GDR 99 - Surveillance Systems

GA-ASI:
Leaders in UAV Systems


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Top: The Predator operated from a tactical control station aboard the USS Carl Vinson

UAVs have taken on great importance in recent years as western armed forces have looked to improve their reconnaissance capabilities whilst avoiding putting aircrew at risk.

After its successful use of tactical UAVs during the Gulf War, the US Department of Defense decided to expand its UAV programmes to meet theatre-level and other reconnaissance requirements. One of the first companies to be involved in these efforts was General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI), fielding the famous Gnat and Predator UAVs to support the NATO and UN forces in Bosnia. From November 1998 Predators have been used to monitor Serbian forces in Kosovo. The company is a prime contractor of a wide range of tactical and strategic UAVs for US and export customers. In addition to manufacturing air vehicles, the company produces ground-control stations and data links. It integrates sensors and other elements of the total UAV system into a full package. GA-ASI can also provide training, logistic support, field services, operations and maintenance.

GNAT Series
The GNAT-750 has been flying since 1989 and saw service with US forces in Bosnia in 1994. It is a long-endurance UAV, with up to 40 hours mission endurance, a large payload capacity, low maintenance requirements and a proven performance to 25,000 feet. It is designed to take-off and land conventionally and can operate from any hard service. GNAT aircraft systems are operational with the US and Turkish armed forces and are in production for US and overseas customers. Sensor packages include electro-optical/infrared video cameras, electronic counter measures and electronic support measures.

The I-GNAT is an improved version of this aircraft, equipped with a four-cylinder Rotax engine. In October 1998 a version with a turbo-charged engine surpassed an industry record by flying 30,500 feet during a flight test. A subsequent test showed the air vehicle could remain airborne for 38 hours and still have 10 hours of fuel reserve available.

Prowler II


The Prowler II

One of the company's newest aircraft is the Prowler II that is a scaled-down version of the GNAT system. It has an endurance of over 16 hours and provides customers with additional capability to meet diverse tactical surveillance requirements. The Prowler II is powered by a Rotex 582 four-cylinder engine or an optional heavy fuel engine that provides up to 20 hours endurance with a 100lb payload.

Its sensor packages include electro-optical/ infrared video cameras and a synthetic aperture radar.

The Prowler II made its first flight in June 1998 as part of a test programme to field a long-endurance tactical UAV system. Its development is being funded by GA-ASI in response to the needs of customers worldwide.

ALTUS


The ALTUS is operational with the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Department of Energy

This high-altitude UAV has an operational ceiling up to 65,000 feet and a large payload capacity of over 300lbs. It is operational with US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Department of Energy (DoE). The ALTUS has been deployed in support of atmospheric research for the DoE, including plans to use the UAV's high-altitude capabilities to further atmospheric research, understand the genesis of and predict hurricane paths and damage potential, as well as many other advanced scientific applications.

The ALTUS I has been employed by the DoE and has a 45,000 feet operational ceiling and the more capable ALTUS II that has a 65,000-feet operational ceiling, is fielded by NASA as part of the environmental research aircraft and sensor-technology programme. In July 1998 an ALTUS II fitted with a new dual turbo-charged engine and larger propellers completed its first test flights.

Predator
A growth evolution of the proven GNAT-750, the Predator uses common avionics, mechanical systems and incorporates a Rotax four-cylinder engine. The Predator is equipped with a satellite data-link system, an electro-optical/ infrared stabilised gimble containing two colour video cameras and a forward-looking infrared sensor as well as a synthetic aperture radar. The system gives national command authority, theatre and tactical-level commanders' surveillance of time-critical targets with the air vehicle remaining on station over 24 hours, 400 nautical miles from its forward base.


The Predator

A competitive contract for ten aircraft was awarded to GA-ASI in 1994 to execute the tier II, medium-altitude endurance UAV programme. It began as a quick reaction advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) programme. Predators have remained airborne for over 40 hours. They have been operational over Bosnia since 1995, conducting three combat deployments where they have flown over 730 missions for more than 4,700 hours in support of NATO, UN and US operations. Based on the success of the programme, the Pentagon transitioned the Predator programme to production in August 1997, making it the first ACTD programme to be designated an acquisition category II (ACTII) programme. They are now in production for the US Air Force.

Predator has demonstrated its ability to support maritime forces, including carrier battle groups, amphibious-ready groups and submarines, with control of land-based air vehicles being passed to sea units.

The system is the only reconnaissance system available in the US inventory that can provide near real-time video and photographs day or night in all-weather conditions, worldwide via satellite data links without exposing pilots to combat fire. It is the first successful unmanned aircraft surveillance programme to be fielded in decades that provides tactical and strategic intelligence to operational commanders worldwide. In July 1995 the USAF's air combat command commissioned the 11th Reconnaissance Squadron, its first operational Predator squadron. A second squadron, the 15th Reconnaissance, was commissioned in August 1997. In October 1998 two Predators participating in an exercise in Nevada, reached the milestone of 10,000 flight hours for the type. To date the US government has purchased 53 Predator air vehicles.

The USAF awarded GA-ASI an $8.9m contract in May 1998 to upgrade the Predator. The Block 1 upgrade development work includes improved relief on station capability, secure air-traffic control voice relay, Ku-band satellite tuning, implementation of new support system and reliability and maintainability improvements. Optional upgrades, valued at $4.4m, also include a common automated recovery system, theatre-deployable communications, electro-optical sensor pointing accuracy and an acoustic signature reduction system.

Each UAV manufactured by GA-ASI is controlled by a common solid-state CGS, through a C-Band line-of-sight (LOS) data link. The aircraft are capable of direct control and of passing real time surveillance data to the CGS at ranges of up to 150 nautical miles or operating autonomously to the range limits of the aircraft. In addition to the LOS link, Predator also has a L3 communications wide-band satellite data link installed for routine over-the-horizon operations. The company also has developed a tactical control station (TCS) that allows data to be passed from long-endurance UAVS to tactical commanders at the frontline or maritime commanders at sea.

Sensors

Link: GA-ASI

At the core of GA-ASI's successful UAVs are their sensor packages that are provided by a variety of sub-contractors. Versatron/Wescam, a Canadian electro-optical sensor company, has installed and integrated its Skyball Gimball on many of GA-ASI's UAVs. Sensors in the gimbals include two-colour variable-zoom video cameras and high-resolution forward-looking infrared sensors. Northrop Grumman's synthetic aperture radar allows UAVs to see through clouds and bad weather with one foot resolution. Imagery from the sensors is manipulated in the CGS by a Boeing intelligence workstation.

In November 1998 GA-ASI successfully tested a radio-frequency (RF) signals-intelligence (SIGINT) sensor package on a Predator air vehicle.