Boeing ScanEagle

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ScanEagle
A ScanEagle in its catapult launcher
Role unmanned aerial vehicle
National origin United States
Manufacturer Insitu
First flight 20 June 2002
Introduction 2005 (United States Navy)
Primary users United States Military
Australian Army
Canadian Army

ScanEagle is a small, low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Insitu, a subsidiary of Boeing.[1] The ScanEagle was designed by Insitu based on a commercial UAV that helped fishermen look for fish. The ScanEagle continues to be upgraded with improved technology and reliability improvements.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

ScanEagle is a descendant of another Insitu UAV, SeaScan, which was conceived of as a remote sensor for collecting weather data as well as helping commercial fishermen locate and track schools of tuna. ScanEagle emerged as the result of a strategic alliance between Boeing and Insitu. The resulting technology has been successful as a portable Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) for autonomous surveillance in the battlefield, and has been deployed since August 2004 in the Iraq War.

ScanEagle carries a stabilized electro-optical and/or infrared camera on a light-weight inertial stabilized turret system integrated with communications range over 100 km, and flight endurance of 20+ hours. ScanEagle has a 10-foot (3 m) wingspan and can fly up to 75 knots (139 km/h), with an average cruising speed of 60 knots (111 km/h). Block D aircraft featured a higher resolution camera, a custom-designed Mode C transponder and a new video system. A Block D aircraft, flying at Boeing's test range in Boardman, Oregon set a type endurance record of 22 hours, 8 minutes.[2]

Sea-borne launch from a Mark V Special Operations Craft

ScanEagle needs no airfield for deployment. Instead, it is launched using a pneumatic launcher patented by Insitu as the "SuperWedge" launcher. It is recovered using the "SkyHook" retrieval system, which uses a hook on the end of the wingtip to catch a rope hanging from a 30 to 50-foot (15 m) pole. This is made possible by a high-quality differential GPS units mounted on the top of the pole and UAV. The rope is attached to a shock cord to reduce stress on the airframe imposed by the abrupt stop.

[edit] Improvements

In 2009, Boeing and Insitu announced the NightEagle, a modified ScanEagle Block E with an infrared camera for night operations.[3]

In August 2010, Boeing announced plans to control ScanEagles from control stations on E-3A AWACS aircraft and on the V-22.[4]

In July 2011, a team of two ScanEagles and another UAV cooperated to search and navigate a mountain area autonomously.[5]

On 18 March 2008, Boeing, with ImSAR and Insitu successfully flight-tested a ScanEagle with a Nano-SAR radar mounted aboard. The Nano-SAR is the world's smallest Synthetic Aperture Radar, weighs two pounds and is roughly the size of a shoe box. It is designed to provide high quality real-time ground imaging through adverse weather conditions or other battlefield obscurants.[6]

[edit] Operational history

A ScanEagle is recovered at sea aboard the destroyer USS Oscar Austin

The ScanEagle entered service with the U.S. Navy in 2005.[7] In addition to the United States military, the Australian Army also operates the ScanEagle UAV.[8] As well the Canadian Government announced in August 2008 that they would lease the ScanEagle for use of their military operations in Afghanistan.[9]

A US Marine holds a ScanEagle in Iraq.

In April 2009, a ScanEagle launched by the US Navy was used during the stand-off between the US Navy and a lifeboat controlled by pirates holding Capt. Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean after a failed hijack attempt.[10][11][12]

Insitu announced that the ScanEagle had totaled 500,000 combat flight hours and over 56,000 sorties in July 2011.[13]

[edit] Operators

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Background — CF Mini-UAV candidates — Boeing/Insitu ScanEagle". Canadian American Strategic Review. 2011-11. http://www.casr.ca/bg-mini-uav-scaneagle.htm. Retrieved 2011-12-03. "The Boeing-Insitu ScanEagle is based on a civil UAV (the SeaScan used by commercial fishers). The ScanEagle layout is the least conventional of CF mini-UAV candidates (the low aspect-ratio wings are swept with endplate vertical tails fitted to either tip). The SeaScan's arrangement is not unique among UAVs – the absence of conventional empennage allows for a pusher propeller – as it frees the nose for the placing of sensors."  mirror
  2. ^ "Boeing ScanEagle achieves major flight milestones", Aerotech News & Review, November 23, 2006.
  3. ^ Trimble, Stephen. "Insitu Unveils NightEagle Unmanned Air System". Flight International, 12 November 2009.
  4. ^ "ScanEagle makes move on NATO AWACS, V-22". http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/08/11/346018/scaneagle-makes-move-on-nato-awacs-v-22.html. Retrieved 2010-08-16. 
  5. ^ Mortimer, Gary. ScanEagle, Procerus Unicorn communicate over search area 18 August 2011
  6. ^ "Boeing Flight-Tests 2-Pound Imaging Radar Aboard ScanEagle Unmanned Aircraft". Boeing, 18 March 2008.
  7. ^ "Boeing Awarded Navy Contract for ScanEagle Services". Boeing. 2008-06-06. http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q2/080606a_nr.html. 
  8. ^ Army Technology/, Defense Jobs of Australia
  9. ^ Canadian military acquiring new helicopters, drones. CBC News
  10. ^ US Navy Photo 090409-N-0000X-926. Navy News Service, retrieved 1 April 2011.
  11. ^ Faram, Mark D. "Maersk Alabama rescue was highlight of cruise". Navy Times, 19 September 2009.
  12. ^ Drwiega, Andrew. "ScanEagle adds 10,000 hours per month as Integrator comes in to play". Shephard Group, 17 May 2009.
  13. ^ Mortimer, Gary (19 July 2011). "Insitu’s ScanEagle Proves Consistent Reliability Over 500,000 Combat Flight Hours". UAS News. http://www.suasnews.com/2011/07/6113/insitus-scaneagle-proves-consistent-reliability-over-500000-combat-flight-hours/. Retrieved 27 July 2011. 
  14. ^ "Scan Eagle Takes Aim at Europe". http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/blogs/defense/index.jsp?plckController=Blog&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&newspaperUserId=27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog%3A27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post%3A826868b0-a9d6-4f6a-a61d-e283d04af177&plc. Retrieved 2011-01-02. 
  15. ^ "Colombia began using U.S. drones for counterterrorism in 2006". The Washington Post. 23 March 2011. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/wikileaks-colombia-began-using-us-drones-for-counterterrorism-in-2006/2011/03/23/AB0nTjLB_story.html. 

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