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US Army studies potential for unmanned rotorcraft
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| 10 September 2001 |
Kim Burger JDW Staff Reporter
Washington DC
The US Army plans to begin researching a new unmanned combat armed rotorcraft (UCAR) in Fiscal Year 2002 (FY02), a system that could extend the reach of manned aviation operations as well as act as a substitute for human pilots in risky missions.
The army has requested about $13 million to begin the project. If Congress approves the FY02 budget request, the service would begin studying various concepts for a UCAR. Possibilities include a system that flies near the ground and operates in co-ordination with manned helicopters like the AH-64 Apache and RAH-66 Comanche. A UCAR might also fly independently, or team up with other unmanned air vehicles (UAVs).
"It's the beginnings of a major new thrust for us," said Mike Andrews, the army's chief scientist. "The idea is, ‘Can we design a rotorcraft system that gives us more agility, more ability to do things than we've ever done before?’"
The army will consider UAVs already in development like the A160 Hummingbird long-endurance, high-altitude rotorcraft as a potential UCAR, although it may decide to develop a new aircraft.
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| An early US Army UCAR design. The service will also consider platforms already in development such as the A160 long-endurance UAV (Source: US Army)) |