FLUG REVUE May 2002: UAVs gain importance

UAVS GAINING IMPORTANCE

By Karl Schwarz

The Predator and Global Hawk are currently the stars of the new breed of unmanned reconnaissance planes which, for example, performed valuable service during the war in Afghanistan and continue to be deployed there. As in many areas of defence technology, the Americans seem to have the edge here, not least as a result of massive investment.

Yet even on the other side of the Atlantic all good things come to an end. For example, Northrop Grumman has received only a single order for two RQ-4A Global Hawks to be built for the US Air Force (USAF) next year. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that even before the completion of development work the company is looking around for possible export customers. As well as Australia, its sights are set on the Bundeswehr which, despite empty coffers, dreams of its own high-altitude reconnaissance UAVs.

Northrop Grumman Global Hawk

EADS' Defence and Civil Systems Division is leading the advance party in this quest. According to Divisional Manager Tom Enders, his division plans to become more actively involved in the potential growth market. For this reason, a declaration of intent regarding co-operation on high altitude, long endurance (HALE) systems was signed with Northrop Grumman at the Farnborough Air Show in July 2000.

Specifically, among other things, there are plans to demonstrate the Global Hawk in Germany. It is expected that in the autumn an RQ-4 will be transported from the USA to a Bundeswehr air base close to the sea and will fly some missions. The aircraft is to be equipped during the trials with an ELINT (electronic intelligence) system produced by EADS subsidiary, Dornier GmbH. Installation tests have already been successfully completed.

The “Euro Hawk” is being promoted as an overall concept. It could, for example, serve as successor to the Br.1150 Atlantic in the SIGINT (signals intelligence) role, or it could be fitted with a European synthetic aperture radar and be used for battlefield surveillance.

However, when it comes to satisfying the European reconnaissance requirement, EADS is by no means out on a limb. STN ATLAS Elektronik is also keen to win some of the business and, after failing to win Northrop Grumman as an ally, it formed a teaming agreement with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of San Diego. This company is known for its RQ-1 Predator, a third squadron of which entered service with USAF in mid-March.

For the German requirement, however, the bigger Predator B, which is powered by a turboprop engine, is being offered. One prototype has been undergoing flight trials since February 2001. Despite the different performance spectrum, Predator B is described by General Atomics as “a low-cost alternative to Global Hawk [which] satisfies the most important requirements of the Germans”.

In any case, in STN the company has a partner that is highly experienced in UAV business. Formerly a part of Dasa but now under the ownership of Rheinmetall, it has been working in this area for over a decade.

The company's endeavours, which have not been plain sailing, were crowned with success in December 2001, when the Bundestag Budget Committee gave the go-ahead to serial production of the KZO unmanned air vehicle, previously known under the name of Brevel. In view of some earlier negative assessments of the system by the Federal Accounting Office, the contract contains a provision granting the right of notice without compensation if the still outstanding system qualification is not completed successfully.

It is planned to purchase six systems plus accessories in the period July 2004 to May 2007 at a cost of 276 million Euro. Each KZO system comprises ten UAVs, five recovery units and two ground systems consisting of ground control station and launch, maintenance and antenna units. Each of the new mechanised divisions of the army is to have one KZO battery.

The KZO will be deployed as a “flying eye” up to 50km behind enemy lines and will work with the artillery, providing data on fixed and moving targets. The equipment consists of an infra-red camera whose data will be downloaded directly to the command post via a Ku band antenna. Stealth materials will ensure that the UAV has a low radar signature, while an all-weather capability is now to be provided with hot air de-icing.

As well as the KZO, STN ATLAS Elektronik is also working on an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) known as the Taifun (“typhoon”). A development contract was awarded in July 1997. This runs to the end of 2004. From a technical viewpoint this UCAV is rated as very advanced. It is fitted with a radar search head and scans large areas of terrain independently looking for targets, which it then attacks from an altitude of around 4,000m. The UCAV is designed to take out tanks and other high-value targets with a shaped-charge warhead. It might also be used to attack helicopters.

From FLUG REVUE 5/2002

Last updated 10 April 2002

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