UCAV-N Design Could Fulfill USAF Requirements, NG Says
By Jefferson Morris
Northrop Grumman's newly released design for an operational Naval Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV-N) probably also could fulfill the Air Force's UCAV requirements as they stand today, according to a company official.
Kenny Linn, director of business and strategy development for the air combat systems unit of Northrop Grumman Integrated Systems, unveiled the company's design for an operational UCAV-N at the Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exposition in Washington April 15.
"Based on what we know now, today, we believe there's a very strong overlap between the Navy and the Air Force missions," Linn said. "I can't speak for the government ... but it would make sense to me to have this type of system also demonstrate capabilities for the Air Force mission set."
The UCAV-N is designed to fly surveillance, strike, and suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) missions from an aircraft carrier. The program is managed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which also manages the ongoing development of the Air Force's Boeing-built UCAV.
The services and DARPA were scheduled to deliver a plan for a proposed joint UCAV program office to Pentagon acquisition chief E.C. "Pete" Aldridge, Jr. by April 15, in anticipation of standing up the office by the end of the year (DAILY, March 27). The proposed office is part of a DOD-led push to promote competition between the Air Force and Navy UCAV programs, and eventually could mandate a single airframe be developed for both services (DAILY, Feb. 14).
New design
Northrop Grumman's new design scales up the diamond-shaped "cranked kite" platform of the company's X-47A Pegasus demonstrator while adding wing extensions, or "winglets," to provide greater aerodynamic efficiency and range. The winglets would fold for storage on the carrier.
Pending the Navy's delivery of its final requirements for the UCAV-N, the precise dimensions of Northrop Grumman's design won't be known, according to Linn. However, the company's current design is within the 30,000-40,000 pound class, he said.
"We're working very hard with the Navy to get us to the point where we get this UCAV out to the [carrier]" for testing, Linn said. "We'd like to see this happen in the '06 timeframe, and we're pretty confident that we can get there."
Competing contractors Northrop Grumman and Boeing are poised to enter Phase IIB of the UCAV-N program, in which each team will be funded to build two demonstrator aircraft. Northrop Grumman's Phase IIB demonstrator probably will closely resemble its design for the operational UCAV-N, according to Linn.
"It would make the most sense to have as much fidelity between the demonstrator and the operational system design [as possible], but funding is going to dictate how much fidelity is really there," Linn said. "I'd certainly much rather build it the same size."
Both companies have been waiting to enter Phase IIB for about a year while DOD sorts out its UCAV acquisition strategy. Linn doesn't expect the teams will have to wait for the joint office to be formally established before Phase IIB agreements are signed. Those agreements could be in place by June, he said.
The company-funded Pegasus demonstrator, which had its first and only flight to date in February (DAILY, Feb. 25), also could participate in Phase IIB, possibly flying cooperatively with the newer demonstrators, Linn said.
