Britain will test a self-developed unmanned wingman

The British Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with the British company Spirit AeroSystems for the development and production of a flight model of an unmanned wingman. According to Defense News, the device should take off by the end of 2023.

According to the publication, the development drone will be carried out as part of the LANCA (Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft) program, announced by the British military in 2019. The developed device must meet several mandatory requirements: its cost should not exceed 10% of the cost of a fifth-generation manned fighter, and it must perform both independent reconnaissance flights and in a fleet with manned aircraft.

Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II fighters and the promising sixth-generation Tempest fighter, developed by Britain, are offered as the leading ones for working with the drone.

Among other requirements for an unmanned slave LANCA is called transonic speed, the ability to carry both various sensors for reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment. No other tactical and technical details are given.

According to the signed contract, the British Ministry of Defense allocates 30 million pounds sterling for the development, creation of a flight model and testing and only three years. Until the end of 2023, the unmanned slave LANCA should take off, based on the results of the tests, a decision will be made to finalize the project and further mass production.

Note that for the US Air Force, the development of the XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned vehicle is being carried out by the US Air Force Research Laboratory with the participation of Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems. The goal of the project is to create reusable devices that are relatively cheap in production, which can perform the functions of a fighter, but whose losses during the war will not be financially sensitive.

Boeing is developing an unmanned wingman for the Australian Air Force as part of the Loyal Wingman Advanced Development Program. The drone must accompany the fighters as a wingman, while carrying additional weapons or other systems necessary to complete the mission.

Comments

[A1845]

The device under development must meet several mandatory requirements: its cost must not exceed 10% of the cost of a manned fifth generation fighter

Interesting - the price of the Hunter against the Su-57 in what respect?

[OgnennyiKotik]

The other day, as already reported in one of the news materials "Voennoye Obozreniye", the drone was insured for about 1,3 billion rubles. Previously, there was information in open sources that the Okhotnik UAV is currently estimated at about 1,5-1,6 billion rubles.

S-70 is equal in size to Su-57, avionics from it
+ rise in price due to the "flying wing" scheme and unmanned vehicles
- equipment for a person and one engine
Ultimately, the Hunter will be cheaper than the Su-57 by a maximum of 20-30%

[Vladimir_2U]

its cost should not exceed 10% of the cost of a manned fifth generation fighter

A very reasonable requirement.

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

avionics from him

Uh, why would a drone need avionics ?!

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

Uh, why would a drone need avionics ?!

Avionics composition

Aircraft control systems
Communication systems
Navigation systems
Display systems
Collision avoidance systems (TCAS)
Meteorological observation systems
Aircraft control systems
Flight parameters registration systems (means of objective control, or flight recorders)

Systems providing control of weapons systems
Radar
Sonars
Electron-optical systems
Target detection systems
Weapons control systems

[Vladimir_2U]

ATP, always considered avionics to be devices and equipment for human control of aircraft, but here it is. Although the display systems, throttle control, RUS and other "pimples" are, I am sure, expensive, and UAVs and nafig are not needed, well, I smiled about sonars.

[Avior]

Most of the avionics of a manned aircraft are also used in UAVs of the corresponding class. Plus communication equipment, and possibly automatic control.

[Vladimir_2U]

ATP, always considered avionics to be devices and equipment for human control of aircraft, but it turns out that the list of avionics includes half of the aircraft. Boom to know. Although the display systems, throttle control, RUS and other "pimp" UAVs are useless.

[Avior]

Nowadays, they usually use multifunctional screens, they are really useless on the UAV, you are right, but the means of displaying information are not the most expensive part of avionics, although, of course, they have a price. (and, for example, modern helmets with information display - and considerable. But the operator can have a similar one on the ground. And the UAV control station costs money - the same screens are there)

[Vladimir_2U]

Quote: Avior

And the UAV control station costs money - the same screens are there

It is much easier and cheaper to install monitors in the ground, literally computer monitors, not to mention the ILS, but it's not about them, the aircraft controls are also very expensive. Oh yes, the UAV control station can accommodate more than one operator place. So in general, the British price inquiry is very relevant, but how adequate is it?

[Avior]

Of course, all this is individual in each case. In addition, it should be borne in mind that we are talking about the same class of equipment, and while UAVs do not approach modern aircraft in class, they have their own niche.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

It is much easier and cheaper to install monitors in the ground, literally computer

More difficult. Ground stations are very expensive.
All these screens, indicators, consoles are not cheap, of course, but in the total they occupy a very small share. The main thing is the Information system and communication systems. So they are very difficult and expensive. In fact, a mini airport dispatch center is being created.

[Vladimir_2U]

Specifically, monitors are simpler, HUD and anti-glare measures are not particularly needed.

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

In fact, a mini airport dispatch center is being created.

Not really, or rather not at all. Communication yes, but why would dispatch functions? I think that it is the dispatchers who remain dispatchers, because manned aircraft still need to be dealt with and ensure their interaction with the UAV.

[Ka-52]

+ rise in price due to the "flying wing" scheme

do not come up with. Rise in price only in terms of R&D. Structurally, everything is much easier there.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Some more in a long line.
USA

Australia

Turkey

[nsm1]

They didn't highlight much ...

[Thrifty]

The time is not far off when unmanned transport suppliers will be flying, delivering ammunition, and suspending missiles right in flight.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Yes. The last war seems to be like this.

[voyaka uh]

We had such a startup: hanging ammunition right in the air.
It didn't work, it turned out to be difficult.
It is necessary not only to hang the rocket from below under the wing, but also to connect the control cable.

[dauria]

It is necessary not only to hang the rocket from below under the wing, but also to connect the control cable.

Well, what are you like ... The apartment has wireless mice, keyboard, "faia-wai" so as not to stumble, IR remote controls from a TV set to a chamber pot. And you, ay-ay-ay ... They didn't put a small box and a sleeping mode of food in the rocket ...: Also to me, but also to the Jews. wink: It's time to throw out all the information wires from the plane, to carry the extra half a ton of copper. Leave only the power, radio channel, well, and reserve one "noodle".

[voyaka uh]

I don’t know where they stumbled. On this or something else ...
The idea is hot. We have mastered refueling. Ammunition refueling is not.

[dauria]

On this or something else ...

On another. Refueling Argentines did twice - on the way to the Falklands and sometimes on the return route. But the pilot A-4 is unlikely to pull the second mast attack.

[voyaka uh]

I think the problem is that the bomb / missile loader plane has to hold them ABOVE, above itself, with some kind of manipulator in order to attach them to the carrier plane from below under the wings. And synchronizing the flight of these two planes is not easy.

[dauria]

And synchronizing the flight of these two planes is not easy.

ABOUT ! In Kiev, "Mriya" is lying around, stick the landing strip on top. Her tail is just spread out. He sat down, drank and ate, while the monkeys refueled, the bonbs would hang, the glasses would be wiped. And then he flew to fight.
Just think about it - a front-range aircraft needs this. Refueling is clear. But the rest ...

[OgnennyiKotik]

This idea is already being implemented in the USA, they are a little late. True, the execution is different.

[Maki maki]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

This idea is already being implemented in the USA, they are a little late. True, the execution is different.

There the drones return to the manned aircraft. And here we are talking about recharging one drone with another By the way, it didn't work for them either.

[OgnennyiKotik]

So the carrier aircraft can also be made unmanned.

[Maki maki]

Someday, when technology allows, it will probably come to this. In the meantime, everyone who has done this admitted that it is difficult.

[Rusticolus]

30 lyamov and 3 years？ With such wishlist！

The device being developed must meet several mandatory requirements: its cost must not exceed 10% of the cost of a manned fifth generation fighter and it must perform both independent reconnaissance flights and in a fleet with manned aircraft.

Among other requirements for an unmanned slave LANCA is called transonic speed, the ability to carry both various sensors for reconnaissance and electronic warfare equipment.

Oh well. Fresh giving. And why not immediately the death star, tomorrow and for 3 bucks？

[Lord of the Sith]

What did they say there, did they draw cartoons?

[Cowbra]

Well, let's see ... Will they cope with a drone with specifically curtailed capabilities - a pure reconnaissance officer without shock functions ... And then the possibility of "developing" some kind of a 5th generation airplane with a completely stopped aircraft production looks like a clumsy bike for now

[Andrey.AN]

The main problem of unmanned vehicles is the speed of reaction, the pilot bears responsibility for the operation of the manned vehicle, but the drone must go through the bureaucratic ladder, back and forth. Like the lieutenant is responsible here, and the defense minister is there.

[Vadim_888]

Here is Britain for you - they fed the whole world with fairy tales about the post-industrial economy, and they themselves riveted two aircraft carriers in 8 years, and in four they plan to launch such unmanned vehicles ...
It all starts to smell bad of recreating the British Empire on the basis of the British Commonwealth.

[seregin-s1]

What if it doesn't take off? While drones are doing with Jews. Very big doubts!

[Ryaruav]

all countries sought to create missiles of the class fired - forgot, and then suddenly the leader has to keep track of the general air situation, except for the leader, so it's better all this is a "magnificent Bologna education system" or one E-3 sentry launches and guides 50 UAVs and he has real machines need to be monitored and target designation given, but it will go against or between bananas, but I don't believe against the usa-russia-china