What's up in Aerospace?

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Why make a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) anyway? Because there are many missions that are either too dangerous or require too much endurance for human pilots. The UAVs we have now are mostly used for long period reconaisance. There are three types that we will discuss now. They are the Pioneer, Predator, and Global Hawk.

The Pioneer is used by the Marine Corps to observed the battlefield. The following is a story about the use of the Pioneer:

The daytime optical camera on the Pioneer Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, or UAV, yields rich colors, and so the quick red flashes from the mosque courtyard instantly caught the Marines' attention. Read the rest of the story

The RQ-1A/MQ-1B Predator is probably best known for destroying a car full of terrorists with a Hellfire anti-tank missle. Strangely enough, killing a car full of terrorists, whose prefession is killing inocent people, caused a some odd individuals to complain that the terrorists human rights were being violated. The predator is effective in prosecuting its mission because it can stay over an area for 24 hours and is very difficult to see or hear. The Predator B has the ability to cary up to 14 Hellfire missiles and has test dropped a PavewayII Laser Guided Bomb. The A version has a much more limited payload of only two Hellfire missiles. Predators can carry a Senthetic Aperature Radar or the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (used to fire the missiles). The A version has a max speed of 135MPH and a maximum weight of only 2250 pounds. The Predator B has a ceiling of 50,000 feet (compared to Predator A's 25,000) and uses a turbofan engine. Predator B's payload is 3,000lbs this is greater than Predator A's gross weight!

The Global Hawk is by far the largest of these aicraft with a wingspan of just over 116ft. It can stay in the air for 42 hours and attain an altitude of 65,000ft. From its vantage point the Global Hawk will survey 40,000 square NM a day (This is roughly equivilent to the size of Illinois!). It has a payload of 2000 pounds (almost enought to lift a fully laden Predator) of sensors. Global Hawk has recently completed 50 combat missions in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. So, just how much will this amazing plane cost? Northrop Grumman was given a contract for $71,999,635 to develop two prototypes!