Payloads
Last year's UAV report summarized a variety of payload and related technology demonstrations and experiments. This year, work has continued in specific areas with renewed top-level planning in light of the recent changes in UAV acquisition. Payload activities include:

• Specific payload demonstration projects managed or supported by the UAV JPO (some of which were in the "Technology" section last year); and
  
• A payload prioritization process, under the aegis of the JROC's UAV Special Study Group (SSG), with inputs from the CINC's and supported by DARO.

UAV JPO Payload Projects

The UAV JPO conducts proof-of-principle demonstrations of mature UAV sensor payloads to evaluate their suitability for tactical UAV applications. This activity provides a systematic approach to the integration of common growth mission payloads across the UAV family. During the FY 1995 ­ FY 1996 time frame, fourteen payloads have been demonstrated aboard Pioneer and Hunter, as representative UAV testbeds lighter payloads aboard Pioneer, and heavier payloads aboard Hunter. Most of the demo reports were issued during FY 1996; the rest will be completed early in FY 1997. Additional payload demonstrations are planned for Predator, starting in FY 1996/97. All results are inputs to the JROC SSG's payload prioritization process.

1 Joint UAV JPO-Marine Corps Systems Command project.
2 Joint UAV JPO-Joint Command and Control Warfare Center (JC2WC) project.
3 Supported by UAV JPO's MAE UAV Project Team and the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO).
4 Supported by UAV JPO's MAE UAV Project Team and the Naval Research Laboratory's Tactical Oceanographic Warfare Support (NRL/TOWS) Program Office.

Specific FY 1996 accomplishments include:

• Hyperspectral Imaging (Pioneer): HSS detection of hidden targets showed the feasibility of location and tracking missions against non-visible targets and activities.
  
• Comm/Data Relay (Hunter): VHF and UHF half-duplex voice and data relays to a range of 120 km showed the feasibility of longer UAV ranges while maintaining a BLOS link.
  
• Laser Designator/Rangefinder (Hunter): Four successful ground launches of Hellfire missiles against Hunter/LDRF-designated targets demonstrated the feasibility of precision targeting by UAVs.

Additional payload projects include demonstrations of: a UAV electronic decoy to support tacair strike forces; all-weather imaging of moving ground targets using an Army moving target indicator (MTI) radar; and the Airborne Standoff Minefield Detection System (ASTAMIDS) as key to future Army mine countermeasures.

JROC Special Study Group Activities
The JROC's UAV SSG resumed its follow-on payload prioritization work in the Spring of 1996. Following a DARO payload briefing, the SSG asked the CINCs and Services to submit priorities for 17 mission areas and capabilities for the four primary UAV types (Global Hawk, DarkStar, Predator, and Tactical UAV). With these inputs and parallel payload inputs by DARPA, the UAV JPO and DARO, the SSG is currently developing a prioritized payloads list by UAV. (A representative matrix is shown below.)

Results will first be presented to the JROC for approval and then forwarded to the USD(A&T) in early FY 1997.

JROC UAV SSG's Payload Prioritization Process (image size: 34Kb)

Current Technology Applications
Each of the four primary UAVs anticipates a vigorous preplanned product improvement (P3I) program, as their ACTDs help to identify needed features, which are then (1)mapped against existing requirements and emerging needs, and (2)matched to technology maturity, feasible schedules, and available funds. The main current activities are:

• Incorporation of a UAV Common Automatic Recovery System (U-CARS) and improved avionics (via the Modular Integrated Avionics Group [MIAG] program) both potentially for all tactical UAVs; and
  
• Definition of the LRIP configuration and P3I program for Predator, as part of its transition from ACTD to full acquisition program.

Predator's P3I program was addressed on page 19; U-CARS and MIAG updates are presented here. Both of these programs are managed by the UAV JPO.

U-CARS. The purpose of this program is to provide system positioning data that will enable automatic land or shipboard recovery of UAVs, thereby reducing operator training needs and fatigue, the risk of mishaps, and associated costs. Initially supported by Congress for Pioneer, U-CARS is being tested for land-based operation in 4Q FY 1996 and sea-based operation in 1Q FY 1997. Plans also include integration into both Predator and Outrider: a Predator integration study is currently underway, and integration into Outrider is an option on its current ACTD contract.

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MIAG. This program's objective is to improve UAV flight performance via a common, modular, smaller and lighter vehicle/flight management system. Functions include: AV subsystem monitoring and control, flight control, navigation, guidance, and payload control. Engineering development models will be flight-tested aboard Pioneer in early FY 1997, with production of 66 MIAGs planned to start thereafter; an IFF module is also undergoing development for later procure-ment. In addition, MIAG may be incorporated into Predator, Outrider, and target drones.

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VTOL Evaluation. For FY 1997, the Congress provided $15 million for the flight testing of the Puma VTOL tactical UAV, which was one of the candidates in the TUAV ACTD competition. Planning for this evaluation will begin shortly.

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