U.S. Navy Seeks ISR, Strike UAVs

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 3/29/2010 | Guy Norris

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Industry players have until early May to respond to a U.S. Navy request for information (RFI) for a carrier-based, stealthy, unmanned, strike and surveillance system capable of integrating with manned aircraft as part of a carrier air wing by 2018.

The unmanned carrier-launched airborne surveillance and strike (Uclass) RFI calls for a notional system made up of 4-6 autonomously launched and recoverable vehicles to operate in “irregular and hybrid warfare scenarios.” The system must be able to operate from CVN-68 and -78-class carriers, and be capable of being directed from both carrier- and shore-based mission control stations. The stealthy UAV must be able to receive fuel from hose-and-drogue Navy-style tankers as well as from probe-equipped U.S. Air Force tankers.

Despite the air-to-air refueling option, the Uclass unrefueled mission endurance will be at least 11-14 hr., with inclusion of an “appropriate” reserve fuel quantity. The aircraft should also be capable of using “lethal precision weapons to suppress, defeat, destroy, deceive or influence a range of enemy targets,” and will likely be configured with folding wings and tie-down points. The RFI also holds the door open for other fixed-wing configurations, but essentially paints a picture of something closely resembling potentially larger versions of the Northrop Grumman X-47B unmanned combat air system (UCAS) demonstrator, or the recently unveiled Boeing Phantom Ray or General Atomics’ Avenger.

[Lancer_N3502A]

Didn't they already do that in Stealth?

[Peanut Gallery]

sweet!