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Lessons learned in Afghanistan will help improve UAVs By Gail Kaufman, Defense News Media Group
Although the U.S. military lost several Global Hawk and Predator UAVs in support of the war, the Air Force is already implementing lessons learned to improve these still developing systems. The Northrop Grumman-built Global Hawk, which logged more than 1,200 flight hours to support Operation Enduring Freedom, is already getting new wings and another engine, which will provide more room for sensors such as a signals intelligence payload, Connor said. The Predator UAV, built by General Atomics in San Diego, has not only killed al-Qaida operatives by launching Hellfire missiles, it has also been used to assist operational commanders with combat search-and-rescue missions. While the number of those air vehicles is limited, the Air Force is continuing to evolve the Predator’s systems. For example, after the successful launch of a 57-pound Finder UAV off a Predator’s wing this summer, the Air Force is now planning to equip the Predator with a chemical- and biological-agent detection sensor in the coming months. “You could see the [utility] this would [provide] to theater commanders if they [were] confronted with weapons of mass destruction,” Connor said. The Air Force has asked General Atomics to produce about two Predators a month. Next month, the service expects to receive its first production air vehicles equipped with wings that have hard points and laser turrets with a built-in movement tracking system. Meanwhile, the service is also working to develop the larger and faster Predator B version, which is called the Hunter Killer UAV. Air Combat Command recently told the program office that the 500-pound Joint Direct Attack Munition is the weapon of choice for the Predator B, Connor said. The UAV can carry about 3,000 pounds on its wings. Currently, the service is still defining the flight envelope for the Hunter Killer. The service bought the first two Predator Bs in October 2001. The next step will be to launch Hellfire anti-tank missiles, which would be followed by equipping the UAV with the JDAM. After the weaponization is proven, the service plans to improve the sensors, Connor said. The specific schedule for each of these activities was not disclosed. Back |
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coverage Capt. (S) Daniel Clark Duquette Brig. Gen. (S) Frank A. Panter, Jr. |
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