Before Predator: The Early History of USAF Remotely Piloted Aircraft Kenneth P. Katz 2013 SFTE 44th International/SETP Southwest Flight Test Symposium October 2013
Terminology Drone Aerial target Special purpose aircraft (SPA) Remotely piloted vehicle (RPV) Unmanned air vehicle (UAV) Unmanned air system (UAS) Remotely piloted airplane (RPA)
Kettering Bug
Reginald Denny
Radioplane OQ-3
Radioplane OQ-3
Culver PQ-14B
Radioplane OQ-19
Northrop Radioplane YQ-1B
Ryan XQ-2
Ryan Q-2A
Ryan Q-2C (BQM-34A)
BQM-34A Recovery
Northrop Radioplane XQ-4
QF-80
QB-17
Lockheed X-7
North American X-10
Ryan 147B Lightning Bug
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
Ryan 147SC (AQM-34L) Buffalo Hunter
Lockheed D-21 Tagboard
Lockheed D-21B Senior Bowl
Ryan 154 (AQM-91A) Compass Arrow
Ryan 154 (AQM-91A) Compass Arrow
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
Ryan BGM-34A Have Lemon
Boeing YQM-94A Compass Call-B Gull
Ryan YQM-98A Compass Call-R Tern
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
Ryan YBQM-145A Peregrine
Scathe Mean
Leading Systems Inc. Amber
GAASI = General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. GAASI Gnat-750
GAASI Predator
Lockheed Martin/Boeing RQ-3A Dark Star
Ryan (Northrop Grumman) RQ-4A Global Hawk
GAASI MQ-1B Predator
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.).
From Past to Present
Into the Future