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Coming soon: attack of the killer UAVs
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| 17 August 2001 |
The
US Air Force (USAF) is considering a plan to test the Stinger air-to-air
missile aboard the General Atomics RQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) this winter, following its successful integration of the Hellfire
air-to-surface weapon. Other efforts to enhance Predator's roles include fitting a hyperspectral sensor, allowing it to detect and characterize targets hidden by camouflage or in deep shadow, and expanding its inter-operation with other platforms - such as the E-8 Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS) - and air operations centres.
Testing of Hellfire aboard Predator was divided into two phases. Phase 1, conducted at Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airfield near Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada during February, involved three low-altitude (2,000ft) firings of AGM-114C rounds; all hit their targets. The UAV carried the Raytheon AN/AAS-44(V) sensor turret, incorporating a laser designator in addition to its thermal imager, which had earlier been integrated with the vehicle for potential use in Kosovo. Targets were illuminated by the AAS-44 and a ground-based laser. The trials also tested communications employing C-band line-of-sight and Ku-band satellite links, both of which proved successful despite the latter's 1.5-2s transmission delay.
This was followed by Phase 2 at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division's China Lake facility in California, involving a single high-altitude shot of the AGM-114K variant. This incorporates a digital control system, allowing it to be programmed to dive following release. The missile is mounted 5º nose-down on the aircraft, which assists in engaging short-range targets. Phase 2 employed the Multi-spectral Targeting System (MTS), which incorporates a television camera in addition to a thermal imager and laser. The MTS demonstrated very low boresight error, according to General Atomics program manager Christopher Dusseault. Predator had earlier conducted a ground-based launch from on top of a hill at China Lake to check aspects such as the effects of heat and debris on launch. The telemetry round hits its tank target at 5km.
The main problem encountered during the trials program was backscatter resulting from reflection of the laser beam by atmospheric disturbances and particles. This was solved by locking the laser on to its target after, rather than before, missile launch.
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| Predator has completed an initial set of armament
trials with the Hellfire anti-tank missile. (Source: USAF) |