwire Rear Lug LEFA Wing Release Shearwire MIL-STD-1760 MSI FRCS Umbilical Offshot - Front Shearwire to Thermal Battery - Forward lug 7

8 Manned Aircraft In the Beginning So, fast jets require: Two lugs (for all but practice bombs) Dumb bombs need a host of shearwires, LEFA, mechanical arming switches Smart bombs need: Communication umbilical with a quick release connector At least two arming methods, one of which is the 1760 cable Early smart bombs may still need some legacy interfaces Rails are easier but still require an electrical connector and mechanical lugs. 8

9 A brief on the development of stores release on UAVs CURRENT PROGRESS / ISSUES WITH UAV WEAPON INTEGRATION 9

10 UAV Weapon Integration In the beginning Ignoring WWII parasite bombers, first examples of armed UAV are: Teledyne Ryan AQM-34 Firebee Armed with AGM-64 Maverick General Atomic MQ-1 Predator Armed with AGM-114 Hellfire Forty Years apart and both integrated a rail launched Air To Ground Weapon why? 10

11 UAV Weapon Integration In the beginning Rails are relatively light Rails are relatively simple Connector to store built in Relatively simple interface to aircraft All store interfaces built into rail Weapons are relatively good bang to weight and don t require fancy bombing computers or manoeuvers for accuracy But rails are limited. Unpowered stores not compatible. 11

12 UAV Weapon Integration Platform Requirements Medium Altitude Long Endurance - MALE and smaller introduce unique challenges Weight is critical. Heavy equipment = less endurance 20kg light pyro rack too heavy for 200kg Tactical UAV Don t need gas ejection, but do need something more than gravity Size is critical. Big ERU = big cross section = less endurance. Stores are small 10kg Micro-bomb to minimize endurance impact Endurance is king 12

13 UAV Weapon Integration Platform Requirements If store weighs 10kg and only dropped under gravity with minimal assist: Then 90kg disconnect force for 1760 connector won t work Plus even Size 17 JMMI Connector bulky on store and airframe. Then 90kg shear force for shearwire won t work Even 15kg shearwires too much Even 100lb class lugs are bulky 13

14 Concepts in development FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PATHS 14

15 Stores Micro munitions (<50lbs) Thales Rocketsan Raytheon Concept carrier Textron 15

16 Release Units Challenges: Dual lugs or Single lugs Ejection force Small foldable lugs Standard Low force arming process Electrical interface standardisation Bolt on Hardback interface plate Small connector Enhanced ejection Gnat Hornet 16

17 Future Concepts Internal Carriage of Small Weapons For future UCAV 17

18 UAV Weapons Integration Challenges vs Traditional Fast Jet Thank you for listening Questions? 18