Background: Lockheed Martin Skunk Works' RQ-3A/DarkStar design for DARPA's Tier 3- High Altitude Endurance UAV evolved from the company's earlier, larger Tier 3 work. It was to be the low observable complement to the Global Hawk HAE UAV in the dual aircraft HAE UAV ACTD. Contract award occurred in Jul 94, roll-out in Jun 95, and first flight on 29 Mar 96. A crash on the second flight (Apr 96) led to 26 months of redesign; flight tests resumed on 30 Jun 98. Four aircraft, including the crashed vehicle, are to be delivered. DoD cancelled the program on 29 Jan 99 after the second aircraft had completed five flights.
Characteristics:
| Length, ft | 15 | Wing Span, ft | 69 |
| Gross Weight, lbs | 8,600 | Payload Weight, lbs | 1,000 |
| Fuel Capacity, lbs | 1,950 | Fuel Type | JP-8 |
| Engine Make | 1xWilliams FJ-44-1 | Power, lbs | 1,900 (SLS) |
| Structure | Composite | ||
| Guidance | Navigation | ||
| Data Link(s) | UHF X-band Ku-band |
Data Rate(s) | 9.6/9.6
kbps (down/up) 84/0.2 Mbps (down/up) 1.5/none Mbps (down/up) |
| Endurance, hrs | 12.7 | Radius, nm | 500 (with 9 hrs TOS) |
| Max Speed, kts | 300 | Stall Speed, kts | 95 |
| Altitude, ft | 50,000 | ||
| Takeoff Means | Conventional (5000 ft runway reqd) | ||
| Navigation | Preprogrammed
(points)/ autonomous/direct control |
||
| Landing Means | Conventional (5000 ft runway reqd) | ||
Sensor(s): Recon Optical Inc. EO or Northrop Grumman SAR