Three U.S. UAV companies have recently been awarded ground-breaking contracts for UAV production and delivery in recent months.

In July, BAI Aerosystems of Easton, Maryland, received a contract from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory to produce ten Dragon Eye mini-UAV systems to the Marine Corps before the end of 2001. Each Dragon Eye system consists of a vest-mounted ground control station and two backpack-contained electric air vehicles, capable of flying with either day or night video cameras. Options in the $34 million dollar contract include the purchase of over 200 such systems, as well as an additional 1000 aircraft for attrition.

In August, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. of Rancho Bernardo, California, finalized a $55 million contract with the Italian Air Force for a Predator endurance UAV system for delivery in 2002. The system consists of five aircraft (one without sensors for training), four Wescam EO/IR sensors, a ground station, LOS-link terminal, spares and support equipment, and training. Options for $8 million include purchasing one additional aircraft and two Lynx SAR sensor systems. General Atomics is teamed with Meteor, an Italian UAV company, who will provide in-country integration and support.

In September, AeroVironment of Monrovia, California, delivered two FQM-155 Pointer hand-launched UAV systems to the French Army. Each Pointer system, which typically costs $88,000, consists of three aircraft and a ground station which can be transported in two man-portable containers. This sale follows that of six Pointer systems to the U.S. Army's Military Operations in Urban Terrain facility at Ft Benning last year.

These sales build on successes of the past year, in which Schiebel Technologies sold two Camcopter systems to the Egyptian Navy, Mission Technologies (MiTex) one Mini-Vanguard system (three aircraft) to Sweden's Marines, and BAI Aerosystems an Exdrone system to a Mid Eastern country.

14 Aug 01 - AeroVironment's solar powered Helios UAV reached 96,500 ft in a record setting attempt to reach 100,000 ft. Flying from the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai, HI, the $15,000,000 Helios surpassed the record altitude of 80,200 ft set by AeroVironment's Pathfinder Plus in 1998. Helios is a 14-motor, 247-foot wingspan version of that aircraft. Next: The 100,000 ft altitude is one of two goals set for Helios by its NASA sponsor, the other being a 4-day flight above 50,000 ft in 2003. See: www.dfrc.nasa.gov

9 Aug 01 - Approaching the altitude record from the opposite direction, NASA Ames' prototype for a Mars UAV was released in a glide from a helium balloon at 103,000 ft to simulate flight conditions near the surface of Mars. The NASA 731 UAV "Orville" and its balloon were flown from Tillamook, OR, as part of NASA's Kitty Hawk 3 project. The test flight built on earlier successful low altitude flights with the NASA 729 "Wilbur" UAV at NASA Ames in Mountain View, CA. Next: Adding folding wings to simulate the UAV's storage for its trip to Mars, followed by the addition of a propellor for propulsion. See: http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov.

30 Jul 01 - The Naval Air Systems Command's Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation Program Office (NAVAIR/PMA263) hosted the first UAV Flight Demonstration day at Webster Field near St. Inigoes, MD. Flanked by a huge outdoor concert-like screen showing live video of events, the demonstration featured flight demonstrations by eight types of UAVs, including a Predator which circled the area all day. The headcount approached a reported 2000 people and drew nearly two dozen exhibitors.

Late Jul 01 - The Navy awarded BAI Aerosystems a production contract for the initial 40 Dragon Eye mini-UAVs for the Marine Corps, with an option for 1300 more. Thirty of the 40 will be evaluated by the three Fleet Marine Forces during 2002 before a fielding decision is made. The Dragon Eye design was developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) for the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL) for use by small units for over-the-hill reconnaissance.

9 Jul 01 - Sikorsky's Cypher II VTOL UAV completed its first tethered flight at the company's West Palm Beach, FL, facility. Next: Cypher II is to make its first free flight in Sep 01, then be delivered to the Army's Night Vision Lab in 2002 to serve as a testbed for various sensors.

7/8 Jun 01 - Global Hawk returned to Edwards AFB, CA, from its 6-week Australian deployment, completing the first unmanned trans-Pacific flight from west to east. During its deployment, Global Hawk flew 11 of 12 planned missions, including four in support of the combined U.S.-Australian Tandem Thrust 01 exercise, accumulated 238.3 hours and acquired some 2000 images. Next: A non-stop flight to South America in support of USSOUTHCOM, followed by an appearance at the Berlin Airshow in 2002. See: www.af.mil/news.

1 Jun 01 - The French Air Force selected the Eagle 1 UAV as its Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) system and awards the contract to EADS/IAI. Eagle 1 is a derivative of the IAI Heron endurance UAV and is capable of loitering for 30 hours at 200 km or 10 hours at 1000 km at altitudes up to 41,000 ft. It will carry a SAR payload with 3 meter and 0.3 meter resolution. Twenty have been built to date, with flight tests conducted in Israel. Other contenders for the contract were the General Atomics Predator/Horus and the Northrop Grumman Model TR 435. An export version, Eagle 2, having the same avionics but turboprop powered, is to be offered.

May 01 - The Army suspended its Initial Operational Test & Evaluation (IOT&E) of the AAI RQ-7/Shadow Tactical UAV after a series of mishaps cast doubt on the reliability of the aircraft. Since the initial contract award in Dec 99, there have been seven crashes through 1 May 01 after less than 600 total hours had been accumulated by the fleet. One Shadow had been lost earlier (Oct 99) during the System Capability Demonstration at Ft Huachuca, AZ. Of the seven crashes, one was due to a power supply, one to the flight control system, one to communication interference, three to engine problems, and one is TBD. A Limited User Test (LUT) is being conducted while the causes are analyzed and corrective actions identified and implemented. The IOT&E is expected to resume in Nov 01. The impact of this slip on the planned Jul 02 IOC is undetermined, but could result in a corresponding slip to Feb 03.

22/23 Apr 01 - Global Hawk completed the first unmanned trans-Pacific flight, landing at RAAF Edinburgh, near Adelaide, Australia, after a 23 h 20 m, 7474 nm, flight from Edwards AFB, CA. Named "Southern Cross II" in honor of the first manned flight across the Pacific by Sir Kingsford-Smith in 1928, this, the fifth Global Hawk built, has an ESM system, as well as ISAR and Maritime MTI modes added to its radar, to enhance its capabilities to detect and locate ships. Imagery from Global Hawk will be disseminated from the Australian Ingara system while deployed. See: www.af.mil/news.

23 Feb 01 - The National Aeronautics Association awarded the 2000 Collier Trophy to the Air Force/Northrop Grumman Global Hawk team for its development and successful demonstration of the high altitude, long endurance UAV. Created in 1911, the Collier Trophy recognizes the most significant aviation accomplishment of the past year. Named for the first man to purchase an airplane from the Wright Brothers, Robert Collier, the 500-pound trophy is displayed in the National Air and Space Museum. See: www.afmc.wpafb.af.mil.

2 Feb 01 - The General Atomics ASI Predator B UAV completed its first flight at El Mirage airport, CA. The 30-minute flight of the 6700 pound (gross weight), turboprop powered aircraft went smoothly. Some 40 percent larger than the Air Force's RQ-1/Predator, it is intended to lead to two further versions, a turbojet powered one and "Altair," a second turboprop powered variant for scientific use by NASA. A concerted effort to improve the reliability of Predator has been made by incorporating a triplex flight control system, dual control surfaces, and a proven engine in Predator B. See: www.dfrc.nasa.gov.

News release -
Lausanne, 26 March 2001

Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world governing body for Air Sports and World Authority for ratifying Aviation World Records in all disciplines has received the below 2 claims in the recently established UAV record class.

These performances are the first claims flown according to the FAI rules for UAV World records which became effective on 1st January 2001.

Claim number 6956 : Sub-class U-2.g (Autonomously controlled UAV : Weight 10'000 kg to less than 20'000 kg)
Group 1 : Internal combustion and Jet engine
Type of record : Duration
Course/location : Edwards AFB, CA (USA)
Performance : 30 h. 24 min
UAV : Northrop Grumman Ryan Aeronautical RQ-4 "Global Hawk"
Date : 21.03.2001
Current record : None

Claim number 6957 : Sub-class U-2.g (Autonomously controlled UAV : Weight 10'000 kg to less than 20'000 kg)
Group 1 : Internal combustion and Jet engine
Type of record : Altitude
Course/location : Edwards AFB, CA (USA)
Performance : 19'870 m
UAV : Northrop Grumman Ryan Aeronautical RQ-4 "Global Hawk"
Date : 21.03.2001
Current record : None

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the records ratified (if appropriate).

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