UAVs in the Air Force:UAVs in the Air Force:The The ““SecretSecret”” HistoryHistory

Tom Ehrhard, Ph.D.

Overview

• Introduction• UAVs• UAVs• UAVs• UAVs• UAVs• Conclusion

Sperry Flying Bomb“wind tunnel” testing

Table of 22 Major US UAV Programs and Costs Start End UAV Program Sponsor Mission Then Yr. ($M) FY01 ($M)2

1954 1966 >AN/USD-1 Falconer Army RSTA*, division $503 $2401958 1964 AN/USD-2 Overseer Army RSTA, division $1504 $7201958 1962 AN/USD-5 Osprey Army RSTA, corps $1005 $4901958 1970 >QH-50 DASH Navy Anti-submarine warfare $3006 $1,3901962 1975 >#Lightning Bug USAF/Intell Tactical, strategic recce** $1,1007 $4,5501962 1972 >#D-21 Tagboard/Senior Bowl USAF/Intell Strategic recce $3008 $1,3101964 1966 Bikini USMC Expendable battlefield recce $109 $501965 1972 >AQM-91 Compass Arrow USAF/Intell Strategic recce $30010 $1,2701969 1976 Compass Dwell/Cope USAF Radar emitter location $40011 $1,4201974 1978 BGM-34C Multi-mission USAF Strike/recce/anti-air defense $10012 $3301974 1987 MQM-105 Aquila Army/DARPA Battlefield RSTA, brigade $1,00013 $1,5101983 1990 Amber DARPA/Navy Over the horizon recce $20014 $2801983 1990 Condor DARPA/Navy Cruise missile defense $40015 $5501983 1992 AARS, Tier III USAF/Intell Covert strategic surveillance $2,00016 $2,7601984 present >#RQ-2A Pioneer Navy/USMC/Army RSTA, NSFS*** $50017 $6701985 1993 Medium Range UAV Navy/USAF Fast tactical recce $20018 $2401989 present #Exdrone, Pointer USMC Expendable tactical recce $5019 $601989 present #Hunter Army/Navy/USMC Battlefield RSTA, division $75020 $8301992 present >#RQ-1A Predator, Gnat 750 USAF/OSD/CIA Medium altitude loiter recce $60021 $6501994 1999 RQ-3A DarkStar DARPA/USAF Stealthy high altitude recce $35022 $3701994 present RQ-4A Global Hawk USAF/DARPA High altitude endurance recce $1,00023 $1,0301996 1999 Outrider Army/Navy/USMC Battlefield RSTA, brigade $25024 $260

TOTAL: $10,110 $20,980

UAV Prog. Costs, Other DevelopersAgency FY01($M) %Intelligence $9,890 47%JPO/DARO $4,110 20%

DARPA $2,230 11%Israeli-built $1,500 7%

Total $17,730 85%

UAV Program Costs by ServiceService FY01($M) %

Air Force $13,810 66%Army $3,630 17%Navy $3,430 16%

Marine Corps $110 1%Total $20,980 100%

KEY> fielded system# used in combat* reconnaissance,

surveillance, and targetacquisition

** reconnaissance*** naval surface fire support

Gusto II• Lockheed competitor for U-2 replacement in late 1950s• Convair (Kingfish), Lockheed (Oxcart) manned

supersonic versions deemed superior• Mission did not require loiter

• Note “stealthy” design – UAV technology not mature

Lightning Bug• Most ambitious US drone program in history: 1962-1975• NRO-funded, SAC-operated

• Over $4.5 billion in development & acquisition• Substantial operations and support costs

• Over 3,500 combat sorties, tactical and “national” recce• Identified Americans at Son Tay prison

Genesis: Ryan Q-2X Firebee drone

Lightning Bug

Mission profile, 1964 Lightning Bugmission

Launch

Recovery

Ryan 147 Lightning Bug Variants147A Initial variant, minor mod of Firebee with stretched fuselage.

147C 147A update, no-contrail system, 4.6 meter (15 foot) wingspan. 147D Modified 147C to "sniff" SAM proximity fuze emissions. 147B First high-altitude variant, 8.2 meter (27 foot) wingspan.

147G 147B update, fuselage stretch, no-contrail system, new engine. 147H Optimized high-altitude drone, 9.8 meter (32 foot) wingspan.

147T Improved 147H with more powerful engine. 147E 147B with 147C SAM "sniffer" payload.

147F One-off 147B mod to test SA-2 countermeasures. 147J Fast-track mod of 147B for low-altitude reconnaissance.

147TE ELINT version of 147T, used in Korea. 147TF Improved 147TE with external tanks.

147N Expendable decoy derived directly from Firebee. 147NA Chaff dispenser variant.

147NC Chaff / leaflet dispenser variant. 147NC(M1) Low-level version of 147NC.

147NX Expendable decoy with secondary reconnaissance capability.147NP Fast-track low-altitude drone derived from 147A.

147NRE Night reconnaissance modification of 147NP. 147NQ Radio-controlled version of 147NP.

147SA Optimized low-altitude 147, Firebee wings, stretched fuselage. 147SB 147S variant with multiple-altitude control system.

147SRE Night reconnaissance 147S with infrared strobe, Doppler radar. 147SC Improved Doppler navigation system, largest number produced.

147SC/TV 147SC with TV camera. 147SK Naval 147SC with 4.6 meter (15 foot) wingspan and RATO launch.

147SD 147SC with improved navigational system, external tanks. 147SDL 147SD with LORAN guidance backup.

D-21 Tagboard/Senior Bowl

• Program life: 1962 - 1972• Mach 3+, very long range• NRO funded, SAC operated• National recce to Lop Nor• $1.3 billion program (FY99$)• Four operational flights (0-4)

Tagboard: M-12/D-21

Senior Bowl

AQM-91A Compass Arrow

• 1965-1972: $63 million/aircraft ($1.3 billion program)

• NRO funded, SAC operated• Mission: Strategic reconnaissance • Never flew an operational mission

XQM-93 Compass Dwell

• E-Systems L450F (turboprop), modified Schweizer sailplane• 24-25 January 1972 flew 21 (not 24) hours, achieved 45,000 feet

• Martin Marietta 845A (turbocharged)• Flew one year after contract signed• Flew 27:54 on 29 June, 1 July 1972

• Communications relay• SIGINT• Standoff radar jamming• COTS, deployable

European nations refused RPV flight in commercial airspace

YQM-94 Compass Cope

Teledyne Ryan Tern YQM‐94R Compass Cope ‐ R

Boeing YQM‐98 Gull Compass Cope – B• Global Hawk predecessor• U-2 replacement• Payload weight exceeded capacity

BQM-145A MR-UAV

• Late 1980s, early 1990s • Joint program with Navy• Tactical reconnaissance• Replacement for RF-4• Canceled when TARPS pod went over budget

RQ-3 Dark Star

MQ-1 Predator / MQ-9 Reaper

“unmanned” Predators

Reapers with an attitude

RQ-4 Global Hawk

Conclusions

• The Air Force has been pursuing UAVs consistently since the 1950s, often in secrecy

• UAVs must earn their place• UAV development is cyclical, not progressive• Today: new Golden Age, or another cycle?

Questions?