Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV / UCAV)

A160 Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft
The A160 Hummingbird helicopter UAV can carry out persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, target acquisition, communications relay and precision re-supply missions.	Boeing is building A160 Hummingbird helicopter UAVs for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).	The A160 Hummingbird has a unique optimum-speed rotor technology that significantly improves efficiency by adjusting the rotor's speed at different altitudes, gross weights and cruise speeds.
A160 Hummingbird tail rotor adjustment.	A160 Hummingbird camera installation.

Atlante UAV
The Atlante UAV prototype model.	The Atlante UAV performing search and rescue operations.	The Atlante UAV carrying out surveillance operations.

Camcopter S-100 UAV
The Schiebel Camcopter S-100 is equipped with a VTOL system.	The Camcopter S-100 landing on the aircraft carriers.	The S-100 LCD screen panel.
The S-100 performing search and rescue operations.	The S-100 taking off from the UAE army base.	The S-100 undergoing flight tests.

Falco
Falco is a state-of-the-art medium-altitude endurance and tactical unmanned air vehicle (UAV) designed and manufactured by the Italian sensors developer Selex Galileo.	Sensors being used in the Falco UAV include a thermal imager, a colour TV camera, a spotter or a laser designator, NBC (nuclear, biological and chemical) sensor, electro optic (EO) sensor and an infrared (IR) sensor.	Electro-optic sensors increase the range and vision of aircraft at low-light levels. They convert the light rays into electronic signals.

Harfang
The Harfang reconnaissance and tracking drone performing its maiden flight in September 2006.	Harfang's rear side, equipped with rotor blades.	The Harfang drone is equipped with an antenna and bottom sensor.
The ground station operator installing the Rotax 914 F turbocharged engine.

Hermes 900
Hermes 900 is a tactical medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicle.	Hermes 900 provides operators with real-time information on battlefields by performing surveillance and target acquisition over a large area.	The UAV has been designed to provide maximum endurance while increasing flight economy and reducing fuel consumption.
Features include state-of-the-art avionics, retractable landing gear and internal automatic take-off and landing systems.	Hermes 900 is equipped with modern avionics such as an ATC radio, radio relay and an IFF transponder.	A single operator can control the air vehicle and its payload.

Heron / Machatz 1
The Heron UAV was primarily designed to perform strategic reconnaissance and surveillance operations.	Initially, the Heron UAV was deployed by the Indian Air Force and was used for high-altitude land surveillance and maritime patrol missions.	The Heron UAV uses multiple sensors and satellite communication (SATCOM) for extended-range data capture and transfer.

Hunter RQ-5A / MQ-5B/C
The Hunter RQ-5A tactical unmanned aerial vehicle in service with the US Army.	Hunter has a speed of 110kt, a range of 125km and a maximum endurance of 12 hours.	Hunter provides real-time intelligence for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition.
Hunter can be launched using a rocket assisted (RATO) system, for areas where space is limited.	The air vehicle can be launched from a paved or semi-paved runway.	Inside the ground control station.
The ground control station provides tactical mission planning as well as controlling the air vehicle and its payload.	A larger version, the extended Hunter, has been developed for longer endurance and higher-altitude missions.

Neuron - Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle Demonstrator
The real-size model of the Neuron demonstrator on display for the first time at the Paris Air Show, June 2005.	The Neuron Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) demonstrator is being developed by France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.	Neuron will have the capability to carry two laser-guided 250kg (550lb) bombs in two weapon bays.
The Neuron UCAV will have a stealth airframe with reduced radar and infrared cross-sections.	The aim of the Neuron programme is to sustain and develop the technology base of European manufacturers for next-generation manned or unmanned combat aircraft. (Saab concept shown).	The Neuron is of similar appearance to the AVE-C which is the second prototype of the Dassault Petit Duc with no tail fin and a swept W-shaped wing design.
The team responsible for Neuron consists of Dassault of France (prime contractor), Saab of Sweden, Alenia Aeronautica of Italy, EADS CASA of Spain, Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI) of Greece and RUAG of Switzerland.	The model of the Neuron demonstrator alongside the Dassault Rafale fighter at the Paris Air Show 2005.	Dassault started the AVE LogiDuc programme (AVE Logistics to Demonstrate UCAV) in 1999.

Phoenix
The Phoenix unit on Salisbury Plain, England	The mission pod is mounted on the underside of the fuselage.	The launch vehicle with the Phoenix.
The Phoenix maintenance vehicle and the towed generator.	Ground data terminal.	The two blade propeller is turning as the engine is warmed up immediately prior to launch.
The air vehicle leaves the launch ramp in the Mojave Desert.	After landing Phoenix is loaded onto the recovery vehicle.

Predator RQ-1 / MQ-1 / MQ-9 Reaper -
RQ-1A Predator is a long endurance, medium altitude unmanned aircraft system for surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It has a Ku-band satellite data link to provide over-the-horizon mission capabilities.	Predator B is powered by a turboprop engine and can carry a greatly increased payload.	Predator UAV carrying an Hellfire-C laser-guided missile.
Predator UAVs have been operational in Bosnia since 1995, where they have flown over 600 missions for more than 4,000 hours in support of Nato, UN and US operations.	Predator operated from a tactical control station located aboard the USS Carl Vinson, Nimitz class aircraft carrier. The synthetic aperture radar (SAR) provides Predator with an all-weather, through-the-clouds surveillance capability.	Predator B can conduct multiple missions simultaneously due to its large internal and external payload capacity.
The Predator medium-altitude long-endurance UAV. A typical Predator system configuration would include four aircraft, one ground control system and one Trojan Spirit II data distribution terminal.	Designated MQ-9 Hunter-Killer, Predator B's primary mission is interdiction and conducting armed reconnaissance against critical, perishable targets.

RQ-4A/B Global Hawk High-Altitude, Long-Endurance,
Global Hawk taxis onto the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base in preparation for flight.	Global Hawk lifts off 25 seconds after brake release.	Global Hawk has a maximum altitude of 65,000ft.
Global Hawk high-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system for the US Air Force.	Global Hawk approaches the main runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California.	The Global Hawk payload includes synthetic aperture radar, digital CCD camera and third-generation infrared sensor system.
Touchdown on the centre line of the main runway at Edwards AFB.

Taranis Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) Demonstrator
In December 2006, the UK MoD awarded a contract for the Taranis unmanned air vehicle demonstrator programme to a team led by BAE Systems.	A fully developed Taranis air vehicle will be capable of delivering weapons to a battlefield in another continent with a high level of autonomy.	The Taranis air vehicle will be approximately the same size as the BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainer.
BAE Systems will consider the application of the image collection and exploitation system in the Taranis programme.	The HERTI-1A vehicle achieved the first fully autonomous mission of an unmanned aircraft in UK airspace on 18 August 2005.	The HERTI ground station.
BAE Systems has invested heavily in private funding of a series of UAV programs including Raven, shown here.	Raven successfully demonstrated some of the key technologies required for the Taranis programme.	The Corax programme proved that a modular design UAV was successful, the Corax air vehicle being a Raven body with wings.

X-45 J-UCAV
The Joint Unmanned Combat Air System (J-UCAS) program is a joint DARPA, US Air Force and US Navy initiative.	The Boeing X-45A demonstrator first flew in May 2002.	The UCAV will be capable of carrying multiple, precision-guided munitions like JDAM.
The UCAV is intended to have experimental capability by 2008 and enter service after 2010.	Boeing has built two demonstrator X-45A UCAV air vehicles and a reconfigurable mission control station.	The program is designed to demonstrate the UCAV's suitability for suppression of enemy air defences (SEAD) and strike missions.
UCAVs will be able to undertake dangerous missions without risking the lives of pilots.	Block 2 demonstrations will concentrate on the co-ordination of multiple air vehicles.	X-45A is powered by a Honeywell F124-GA-100 engine, which provides 6,300lb of thrust.
The X-45A is an initial demonstrator in the spiral development of the UCAV program.

X-47 Pegasus
The first flight of X-47A took place on 23 February 2003 at NAVAIR Weapons Division, China Lake, California.	The X-47A roll-out in July 2001.	The first taxi test of the X-47A in July 2002 at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake, California.
Artist's impression of the X-47A flying towards the observer.	Artist's impression of X-47B landing on an aircraft carrier.	Artist's impression of X-47B preparing for take-off.
For yaw control, the upper and lower surfaces are each fitted with two sections of moving surfaces. A large elevon is clearly visible at the mid-section of each trailing edge.

Zephyr High-Altitude Long-Endurance UAV
QinetiQ's Zephyr high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAV exceeded the world record for the longest unmanned flight at the White Sands Missile Range in July 2007.	The Zephyr solar-powered UAV is being developed by QinetiQ under a programme jointly funded with the UK MoD.	Zephyr is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre UAV that is launched by hand.
Zephyr is solar powered by day and by lithium sulphur batteries at night, which are recharged by solar power.	QinetiQ is developing a range of ultra-lightweight and robust sensor payloads for Zephyr.	The Zephyr HALE UAV can operate at altitudes of more than 18km.

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