Another "faithful follower". UAV Kratos Air Wolf began flight tests
Experienced UAV Air Wolf on the launcher
The American company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions has begun flight tests of its latest development - the Air Wolf multipurpose unmanned aerial complex. UAVs of a new type will be able to carry a variety of target loads for solving different problems. It is planned to ensure high efficiency of work through the use of the most modern technologies, incl. artificial intelligence.
From project to flights
The first mentions of the future Air Wolf project and other Kratos developments date back to 2018. By that time, the company had already created and tested several types of UAVs. Its management has promised to double the number of projects in the near future - and now you can see the results of such work.
In March last year, in a presentation on the topic of modern and promising developments, the possible appearance of the future Air Wolf UAV was shown for the first time. It was also mentioned that several test flights will take place before the end of 2020, designed to demonstrate the characteristics and capabilities of drone. As a result of these events, it was even expected to receive an order for a series.
The next time the Air Wolf project was officially mentioned in December. Then it was announced that the United States Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and Kratos will continue to work together on the XQ-58A Valkyrie drone. At the same time, the management of the developer company recalled the existence of several of its other projects, incl. Air Wolf. They were called affordable and usable. In addition, the company expressed its readiness to discuss these products with the customer. However, the tests of the "Wolf" were not reported.
First news On August 25, 2021, the Air Wolf UAV received its flight tests. The company announced the commissioning of the new Burns Flat test site (Oklahoma), and it was the "Wolf" that made the first flight at this site. The flight was recognized as completely successful. At the same time, the flight date, route, features of the flight program and other details were not given - for reasons of competition, safety, etc.
First published image of Air Wolf, March 2020.
The press release mentions that the experienced drone carried several new instruments. In addition, the car was equipped with an artificial intelligence-based control system developed by Kratos specifically for jet UAVs.
A photo of the Air Wolf UAV before takeoff was attached to the press release about the first flight and the beginning of the use of the new test site. It shows a girder launcher with a movable cart on which the drone is located. Despite the foreshortening, it is clear that the latter has a high aspect ratio fuselage, a medium-span wing V-shaped tail and a jet propulsion system.
Modification of the finished
Despite regular mentions and the beginning of flight tests, the exact appearance and characteristics of the Air Wolf product have not yet been disclosed. That being said, a single published photograph allows plausible assumptions to be made. Apparently, the new UAV is made on the basis of units of one of the previous developments of Kratos - the unmanned target MQM-178 Firejet.
The MQM-178 is built using a 3,3 m long spindle fuselage and a swept wing with a 1,9 m span. Under the fuselage there is a fairing with a JetCat C81 turbojet engine. The tail has a V-shaped plumage. The maximum take-off weight of the Firejet target reaches 145 kg. Payloads for various purposes are mounted in the fuselage (up to 32 kg) under the wing (up to 15,9 kg per plane) or on the tips (9 kg each).
The target is launched using a beam guide. In flight control is carried out by autopilot or radio. The product develops a speed of up to 0,69 M and rises to heights of more than 10 km. It is possible to perform maneuvers with overload from -2 to +9. If the trained crews failed to shoot down the target, it lands by parachute.
Unmanned target MQM-175 Firejet on the launch rail
Externally, the UAV from recent tests is similar to an existing target. This suggests that Kratos used an off-the-shelf airframe and other systems for the Wolf project, abandoning the development of an entirely new platform. At the same time, it was possible not only to save money, but also to obtain the required flight and maneuverable characteristics.
Artificial pilot
It should be noted that in projects from Kratos, it is not aerial platforms that are of greatest interest, but their "filling". The fact is that this company is one of the key participants in the AFRL programs to create UAVs of the "faithful wingman" class. This technique is intended to accompany manned aircraft, which will give her orders to perform certain tasks.
The “faithful follower” concept is characterized by rather high requirements for the on-board electronics of drones. It must ensure full and safe piloting, autonomously solve combat and auxiliary tasks, and also correctly respond to emerging situations and threats.
Kratos claims to have built a similar AI-based control system. Moreover, the system is unified and can be used on different types of UAVs. It is already being tested with older aerial platforms, and now Air Wolf is joining them.
The use of a unified control system allows us to assume that the new "Air Wolf", like its predecessors, is capable of flying along a given route, incl. with a change in the mission in flight. It will probably be able to carry reconnaissance equipment and even weapons.
Experienced heavy UAV XQ-58A Valkyrie
It should be noted that Air Wolf is based on an unmanned target and turns out to be the smallest in the Kratos lineup. This limits the size and weight of the payload and reduces the number of tasks to be solved. At the same time, such features can indicate the goals of the project.
It is quite possible that the Air Wolf's percussion functions as a "faithful follower" will be implemented using the built-in warhead. In this case, it will become an analogue of the so-called. loitering ammunition capable of reconnaissance and hitting the target, literally sacrificing themselves. The flight performance of the MQM-178 platform and the unified control system will provide serious advantages over "traditional" guided weapons and other kamikaze drones.
Unmanned weapons system
Thus, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions continues to develop promising unmanned aviation complexes of new classes. Autonomous combat UAVs capable of interacting with manned aircraft have already been presented, and now a "faithful wingman" with the functions of a loitering ammunition is being tested.
The exact date of the start of flight tests of Air Wolf remains unknown, as well as the main features of the appearance or tactical and technical characteristics. At the same time, it is clear that Kratos is no longer limited to the creation of new technologies or UAVs. We are talking about the development of entire families of equipment based on unified components.
Separate or joint use of such aircraft in the future will provide the widest opportunities and seriously improve the potential of tactical aviation. Some results in this area have already been obtained, and now they are used in the development of new directions.
However, the timing of the entry into service of the entire unmanned system, including leading aircraft and several types of UAVs, remains unknown. In addition, in view of the total complexity of this direction, the very possibility of creating a system with all the planned components is questionable. However, the company Kratos and AFRL are showing enviable optimism and plan to complete all work in the foreseeable future.
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