1. May 10, 2011
Uas News Digest
Northrop Grumman Unveils
Fir ebi rd
Photo: Courtesy Northrop Grumman

2. UAS News Digest
Director
COL Grant Webb, USA
Creative Director
Ms. Sue Boozer
The UAS News Digest is a weekly
compilation of published items and
commentary concerning defense
related Unmanned Aircraft Systems
(UAS) issues. The UAS News
Digest is an internal management EXSUM: This week’s UAS News Digest features several new aircraft.
tool intended to serve the Northrop Grumman announced its new optionally piloted Firebird
informational needs of DoD officials aircraft. Turkish Aerospace Industries showcased their new rotary
in the continuing assessment of
defense policies, programs and aircraft at this year’s International Defense Industry Fair in Turkey.
actions. Further reproduction or
redistribution for private use or gain
is subject to original copyright
restrictions. Contents
The UAS News Digest is compiled
5 News Breaks
by the Joint Unmanned Systems
Center of Excellence (JUAS COE)
at Creech AFB, Nevada. 8 Miniature Liquid Level Sensors Improve Mission
Optimization for UAVs
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3. Web Articles
Alenia Aeronautica Plans to Go It Alone With MALE UAV Project
(Flightglobal)
Alenia Aeronautica is looking for a partner to develop a medium-altitude, long-endurance
unmanned air system to rival the Franco-British venture announced earlier this year by
BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation.
Photo Gallery: Stealth Drone’s First Flight
(Wired Magazine – Danger Room)
Boeing announced Tuesday that its stealthy killer drone the “Phantom Ray” had flown for
the first time. The flight, from Edwards Air Force Base, California, lasted just 17 minutes.
Improved AirMule Resumes Flight Testing
(Flightglobal)
The prototype of Urban Aeronautics' AirMule ducted-fan unmanned air vehicle has
resumed flight testing after the company completed a four-month systems and structural
upgrade. According to the Israeli company, the AirMule is now flying with an expanded
suite of sensors and a new, energy-absorbing wheeled landing gear.
China Targets UAS as Growth Sector
(Aviation Week)
The display of dozens of unmanned-aircraft models at last November’s Zhuhai air show
made it clear that China, industrially and militarily, is moving rapidly to catch up—and
perhaps ultimately overtake—the West in this burgeoning sector of aerospace.
A Drone for the Air Force is What They Are Aiming For
(Gulf News)
Abu Dhabi: Designing an unmanned aircraft for the UAE Air Force is topmost on the
minds of five Emirati students who will travel to the US later this year for an international
convention on unmanned aircraft. The five-member team won an all-expense-paid trip to
the US to participate in the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International
(AUVSI) convention by winning a competition to design, build, and pilot a remote-
controlled unmanned aircraft.
Arlington Police to Keep Aerial Drone for Surveillance
(KRISTV - NBC)
An unmanned drone may soon help Arlington, Texas police provide a watchful eye over
the city. Grant money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security brought the city's
first unmanned drone for the Super Bowl, but Arlington hopes to put it to use full time.
Predator Drone Program Seen as Valuable Weapon Against Terror
(The Press-Enterprise)
Inland Rep. Jerry Lewis could never have given the foundering Predator program the
$400 million boost it needed 15 years ago under the nation's current policy against
earmarks, the oft-criticized spending directives that congressional members, until
recently, slipped into federal spending bills. "While earmarks are off board at this
moment, they are not the center of original sin," said Lewis, R-Redlands. "Predator has
played a major role in the challenges we've faced in the (Middle East) region."
IDEF 2011: New Turkish Rotary UAV Unveiled
(Shephard)
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) used the IDEF 2011 exhibition in Istanbul to unveil a
new rotary UAV aimed at army and navy requirements. The project, which was launched
in 2010, initially saw the company take a manned Mosquito XE ultralight helicopter and
convert it for autonomous use.

4. Web Articles
Experts Warn the Free Ride for UAVs is Ending as Spending Constraints Loom
(Foreign Policy)
The most important aspect of the comfortable environment for UAVs has been financial,
experts said at the Institute of International Strategic Studies conference, "The Future of
Unmanned Air Power." Air Force Col. Dean Bushey warned that because of the weak
economy and looming defense budget cuts, the "fiscally permissive" environment will no
longer exist and said that "we can no longer just say 'buy more and send it to theater'; we
now have to be efficient and effective in our use."
Exclusive: Northrop Unveils Firebird MALE Aircraft
(Aviation Week)
Northrop Grumman will unveil its Firebird aircraft during Empire Challenge. Despite
mature work in the unmanned rotorcraft, airship and high-altitude UAS markets,
company officials have remained unsatisfied at the dominance of General Atomics in the
medium-altitude, long-endurance UAS market with their Predator, Reaper and Gray
Eagle designs.
Follow-Up: Will Firebird Hit the Market Suite Spot?
(Aviation Week)
The biggest advantage of the new design could be easier integration of payloads.
Firebird has a payload architecture designed for "plug and play", with a payload bay
located on the center of gravity, making it less sensitive to payload mass. Combined with
the piloted option (avoiding airspace restrictions and cumbersome regulations) this could
make a huge difference to the money and time required to get new sensors off the test
bench and into combat.
Video: Famed Spaceship-Maker Gives Spy Drones a Try
(Wired Magazine – Danger Room)
The legendary aerospace designers at Scaled Composites are unveiling a new spy plane
that can snoop on the unsuspecting four different ways, and it doesn’t need a human in
the cockpit to fly. Scaled Composites is best-known for its private spacecraft, but Scaled
is also a division of the giant defense contractor Northrop Grumman.
DRC’s Twin Wins Prop Up Air Force Unmanned Aircraft Program
(Washington Technology)
Dynamics Research Corp. will continue to provide engineering and technology services
to the Air Force, having won a pair of two-year delivery orders worth a combined $24.5
million. These contracts allow DRC to continue its efforts supporting mission-critical
services in conjunction with the Air Force’s Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS)
Predator/Reaper program, according to a May 9 company announcement.
China Succeeds Its Largest Unmanned Helicopter’s Debut
(International Business Times)
An unmanned helicopter, model number "V750" , the largest in China so far, on Saturday
successfully completed its debut in Weifang, a city in east China's Shandong Province,
according to Xinhua. The V750 unmanned helicopter is the first medium-sized unmanned
helicopter in China.
IDEF 2011: TAI Eyes Anka Production Contract
(Shephard)
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) is confident of securing a production contract for its
Anka MALE UAV from the Turkish Air Force by the end of the year. TAI has developed
three prototypes of the Anka UAV under an initial development contract.

5. NEWS BREAKS
secretary and Air Force chief of staff, who will then
Officials Announce Eglin as MQ-1 select one location as a preferred alternative.
Squadron Candidate Base Based on the results of these efforts, officials
expect to announce the preferred alternative in
summer 2011.
Air Force officials announced May 3 the Eglin
May 4, 2011 | US Air Force
Air Force Base complex in Florida as a candidate
for an Air Force Reserve Command MQ-1 Remote
Brüel & Kjaer Surface Microphones
Split-Operations squadron.
Selected for nEUROn
"The selection of this candidate is the result of
a deliberate, measured and transparent process,"
said Kathleen Ferguson, the deputy assistant Brüel & Kjær has been selected by Dassault
secretary for installations. "The Air Force looks Aviation to provide high-pressure surface
forward to working with the communities microphones for the development of the nEUROn
surrounding this location to ensure all concerns experimental Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle
are addressed." (UCAV).
This base complex is the candidate to accept a Led by France's Dassault Aviation, the
single MQ-1 RSO squadron consisting of 140 nEUROn is an experimental UCAV demonstrator
personnel and associated equipment. There are being developed with the international cooperation
no remotely-piloted aircraft associated with this of six European countries. Dassault chose Brüel &
action, only ground control systems. Kjær to supply high-pressure versions of their
The candidate location was selected using surface microphones to conduct flight test
basing criteria announced by Air Force officials measurements.
Nov. 21, 2010. Surface microphones provide information
The primary mission of an MQ-1 RSO about the true pressure load on components
squadron is to support the MQ-1 Predator aircraft during flight. The microphones are typically flush-
operations that conduct close air support, air mounted on flat and curved surfaces, for example
interdiction, and intelligence, surveillance and on aircraft fuselages. They must be capable of
reconnaissance. Remote split-operations consist withstanding both high pressures and the harsh
of launching an RPA via line-of-sight operations environments experienced during in-flight
from one location, and controlling the aircraft measurements. Importantly, the microphones must
remotely from a mission control element that is be able to perform in the presence of high velocity
operated at another location beyond line-of-site. airflow, whilst producing minimal wind-generated
Air Force Reserve Command officials will noise.
begin conducting detailed on-the-ground, May 4, 2011 | Shephard
evaluations of the candidate complex covering a
range of operational and facility issues. The results
of the surveys will be briefed to the Air Force

6. NEWS BREAKS
Kamikaze UAV Breaks the Bank IDEF 2011: Turkish Armed Forces to
Receive New TUAV
Last year, the U.S. Army bought ten
Switchblade UAVs for testing and evaluation. The Turkish company Vestal Defence has begun
tests were successful, and now the army wants to development of the upgraded version of its Karayel
buy and deploy them. The only problem is tight tactical UAV (TUAV), under a contract to deliver
budgets and the cost of this one-use system. six airframes to the Turkish armed forces by mid-
Depending on the number ordered, each 2013.
Switchblade round (the UAV in its storage/launch Publicly displaying the Karayel prototype for
container) will still cost over $10,000. If it becomes the first time at the IDEF 2011 exhibition in
popular with the troops, demand for more would Istanbul on 10 May, the company is currently
have to be filled, and that could put a dent in the working on the upgraded ‘Version II’ of the aircraft,
shrinking army budget. which will have an increased maximum take-off
The Switchblade is a one kilogram (2.2 pound) weight of 500kg and be capable of carrying a 70kg
expendable (used only once) UAV that can be payload.
equipped with explosives. The Switchblade is Vestal spokesman Gokhan Koyuncu said the
launched from its shipping and storage tube, at company had been developing the UAV since
which point wings flip out, a battery powered 2005 and completed a series of flight
propeller starts spinning and a vidcam begins demonstrations for the Turkish armed forces at the
broadcasting images to the controller. end of 2009.
The Switchblade is operated using the same However, after the demonstrations, the army
gear the larger (two kg) Raven UAV employs. The determined it needed a slightly bigger, more
Switchblade can be launched from the 70mm capable aircraft and placed an order instead for six
rocket tubes used on army helicopters. Moving at of the upgraded aircraft, with the delivery schedule
up to a kilometer a minute, the Switchblade can commencing in March 2011 and running for two
stay in the air for 20-40 minutes (depending on years.
whether or not it is armed with explosives.) The The slightly longer Version II features an
armed version can be flown to a target and increase in wing span to 11.5m and a more
detonated, having about the same explosive effect powerful 95hp engine, which raises the endurance
as a hand grenade. Thus the Switchblade could be to 20 hours and operational altitude to 22,500 feet.
useful for ground troops, to get at an enemy taking Vestal has developed the airframe,
cover in a hard to see location. Switchblade avionics/autopilot and ground control station but is
completed its development tests two years ago. looking to various third parties for the electro-optic
Technically a guided missile, the use of payload.
Switchblade as a reconnaissance tool encouraged Koyuncu said the aircraft was capable of fully
developers to refer to it as a UAV. autonomous, conventional take-off and landing,
May 6, 2011 | Strategy Page
but could also be employed with a launcher and
recovery system in unprepared areas.

7. NEWS BREAKS
The company also used IDEF to publicly unveil
its Efe mini UAV, which has also been
demonstrated to the Turkish Army. With an
endurance of 1.5 hours and a cruise speed of 27
knots, the 2.6m x 1.6m airframe can carry a
payload of 600g.
Koyuncu said the UAV had been designed for
quick assembly and could be broken down in less
than a minute. Negotiations with the Turkish Army
for a production contract are ongoing.
May 10, 2011 | Shephard

8. by the new miniature level sensors can be used to
increase the performance and reliability of
Miniature Liquid
unmanned systems, offering engineers greater
scope for tactical decisions based on reliable
Level Sensors sensor data.
The Gill Sensors range of miniature fuel, oil
Improve Mission and coolant level sensors incorporate micro-
electronics making them especially suited to
Optimization for smaller unmanned systems applications. Utilizing
advanced solid-state capacitive technology, the
U A Vs integrated electronics provide a fully configurable
analogue output accurate to 0.25% of the tank
depth. A data logger uses the output from the
Mission optimization is a key factor for both
sensor and the tank profile mapping to convert
military and commercial users of Unmanned Aerial
level into volume. Information on the actual volume
Vehicles (UAV). This could mean maximizing
of fuel available is then sent to the operator as part
payload, flying further or flying longer. A critical
of the flight communications.
factor in mission optimization is fuel management.
Each sensor is custom-designed to suit the
Operators need precise fuel level information
specific requirements of the application to ensure
otherwise missions may have to be completed
optimum performance without the need to
earlier than necessary. With some UAV's costing
extensively modify existing system components.
in excess of $35M, losing a vehicle due to lack of
This makes the sensors equally suited to vehicle
fuel is not a desirable outcome.
upgrades or for specification on new
While most manufacturers have incorporated
developments.
the latest satellite communications and computer
Keeping the overall vehicle weight to a
aided navigation systems into their UAV's, fuel
minimum is important and the sensors typically
management is one area that has not always kept
feature titanium and carbon-fibre components to
pace with technology. For example, some UAV's
ensure that the mass of the sensor has minimal
use commercially available automotive sensors to
impact on the vehicle operation. Sensor length can
manage fuel. These sensors were not designed for
be as little as 20mm, allowing for precision
challenging UAV applications and as a result, the
monitoring of small reservoirs.
data they provide is often inaccurate and
Environmentally protected to IP68, Gill's
unreliable, resulting in critical missions being
miniature sensors are suitable for full-submersion
unnecessarily compromised.
in aviation-grade fuel, oil or coolant and are rated
Borrowing from the technology used in
for operation from -40ºC to +125ºC. Sensors can
Formula 1 racing cars, Gill Sensors has developed
be ordered with an integral connector or flying
a range of highly accurate and reliable sensors
leads, and will meet the most stringent military
that provide the vehicle operator with precise
EMC requirements.
information about fuel availability. Data provided
May 4, 2011 | Shephard
Article courtesy of Shephard