Some of the latest and the best in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles vie for attention with a Main Battle Tank from China. Here's a glimpse at the most modern technology on offer.
The Indian Military has been aware of the significance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and their "force multiplier" ever since they became conscious of their weaknesses in the field of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, especially during "Operation Parakram" in 2001-2002. However indigenous efforts failed to produce satisfactory results compelling the Indian armed forces to seek UAVs from abroad. The concept of this combat tool in the hands of field commanders has now, not only gathered great momentum but has matured significantly thanks to new technologies. Two Modern UAVs and Chinas latest MBT are described in the ensuing paragraphs.
VTOL UAV
UK-based AESIR has developed a VTOL UAV that has no external rotating parts, instead it relies on a phenomenon known as the Coanda effect to generate lift. The effect can be seen by placing a can in front of a lit candle. If you blow directly at the candle, the air will bend around it and extinguish the candle-that's the Coanda effect. In AESIR UAV, air velocity is created in the centre of the craft using a fan and then directing the air flow through an outlet so it follows over the curved surface. The amount of lift generated is dependent upon the velocity, mass and density of the air. To help reduce the weight of the craft and maximise durability the craft are made from carbon fiber. Since the rotation of the fan causes the body of the UAV to rotate in the opposite direction, AESIR placed a series of vanes in the airflow around the outside of the body to neutralise this effect. Moveable flaps on sections of the lifting surface provide yaw control to allow the UAV to turn left or right. And flaps on the outside of the craft use the lift airflow to provide directional control, causing the craft to tilt and move in the direction of the tilt.
The AESIR family comprises a 300 mm diameter craft called Vidar, Odin which is a 1m diameter craft with a payload capability of 10 kg, and Hoder which is a multi-engine craft with the capability to lift a payload of 1 tonne.
Vidar is a highly portable craft designed to provide surveillance and situational awareness inside buildings, and in close confined spaces. It has an electric engine powered by Lithium Polymer batteries to provide up to 15 minutes of flight time. It weighs 400 g and is capable of carrying a 100 g payload.
Odin is fitted with a Wankel Rotary internal combustion engine fueled by JP-8 jet fuel. It weighs 10 kg and can carry a 10 kg payload for up to an hour. Fitted with an autonomous flight control system and managed through a simple to operate ground control system, it can be adapted to a range of tasks, including intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance, communications relay and electronic warfare, asset protection, Improvised Explosive Device detection and can be used as a weapon or loitering munition.
Hoder is a heavy lift craft that weighs 1.5 tonne and is capable of carrying a 1 tonne payload for up to eight hours. It is primarily intended for cargo transport and re-supply vehicle for front line forces, but can be adapted to become a long endurance craft by reducing the payload and increasing the fuel. Hoder is in the early stages of development but AESIR expect that it will be multi-engined.
Given that the VTOL UAVs have applications beyond the military, it may not be long before there's an explosion in UFO sightings that can be attributed to the AESIR craft.
RQ-11 Raven UAS, USA
The RQ-11 Raven is a lightweight unmanned aircraft system (UAS). It is designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for military and commercial operations. The Raven meets army requirements for low-altitude reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition. It can be operated manually or programmed for autonomous operation, utilising the system's advanced avionics and GPS navigation. RQ-11 UAVs are manufactured in two variants-the RQ-11A and the RQ-11B-designed and manufactured by AeroVironment. More than 3,000 RQ-11As were produced before 2006.
The RQ-11A Raven UAV weighs about 1.9 kg. It has a flight endurance of 80 minutes and an effective operational radius of about 10 km. Raven has a flying speed of 45 km/h to 95 km/h at typical operating altitude between 100 ft to 1,000 ft. RQ-11A Raven provides flexibility, with remote control or control through ground station. It allows completely autonomous missions using GPS waypoint navigation. CCD colour video and an infrared camera constitute the standard mission payloads. The Raven B system is an enhanced version of the battle-proven Raven A. It is a lightweight system designed for rapid deployment and high mobility for both military and commercial applications. The Raven B is the most advanced SUAV deployed with the US armed forces. RQ-11B has a wingspan of 4.5 ft and a weight of 4.2 lb. Launched by hand, Raven provides aerial observation, day or night, at line-of-sight ranges of 10 km or more. It can deliver real-time colour or infrared imagery to ground control and remote viewing stations, as well as IR laser illumination of ground targets.
The Raven allows military units to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance over danger zones without committing soldiers. It allows the task force to monitor an area with a less obtrusive presence and live video capabilities during day and night. Launched in just minutes, by hand, into the air like a model airplane, the Raven lands itself by auto-piloting to a near hover. It does not require carefully prepared landing strips. Requiring no elaborate support facilities, the Raven ideally suits forward-deployed units. Automated features and GPS technology make it simple to operate, requiring no specialised skills or in-depth flight training.
