And UAVs Just Got a Bit More Lethal
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And UAVs Just Got a Bit More Lethal
Air-to-ground missile launched from drone
1/21/2008 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- For the first time, an air-to-ground missile was launched from a full-scale aerial target drone, or FSAT. The test was performed Jan. 9 by Airmen here with Detachment 1 of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron.
The FSAT is an unmanned QF-4 Phantom drone that was operated by remote control from a ground station, said Maj. John Markle, the detachment's operations officer.
"This is the first air-to-ground missile fired off an unmanned full-scale aerial target," said Major Markle. "This test is an important part of the Det. 1 mission because it increases survivability of our Airmen going against (surface-to-air missile) threats. Furthermore, it's the first time the drone has been able to shoot back.
"It makes airpower more lethal," said Major Markle. "This is a new high-speed, anti-radiation missile the Navy designed to defeat SAM threats; overall this mission is going to benefit the Department of Defense."
"With this successful test, we have pioneered a new venue to test forward-firing ordnance without risk to valuable air assets or crew members," said Lt. Col. Joel Rush, Det. 1's commander.
The detachment is currently testing F-35 Lightning components, and has conducted tests for the F-22 Raptor as well as the Patriot and HAWK SAM systems.
1/21/2008 - HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFPN) -- For the first time, an air-to-ground missile was launched from a full-scale aerial target drone, or FSAT. The test was performed Jan. 9 by Airmen here with Detachment 1 of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron.
The FSAT is an unmanned QF-4 Phantom drone that was operated by remote control from a ground station, said Maj. John Markle, the detachment's operations officer.
"This is the first air-to-ground missile fired off an unmanned full-scale aerial target," said Major Markle. "This test is an important part of the Det. 1 mission because it increases survivability of our Airmen going against (surface-to-air missile) threats. Furthermore, it's the first time the drone has been able to shoot back.
"It makes airpower more lethal," said Major Markle. "This is a new high-speed, anti-radiation missile the Navy designed to defeat SAM threats; overall this mission is going to benefit the Department of Defense."
"With this successful test, we have pioneered a new venue to test forward-firing ordnance without risk to valuable air assets or crew members," said Lt. Col. Joel Rush, Det. 1's commander.
The detachment is currently testing F-35 Lightning components, and has conducted tests for the F-22 Raptor as well as the Patriot and HAWK SAM systems.
Only reason I can see for this approach (i.e. too worried to use a manned aircraft) is that they were VERY worried about plume ingestion risks. Why was that, novel rocket motor? Is it a new missile, or just a test one? Looks a bit like an air breather (cf meteor) but hard to tell from pics.
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From Aviaiton Week's Ares Blog - http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs...f-9aa5cfecfd90
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The test was carried out on January 9 at Holloman AFB in New Mexico, and is unique because it involves an experimental missile. (The Firebees were firing AGM-65 Mavericks.) In fact, it seems that the Navy and USAF decided to use the QF-4 because the clearance process was simpler than that involved in testing an experimental missile from a manned aircraft. "We have pioneered a new venue to test forward-firing ordnance without risk to valuable air assets or crew members," said Lt. Col. Joel Rush, commander of Detachment 1 of the 82nd Air Target Squadron.
The USAF release oddly does not identify the missile, but it looks like a test vehicle for the Office of Naval Research High Speed Anti-Radiation Demonstration (HSAD) program. Atlantic Research Corp. now part of Aerojet, was awarded the contract to provide a variable-flow ducted rocket, a form of solid-fuel ramjet engine, for HSAD in 2002, and it has continued to be funded via earmarks since then, supported by California Republican Rep. Buck McKeon.
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The test was carried out on January 9 at Holloman AFB in New Mexico, and is unique because it involves an experimental missile. (The Firebees were firing AGM-65 Mavericks.) In fact, it seems that the Navy and USAF decided to use the QF-4 because the clearance process was simpler than that involved in testing an experimental missile from a manned aircraft. "We have pioneered a new venue to test forward-firing ordnance without risk to valuable air assets or crew members," said Lt. Col. Joel Rush, commander of Detachment 1 of the 82nd Air Target Squadron.
The USAF release oddly does not identify the missile, but it looks like a test vehicle for the Office of Naval Research High Speed Anti-Radiation Demonstration (HSAD) program. Atlantic Research Corp. now part of Aerojet, was awarded the contract to provide a variable-flow ducted rocket, a form of solid-fuel ramjet engine, for HSAD in 2002, and it has continued to be funded via earmarks since then, supported by California Republican Rep. Buck McKeon.
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Qui quad?
Four? More like two don't you think.
and long range...well, it turned out to be not quite as long as they'd hoped.
Tricky things these ramjets...
At least there are no mooses to terrify at White Sands.
VC
and long range...well, it turned out to be not quite as long as they'd hoped.
Tricky things these ramjets...
At least there are no mooses to terrify at White Sands.
VC
