Ideal Aerosmith unveils Troublemaker attack drone
An artistic impression of Ideal Aerosmith's Troublemaker long-range, attritable UAV (Ideal Aerosmith)
Ideal Aerosmith announced its Troublemaker Group 3 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in a statement on 8 October. The system is intended for one-way attack, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and electronic warfare (EW), and teaming and decoy operations, according to a factsheet provided to Janes .
The company established its Government Systems division 2.5 years ago to pursue defence contracts, Dave Markert, senior vice-president and general manager of Ideal Aerosmith Government Systems, told Janes on 8 October.
The division started with a US Navy sponsorship and funding, taking Troublemaker from contract award to first flight in four months and 10 days, he said.
Specifications
Troublemaker has a maximum take-off weight of 110 lb (50 kg), payload of 30 lb (13.6 kg), wingspan of 15.19 ft (4.6 m), fuselage length of 6.95 ft (2.1 m), and is powered by a 6-hp internal combustion engine, the factsheet said.
It can be equipped with EMB5 radios or Starlink satellite communications. Unit cost is estimated at less than USD150,000 at scale production, the factsheet noted.
The aircraft has a “long, slim main fuselage, it's about a foot wide, high-mounted [wing], high-aspect wing ratio”, Shane Brady, vice-president of advanced programs for Ideal Aerosmith, told Janes during the same interview, noting that it is built for endurance.
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