USAF Small UAS Strategy Vision

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 19 Aug 2015, 03:27

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articl ... er-415788/

USAF targets small UAS in new strategic vision paper
By: JAMES DREWWASHINGTON DC Source: Flightglobal.com 19 hours ago
The US Air Force is likely to ramp up its investment in small unmanned aircraft following the release of a long-awaited strategic vision document later this year.

It expects to release its “Small UAS Flight Plan” this winter, and says it sees lightweight aircraft performing many more combat roles currently tasked to large unmanned aircraft that require far more money and manpower to operate. Such missions include surveillance, electronic warfare, communications as well as tactical strikes in heavily defended regions.

Something like this... deployed from a mothership, overwhelm by weight of numbers.

https://youtu.be/Cl5R7QSb6eQ

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 02 Sep 2015, 14:23

DARPA folk are at it again with Gremlin, an initiative in support of the USAF small UAS vision. Interesting that they are intended to be reusable which implies that they pack some sophisticated kit too expensive to simply throw away. Modular design could accomodate mini-PGMs, jamming gear, HPM thingy, etc.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... craft.html

US military is developing 'Gremlin' drones to overwhelm enemy defenses and conduct missions too dangerous for manned aircraft

Each drone could be reused upto 20 times
Drones would 'swarm' together to carry out missions on the front line
Launched in mid-air from larger aircraft and then retrieved in same way

Would be a great delivery system for releasing LOCUST swarms.
https://youtu.be/AyguXoum3rk

eloise · by **eloise** » 02 Sep 2015, 16:22

should be easy, they already done something similar in the past

MALD-J, can be carried on TER racks just like MK-82, allowing sibgle aircraft to carry many of them, range 920 km, carry a jammer and 2 way datalinks, flight route can be pre programmed.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 02 Sep 2015, 16:51

I expect GREMLIN will raise the performance bar because it will incorporate swarm logic. I like the emphasis on making it a recoverable asset that can be reused multiple times. Redefines affordability.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 07 Sep 2015, 14:08

https://youtu.be/77gTSr07Jqs

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 15 Sep 2015, 00:48

A fascinating document on how swarming technology will change the way wars will be fought.
http://www.cnas.org/the-coming-swarm#.VfdbMs6wpcs

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 20 Apr 2018, 10:37

Work continues on Gremlin.

posting.php?mode=reply&f=37&t=27771

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency on Wednesday awarded Dynetics a $38.6 million contract for phase three of the development of the Gremlins program. Under the program, DARPA wants to let a C-130 deploy a swarm of drones that can then be collected after their mission is completed. The entire program, including this phase, will last 43 months at a total cost of $64 million: Dynetics release.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... -2019.html

The Gremlins are coming! US military to test 'flying aircraft carriers' that can launch swarms of tiny killer drones in 2019

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 21 Apr 2018, 01:39

Gremlins will dock with a drogue dangling from the mother ship then get reeled in and grabbed for reuse. Parachute recovery option also being developed.
http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/20 ... lying-fish

geforcerfx · by **geforcerfx** » 22 Apr 2018, 03:58

That recovery system could work for MALD's replacement, make them recoverable instead of wasting them on each shot.

popcorn · by **popcorn** » 22 Apr 2018, 05:03

geforcerfx wrote:That recovery system could work for MALD's replacement, make them recoverable instead of wasting them on each shot.

I think there's merit to design a standard recovery system that future generations of UAVs would be compatible with.