Long Endurance Small UAS for ISR

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Long Endurance Small UAS for ISR

• Objective
• Develop to the pre-production prototype level,
  a fully autonomous, man-portable, fuel cell
  powered long endurance small UAS (XFC UAS) that
  is capable of being tube launched from land or
  sea.
• Demonstrate the technology in operational
  environments such as Silent Hammer II and
  appropriate Joint Service exercises.
• Develop in parallel with the above, capability
  that addresses the acquisition of submarine
  UAS capabilities that are the subject of a POM 10
  Program of Record initiative.
• Payoff
• An inexpensive man-portable electrically
  powered, long endurance, stealthy UAS for ISR
  will be provided for GWOT and other military and
  Coast Guard applications.

Technology The XFC UAS utilizes a hydrogen fuel
cell to generate the power for its electric
propulsion system, command and control, avionics,
and payload subsystems. The high specific power
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell system,
a product of the current effort, was designed as
a modular technology capable of being transferred
to other small military platforms. The UAS is a
folding wing aircraft which fits into a transport
tube. Currently it is manually ejected, the
wings rotated and locked in place for launch. It
has a modular nose cone design for payload
flexibility. The Gen I payload is an EO or IR
tracking system. A small ground control system
with image stabilization software is utilized.
Open architecture software is used in the
autopilot and operating system so as to be
multi-system compliant.

• Major goals/milestones
• Finalize Wave Driver antenna system (FY08)
• Complete 400W fuel cell system (08)
• Development of tube launch mechanism (FY-08)
• X-Wing mechanization (FY08) and Testing (FY09)
• Complete control system software testing (FY09)
• Complete hardening of fuel cell system and UAS
  (FY09)
• Complete CONOPS simulated field tests (FY09)
• Undersea launch capsule prototype tests(FY09)
• TTI Funding (M)
• FY08 FY09
• 1.250 1.900

POC Dr. Technology, Naval Research
Laboratory 202 123-4567,
Dr.Tech_at_navy.mil
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Long Endurance Small UAS for ISR

• TRANSITION SUMMARY
• Available for Service and Agency field tests
  (Start FY10)
• Availability is considered the seminal transition
  event
• Initial procurement depends upon customer
  response to field tests with the exception of
  Dragon Eye and Raven,
• The fuel cell system can transition independently
  and be produced in volume.

• TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS READINESS
• Demonstrated sUAS utility for naval port security
  and SOF Recce
• Demonstrated 3hr 19min flight with fuel
  cell-powered research vehicle
• Developed a program for extended duration ISR
  using fuel cell powered platform

TECHNOLOGY TRANSITION PROGRAMMATICS