CUVX Design Report - the AOE home page - Virginia Tech

CUVX Design – VT Team 2 Page 21required for loading weapons. The SWL is predicted to reduce the loading times for JDAM and HARM missilesfrom 6-13 minutes to no more than 1 minute. SWL is predicted to reduce the number of operators from 6 to 2.The concept of a pit stop provides a single point turnaround of aircraft. At this stop the aircraft would berefueled and reloaded. Weapons could be loaded by an automated system similar to factory assembly lines.Although this would require one person to oversee proper loading, it would greatly reduce manning. However, thistechnology does not currently exist for shipboard use. Fueling would still take a considerable amount of time sincethe fueling rates would have to be limited to prevent explosive vapors; but there may be the possibility to use avacuum jacket fueling port to trap the vapors and this would allow fuelling in less time.A fuel and weapons module concept was also considered to simplify fueling and weapons load out, and reducemanning. This module would be similar to the magazine of a firearm. The module would be preloaded to containfuel for the aircraft and weapons for a specific mission. The module would be lifted to the aircraft at a pit stop in anassembly line fashion, and loaded into the body of the aircraft. It was concluded that a module would not workwell with the UCAV-N, as it greatly restricts other design requirements of the aircraft. There were also concernswith module survivability and transport.3.2.5 Aviation (Mission) System ParametersImportant CUVX aviation system characteristics include: concept of CUVX aviation operations; sortie rates;number, type, size and weight of aircraft to be supported; number, size and location of aircraft elevators; numberand type of catapults; number and location of recovery wires and equipment; hangar deck and flight deckarrangements and minimum dimensions; systems, weights and area requirements for UCAV refueling, weaponsload-out, aircraft support and maintenance, including number, size and location of weapons elevators, shops andsupport equipment; ship aircraft fuel storage capacity; and aircraft weapons magazine capacity.Characteristics for the aviation systems in CUVX are based on existing and prior CV and CVN characteristicswith adjustments made for supporting the UCAV-N vice manned combat and attack aircraft. They are discussed inthe following sections.3.2.5.1 Virginia Tech UCAV-NA separate Virginia Tech design team designed UCAV-N for CUVX in parallel with the CUVX teams. TheUCAV-N and CUVX teams worked in collaboration to effectively integrate the ship and the aircraft as an overallsystem. The UCAV-N is a revolutionary aircraft. It will be the first aircraft capable of landing on an aircraft carrierautonomously.Table 16. UCAV-N RequirementsRFP Requirement SpecificationMission 1, Strike Range 500 nmMission 2, Endurance 10 Hrs.Payload4,300 lbsCruise Speed > Mach 0.7Ceiling> 45,000 ftSensor SuiteGlobal HawkTable 17. UCAV-N General Characteristics with F/A-18 C/D ComparisonCharacteristic UCAV-N F/A-18C/DLength 31 ft 56 ftSpan (Wings Unfolded) 45 ft 40 ft 5 inSpan (Wings Folded) 30 ft 27 ft 6 inHeight (Wings Unfolded) 10 ft 15 ft 4 inHeight (Wings Folded) 15 ft 15 ft 4 inWeight (Max Gross Take Off) 25,000 lbs 51,900 lbsLaunch Acceleration 5 g’s 4 g’sTakeoff Speed (Minimum) 160 knApproach Speed 150 kn 135 knWheel Track 12 ft 10 ft 3 inThe UCAV-N is required for three missions: SEAD, strike and reconnaissance. When performing a SEAD orstrike mission the UCAV-N may be armed with two JDAMs, two HARMs, or one of each. To carry these weapons