Mig-29 - Take-off Magazine

The United States followed by Western
Europe launched proactive research into the
matter on the verge of the new century.
The United States even hurried to proclaim
combat UAVs the ‘sixth generation’ of
warplanes, which would succeed the current
manned multirole fighters, including the
fifth-generation F-22 and F-35, ousting
them almost completely in due time. In
1998–2000, the leading US aircraft
makers, Boeing and Northrop Grumman,
launched designing experimental technology
demonstrators of such UCAVs, dubbed X-45
and X-47, starting their flight evaluation in
2002–03. The basic components of those
UCAVs’ concept include flight performance
similar to that of advanced combat aircraft;
reusability and basing at frontline aircraft
airfields; high survivability achieved through
low observability, special design solutions and
defence aids suites; ability to independently
military aviation | project
identify and attack targets with internallycarried
PGMs; and operating both solo and
as part of a package, including in conjunction
with manned aircraft.
The final configuration of the US drone
demonstrators has featured a maximum
takeoff weight of 16.6 t (X-45C) and even
19 t (X-47B), which puts them in the same
dimensional niche occupied by F-16size
frontline fighters. The X-45 and X-
47 experimental UCAVs were competitive
designs under the J-UCAV programme
providing for a combat UAV common for the
US Air Force and Navy. However, the United
States ditched the idea of a joint UCAV last
year, and the programme – now dubbed
UCAS-D – continues in the interest of the
US Navy only. Although a more sobering
look has been taken at UCAVs and the United
States no longer regards them as a worthy
replacement of manned combat aircraft,
rather a complement especially effective in
difficult tactical situations of high-intensity
conflicts, their development will, no doubt,
continue for both the USN and USAF.
Besides the United States, several European
countries have been developing combat UAVs
recently. Experimental designs entered trials
in France (Petit Duc, 2000), the UK (Raven,
2003), Italy (Sky-X, 2005), Sweden (FILUR,
2005), Germany and Spain (Barracuda,
UNMANNED FUTURE
OF COMBAT AIRCRAFT?
www.take-off.ru take-off november 2007 37
Andrey Fomin