President Barack Obama unveiled his defense strategy, which features an emphasis on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) or Drones.
This coming fresh on the heels of a drone capture by Iran and a "drone virus" that plagued some aircraft systems this year. Maybe Iran will catch a virus if it successfully mines data from the captured RQ-170 drone.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems are quickly becoming a relied-upon airborne platform for a variety of uses in the military and beyond. Civilian and recreational uses, as well as exploration, are also in the cards. "Drone science" is advancing behind this rapid acceptance of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and the progressively desired applications at home (such as patrolling the Mexican border) of UAS are driving more dollars into development and research.
The world's leading global security companies like Lockeed Martin and Northrop Grumman along with government branches and agencies like the Army, Navy, Marines, USAF, DARPA and NASA, are pouring in billions of dollars for UAS development. Countries like Germany, South Korea, and Israel are getting into the drone action as well.
Not wanting to be left out, the Japan Defense Ministry has been working on a spherical UAS design that can be produced for only around $1,400. Maybe the U.S. government will take note, but probably not.
As far as the U.S. is concerned, the direction aviation is heading is unmanned - as the craft cost less than their manned counterparts and there are no pilots at risk of becoming casualties. There have even been discussions a single pilot could control up to four drones at once.
Ball drones, small UAS drones launched from larger drones, hummingbird drones, stealth drones, pseudo-satellite drones, moon sailing drones... the drone industry shows no sign of slowing, and aerial science R&D is in high demand.
So what does a future of UAS drones look like? What sorts of drone craft are in development? Take a look below to find out.
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Boeing Phantom Ray
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S.)
<strong>Description</strong>: Boeing's stealth Phantom Ray took to the skies for the <a href="http://www.boeing.com/Features/2011/05/bds_phantom_ray_first_flight_05_04_11.html" target="_hplink">first time in April 2011</a>. According to Boeing, the <a href="http://www.boeing.com/advertising/bma/unmanned/unmanned_05.html" target="_hplink">Phantom Ray can perform missions</a> such as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; suppression of enemy air defenses; and electronic attack.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Unknown. This is a "demonstrator" so there will likely be a future variation of the Ray.
General Atomics Predator Avenger
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S.)
<strong>Description</strong>: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems <a href="http://www.ga-asi.com/products/aircraft/predator_c.php" target="_hplink">Predator Avenger C</a> is a beast. According to the two-page brochure, the PAC is a "Next-Generation Multi-mission ISR and Strike Aircraft" and successor for the Predator B that can be stacked with a multitude of weaponry.
<strong>Deployment</strong>: There is one <a href="http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?topicName=unmanned&id=news/awst/2011/12/19/AW_12_19_2011_p25-406500.xml&headline=USAF Plans Larger, More Capable Predator&channel=&from=topicalreports" target="_hplink">demonstration craft currently in Afghanistan</a>.
SOCOM Mini Drone Of Doom
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S.)
<strong>Description</strong>: Yo dawg, I heard you like drones so I <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/10/socom-warhead-drones/" target="_hplink">put a drone in your drone</a>. One small deadly warhead-equipped mini-drone stuffed into another, to be launched from the main drone and remotely aimed at a target.
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Potential Deployment</strong>: This <a href="http://defensenewsstand.com/NewsStand-General/The-INSIDER-Free-Article/socom-could-have-warhead-equipped-micro-uav-by-spring-2012/menu-id-720.html" target="_hplink">warhead-equiped micro-UAV</a> could be flown by SOCOM in the skies by spring 2012.
Suicide Switchblade
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (USA)
<strong>Description</strong>: <a href="http://www.avinc.com/uas/adc/switchblade/" target="_hplink">AeroVironment's Switchblade</a> is meant to be a portable, rapid deployment, beyond line-of-sight, "loitering munition" that is a "magic bullet."
A bit of advice, AeroVironment: Don't describe a remote-controlled bomb as a "loitering munition" that you call "Switchblade," as it conjures up images of 1950's-style greasers loitering on street corners, flipping open switchblades idly as they wait for their favorite gals.
Luckily, greasers won't be in charge of flying Switchblades. They're to be controlled by infantry and <a href="http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7982421&&s=TOP" target="_hplink">according to the AeroVironment</a>, "Flying quietly at high speed the Switchblade delivers its onboard explosive payload with precision while minimizing collateral damage."
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Undisclosed.
Nano Hummingbird
<strong>Type</strong>: Surveillance (USA, DARPA Funded)
<strong>Description</strong>: AeroVironment is at it again. In partnership with DARPA, they've actually managed to build a human mechanically engineered version of one of nature's most amazing flying machines: the hummingbird. The <a href="http://www.avinc.com/media_gallery/" target="_hplink">Nano Hummingbird</a> is a perfect bid for James Bond-esque style spy shenanigans. Once these hit the field, we'll never look at hummingbirds the same way. "Stop looking at me! That bird is following me!"
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Within five years.
Army A160 Hummingbird Drone
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S. Army)
<strong>Description</strong>: Though the military's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/30/us-army-hummingbird-a160-helicopter-drone_n_1176763.html?ref=technology" target="_hplink">A160 Hummingbird drone</a> doesn't resemble an actual hummingbird so much as AeroVironment's take, it is <a href="http://www.salon.com/2011/12/06/nprs_domestic_drone_commercial/" target="_hplink">raising just as many alarms</a> because of its potential to be deployed on the U.S. home front.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: May or June 2012, Afghanistan
Firescout
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S. Navy)
<strong>Description</strong>: Northrop Grumman <a href="http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/mq8bfirescout_navy/index.html" target="_hplink">describes the Firescout</a> as a "Transformational Fire Scout Vertical Takeoff and Landing Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system provides unprecedented situation awareness and precision targeting support for U.S. Armed Forces of the future. The MQ-8B Fire Scout has the ability to autonomously take off and land on any aviation-capable warship and at prepared and unprepared landing zones in proximity to the soldier in contact."
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: <a href="http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=237497" target="_hplink">March 2013</a>
Euro Hawk
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (German Ministry of Defense, purchased from Northrop Grumman)
<strong>Description</strong>: NG touts its <a href="http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/euro_hawk/index.html" target="_hplink">Euro Hawk</a>, built for German Ministry of Defense, as having a "wingspan larger than a commercial airliner, endurance of more than 30 hours and a maximum altitude of more than 60,000 feet, EURO HAWK is an interoperable, modular and cost-effective replacement to the aging fleet of manned Breguet Atlantic aircraft, which have been in service since 1972 and will be retired in 2010."
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: 2015, 2016 (<a href="http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/euro_hawk/assets/SIGINT_NewsRelease_101211.pdf" target="_hplink">PDF</a>)
X-47B
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (U.S. Navy)
<strong>Description</strong>: A carrier-based combat drone, <a href="http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/nucasx47b/index.html" target="_hplink">Northrop Grumman's futuristic X-47B</a> flew in its cruise configuration <a href="http://www.irconnect.com/noc/press/pages/news_releases.html?d=239278" target="_hplink">for the first time</a> on November 22, 2011. It can land with precision on the deck of a moving aircraft carrier, and features twin weapons payload bays that hold up to 4,500 lbs. (<a href="http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/products/nucasx47b/assets/X-47B_Navy_UCAS_FactSheet.pdf" target="_hplink">PDF</a>).
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: <a href="http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/11/navy-killer-drone-refuel/" target="_hplink">2018</a>
Taranis
<strong>Type</strong>: Military (British)
<strong>Description</strong>: BAE System's Taranis (<a href="http://www.baesystems.com/BAEProd/groups/public/documents/bae_publication/bae_pdf_taranis_fact_sheet.pdf" target="_hplink">PDF</a>) is aiming to "Push the boundaries by providing advancements in low observability capability and autonomous mission systems operations demonstrating the feasibility and utility of UAVs." Such a statement starts to push the idea of fully autonomous flight from science fiction into science fact, though we're still a long way off from having an actual real debate on fully autonomous drones fighting our battles and flying our skies.
Potential Deployment: TBD, test flights have been delayed to 2012.
Boeing Phantom Eye
<strong>Type</strong>: Communications
<strong>Description</strong>: Boeing's hydrogen-powered <a href="http://www.boeing.com/Features/2010/07/bds_feat_phantom_eye_07_12_10.html" target="_hplink">Phantom Eye</a> is a High Altitude Long Duration Craft designed to fly at <a href="http://www.boeing.com/Features/2011/11/bds_phantom_eye_11_16_11.html" target="_hplink">65,000 feet for up to four days</a>.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Unknown
DARPA Vulture
<strong>Type</strong>: Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR)
<strong>Description</strong>: <a href="http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/TTO/Programs/Vulture.aspx" target="_hplink">DARPA's description</a> says the "Vulture technology enables a re-taskable, persistent pseudo-satellite capability, in an aircraft package." Basically, DARPA is attempting to develop a super long duration craft capable of five year continuous flight. Think about that - the Vulture is intended to fly for up to five years continuously. If it were to launch this year it would be in the air for two Olympics.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Unknown
AVIATR: Drone To Fly Saturn's Moon
<strong>Type</strong>: Government Funded Space Exploration
<strong>Description</strong>: While the proposal probably won't go through for this mission, this is an aerial drone we can really get behind. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/aviatr-probe-proposed-mission-titan_n_1184028.html" target="_hplink">AVIATR</a> would be a long distance drone that would fly the skies of Saturn's moon Titan.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Beyond 2020
Japan Defense Ministry Ball Drone
<strong>Type</strong>: Surveillance (Japan)
<strong>Description</strong>: Techcrunch <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2011/10/25/video-japans-defense-ministry-develops-awesome-ball-shaped-drone/" target="_hplink">tells us</a> that the drone can "stand still in mid-air, fly vertically and horizontally through narrow spaces at up to 60km/h, and (which is very cool) keep on moving when it hits the ground or a wall. Thanks to three gyro sensors in its body, the machine can keep also flying even if it's hit by an obstacle." And all for only $1,400.
<strong>Potential Deployment</strong>: Undisclosed
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Huffington Post Chris C. Anderson First Posted: 01/06/2012 9:59 am Updated: 01/06/2012 9:59 am