General Atomics has revealed the technology of launching and returning the small UAV Sparrowhawk to the "mother" carrier

In the United States, General Atomics (GA-ASI) has disclosed the technology for launching and returning a small Sparrowhawk UAV in the air aboard the "mother" drone. In addition, she first introduced the new Longshot drone being developed for DARPA.

The Aviationist portal tells about it.

The company unveiled its Sparrowhawk small unmanned aerial vehicle (SUAS) system last year. She recently released more details on how the UAV, after completing its mission, again gets on board the "mother" vehicle.

In the tests, his role was played by the MQ-9B SkyGuardian. He unfolds the tow line, allowing the Sparrowhawk to be returned to the pylon from which it was previously launched. An orange weight is attached to the end of the cable to stabilize the cable itself and help SUAS to grip it. The cargo falls between the flaps of the UAV, after which they close, capturing the cable. Then the "mother" drone pulls it towards itself.

Sparrowhawk has stealth characteristics. In addition, it moves at high speed at low altitude. It is used to identify air defense systems and combat them. He acts where his "mother" apparatus may be in danger.

In addition, in the United States, General Atomics has created another Longshot drone, launched from another drone. It was developed on the instructions of the promising defense agency DARPA. It is designed to be launched from larger aircraft or drones in the proximity of the enemy. He protects the "mother" aircraft with the help of an air-to-air missile in his arsenal, acting as an escort.

Comments

[OgnennyiKotik]

Here's a LongShot concept from General Atomics

Here's from DARPA

Here's from Northrop Grumman

In the photo, the small UAV Sparrowhawk launched and returned.

[Vladimir_2U]

A kind of Fulton's device, on the contrary, instead of a balloon, a weight, and the cable hangs downside down. ))

[White man]

matryoshka is obtained in development

[Gunther]

Quote: White man

matryoshka is obtained in development

to destroy the carrier with one rocket - and a skiff to all unmanned aerial vehicles, "in one fell swoop, a hundred souls beat."
Yes, and the cumbersome one turns out from the Yankes pepelats, with winches, but as soon as the winch gets stuck, it will fly with snot.
although the idea itself is promising.

[rocket757]

Complex equipment, complex automated process ... how about accidents and other problems?

[Alexander Pseudonym]

Ragozin, Solovyov and Kiselev should be sent to them. They will ruin everything ..

[Flooding]

Quote: Alexander Pseudonym

Ragozin, Solovyov and Kiselev should be sent to them. They will ruin everything ..

Solovyov that destroyed?
Your villa in Italy?

[Popandos]

I'm not a specialist in air combat tactics, so the question is, why all these difficulties? What tactical advantages does a drone with a rocket give aboard another drone or aircraft?

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Popandos

What tactical advantages does a drone with a rocket give aboard another drone or aircraft?

You do not need to enter the area of ​​action of air defense or missiles of enemy fighters. You exchange cheap UAVs for air defense systems / fighters while your manned or expensive drones are safe, watching what is happening from a distance.
For example, F-15 with UTAP-22

There is also a project of an airborne UAV based on the C-130.

[Popandos]

That is, instead of a long-range missile, it’s not too difficult to carry this vegetable garden with a subwoofer?

You exchange cheap UAVs for air defense systems / fighters while keeping your manned or expensive drones safe,

And why then the technology of return to the media?
I can somehow understand to leave the drone to cover the flanks or rear, but who then will give the command center? The drone itself will detect and attack?

[OgnennyiKotik]

Several drones, some give control, others attack or distract themselves. Control them behind the fighter.

Long-range missiles have not shown themselves in any way, they are not effective. More precisely effective against civilian or transport aircraft, intercepting ballistic missiles is possible. Even against modern bombers and AWACS are useless.

[Popandos]

Well, these are no longer fighters, but some kind of drone carriers are obtained.

Long-range missiles have not shown themselves in any way, they are not effective

By your logic, then the whole concept of stealth technology is down the drain.
The drone carriers will glow from afar.
Moreover, the speed of the drone and the rocket differ dozens of times, while the drone with the rocket flies up to the launch distance, it can be detected and destroyed, and the drone carrier remains uncovered and unarmed

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Popandos

stealth technology down the drain

Different planes for different purposes. LongShot can fit into compartments F-35, B-2/21, NGAD with stealth in general, no questions asked. If we talk about the F-15EX, B-52, C-130 can reach the required safe launch range and fly home. The flight range of UTAP-22 is 2600 km. Accordingly, there is not even a risk of being discovered. The F-35 / NGAD then takes control of them. Where one of the UAVs is a repeater, the F-35 will "light up" there is no risk. And in general, a directional, high-frequency communication channel cannot be detected.

Quote: Popandos

Moreover, the speed of the drone and the rocket differ by tens of times

The speed differs not tens of times, but 5-6 times in the final section, 2-3 times a march, but the flight range is actually tens of times. These UAVs will be armed with missiles, their task is to bring them to the effective range of their destruction.

Quote: Popandos

drone carrier remains uncovered and unarmed

Such operations are planned in advance, there are several groups of fighters, with different tasks, including cover and reserve. "One-on-one" meeting is accidental and the chance of it is negligible. Such UAVs allow you to take risks with a minimum of losses among people and expensive equipment. Even when destroyed, they will provide valuable information on the enemy.

[Popandos]

All this is understandable, but why then the technology of return to the media?
Then the carrier must be nearby to collect unused drones.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: Popandos

All this is understandable, but why then the technology of return to the media?

They are working on technologies.
Yes, and a big war is one thing, like the first and second wars with Iraq, for example. Another thing is a low-intensity war (for example, with ISIS in Iraq or Afghanistan), when the enemy does not have serious weapons and the war is exhausting. Here you need to cut costs.
The same MQ-9, armed with a pair of reconnaissance drones being returned, can survey a large territory 3 times in one flight. And if you supply these drones with explosives, use them as kamikaze. But you need to find the goal. This may not happen on every flight.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Long-range missiles have 2 major drawbacks.
1. This is a rocket, correspondingly high fuel consumption in a limited body. In order to fly far, it needs to make a slide and go into the upper atmosphere. Where there is less air resistance. And from there already dive down. This maneuver is very noticeable and consumes a lot of fuel. Which may not be enough for active maneuvering.
2. The rocket must be guided by the fighter before its seeker takes the target for tracking (this will be lucky if the rocket has the AGSN). Accordingly, the fighter itself "glows" like a Christmas tree, cannot actively maneuver and is very vulnerable. At the same time, electronic warfare systems can clog communication channels or radar / homing systems, a maneuverable target will quietly leave, bombers and AWACS have extremely powerful electronic warfare systems and other means of self-defense.
Therefore, the share of long-range missiles remains transport and passenger aircraft, certain satellites and missiles.

[Gori]

Horror.
Long-range missiles have 2 major drawbacks.
2. The rocket must be guided by the fighter before its seeker takes the target for tracking (this will be lucky if the rocket has the AGSN). Accordingly, the fighter itself "glows" like a Christmas tree, cannot actively maneuver and is very vulnerable. At the same time, electronic warfare systems can clog communication channels or radar / homing systems, a maneuverable target will quietly leave, bombers and AWACS have extremely powerful electronic warfare systems and other means of self-defense.
Therefore, the share of long-range missiles remains transport and passenger aircraft, certain satellites and missiles.

Not tired of writing lies and deceiving members of the forum?

RVV-BD (long-range air-to-air missiles) have ARGSN (for example, R-37M and so on). Information about the coordinates of the target is stored in the RVV-BD memory during launch.

"The R-37 long-range guided aircraft missile (K-37, RVV-BD) is designed to destroy air targets (fighters, attack aircraft, bombers, military transport aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles) at any time of the day, at all angles, in conditions of electronic countermeasures, against the background of the earth and water surfaces, incl. with multichannel shelling on the "fire-and-forget" principle."

The homing head R-37M received advanced high-tech brains. GOS is equipped with a new miniature digital signal processor with a large memory capacity and increased speed. The seeker is immune to electronic warfare ...

Content source: https://naukatehnika.com/finalnyie-ispyitaniya-sverxdalnobojnoj-giperzvukovoj-raketyi-r-37m.html
naukatehnika.com

[Zaurbek]

In modern air battles, 70 percent of the success is the auxiliary fleet. Refuellers, AWACS, Scouts, PP ... so there are plenty of targets for long-range missiles.

[Sanichsan]

Quote: Gori

Not tired of writing lies and deceiving members of the forum?

RVV-BD (long-range air-to-air missiles) have ARGSN (for example, R-37M and so on). Information about the coordinates of the target is stored in the RVV-BD memory during launch.

dear, well, you can't do that! You have now shot the sacred cow of the drone adepts. a little more, and in your heresy you will sink to the point that anti-ship missiles at 1500 km can successfully hit targets for the same reasons. and do you know how many AUGophiles are here on the forum? You will not just cause an explosion of a fart, this will be a real thermonuclear reaction! you need to be more careful.
although .. figs take it off. burn!

[Gori]

Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Long-range missiles have not shown themselves in any way, they are not effective. More precisely effective against civilian or transport aircraft, intercepting ballistic missiles is possible. Even against modern bombers and AWACS are useless.

No need to write lies and engage in propaganda on the VO website. Write blatant nonsense. To which you have been repeatedly pointed out. So the Americans and their NATO allies are fools - they release AIM-120 missiles with a range D = 180km, Meteor with D =about 180 km.

[aszzz888]

Gori
Yesterday, 23: 57
NEW

+2
Quote: OgnennyiKotik

Long-range missiles have not shown themselves in any way, they are not effective. More precisely effective against civilian or transport aircraft, intercepting ballistic missiles is possible. Even against modern bombers and AWACS are useless.

No need to write lies and engage in propaganda on the VO website. Write blatant nonsense. To which you have been repeatedly pointed out. ...

He has a system)) worked out. what it will find on the internet - whether infa is checked or not, EVERYTHING is rushing to the studio)) the noodle is still the same.

[mitroha]

Quote: Alexander Pseudonym

Ragozin, Solovyov and Kiselev should be sent to them. They will ruin everything ..

They have already worked on your brain, apparently

[Alexander Pseudonym]

What is a joke do you know?

[Real Pilot]

Quote: White man

matryoshka is obtained in development

Nesting dolls have advantages.

For example, their chain can relay the signal. Rebuild, transmit it in turn. Such a cunning radio station will go crazy for the enemy to jam and track.
Communication system for ground troops, including. Well, for the Air Force.

This radar system is also interesting. By itself, in a coordinated flight, it works like an AFAR, and if each of them has a phased array on board ... Big shoulders can be obtained, receivers and transmitters can be scattered in space. The loss of an element (except for the main one) reduces efficiency, but is not critical. Not a single stealth will hide. It looks like a flying XNUMXD scanning neural network.

The mother drone / plane can be covered by its swarm, and the air defense will first have to clear the way to it, and it will look like a whole squadron of fighters on radar. Luneberg lenses (retractable) are just right here. A certain variant of KAZ for aircraft / UAVs.

At the same time, small drones can be relatively cheap barrage ammunition, which can be returned to the mother drone in the absence of a target ... Otherwise, self-destruction, because barrage ammunition usually does not return.

This swarm is able, distributed, to comb the terrain, so to speak, with a "small wide ridge" in one pass. Cameras, radars or other sensors. And return to the mother.

Energy. If a large drone carries fuel with it and flies on an internal combustion engine, then small ones can be electric, capable of returning to recharge. The base station spends, for example, 30 hours in the air. During this time, he can release his "flock" for reconnaissance 5-10 times ... Or change drones in turn, maintaining the required number.

But there are also disadvantages. Technical complexity, the loss of the main thing leads to the death of the entire system.

In general, the approach is justified. We are waiting for the 7th generation plane, armed with nesting dolls.
And it is desirable that he was Russian! For the matryoshka is our cultural national treasure.

[OgnennyiKotik]

Quote: RealPilot

Big shoulders can be obtained, receivers and transmitters are spread out in space.

This is one of the main advantages. Moreover, the transmitters and receivers themselves can be relatively simple and cheap. Final processing on fighters / AWACS / "mother" aircraft / UAVs. Due to the diversity, they can be more effective than the fighter's radar and seriously enhance the AWACS.

[White man]

Well, in general, I agree with the concept of organizing an attack / defense in swarms. Just define the boundaries of their technical equipment. If it is good, with electronic warfare funds, etc., the price tends to uninterestingly steeply upward. With an inexpensive option, they can be massively "quenched" in various ways. And the moment the drones begin to "multiply" to the limits of air defense from above, I think today it is not a big problem to control.

[riwas]

Beautiful cartoons, but too difficult. I think that in reality it will be difficult to implement.

[riwas]

The cargo falls between the flaps of the UAV

Well, what kind of flaps are these? Wing flaps.

[style1981]

It's just a cartoon. This nonsense will not work, since at the height there are wind loads of different directions, which will swing the cable with the load from side to side.