RQ-170 Sentinel
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RQ-170 Sentinel High-Altitude Long-Endurance HALE Unmanned Aerial System
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The RQ-170 is a top-secret American high-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed and manufactured Skunk Works, a division of Lockheed Martin. The Air Force's RQ-170 program leverages the Lockheed Martin Advanced Development Programs and government efforts to rapidly develop and produce a low observable UAS. The RQ-170 directly supports combatant commander needs for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance to locate targets. First RQ-170 went in production in 2007 and took off for its first flight secretly from Kandahar Air Force Base in Afghanistan during the same year. The USAF officially unveiled the operations of RQ-170 in its fleet in December 2009. Lockheed Martin's Sentinel UAS is actually flown by Air Combat Command's 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev., and the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at Tonopah Test Range, Nev. The number of RQ-170 Sentinel UASs remains secret but sources estimate it to about 20 units.
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With its "flying-wing" design, the RQ-170 Sentinel looks pretty similar to a small version of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit "Stealth Bomber". Its design is also very close to those of the Lockheed Martin's RQ-3 DarkStar and P-175 Polecat. Featuring low observable profile and stealth technology, the RQ-170 is likely to be a stealth aircraft fitted with reconnaissance equipment. The Sentinel's precise dimensions remain secret but analysts estimated them to 4.5m length, 1.84m and a wingspan between 20-26m. The RQ-170 features a tricycle type landing gear. About 90% of the aircraft could be made up of composite materials to decrease its overall weight.
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Mobility
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The RQ-170 is a stealthy jet-powered UAV. The fuselage contains a single power-plant. The engine is thought to be either a General Electric TF34 or a Honeywell TFE731. The postulated weight and ceiling parameters suggests the possible choice of a General Electric TF34 engine. The TF34 is a twin-shaft, bypass turbofan engine, which produces 9,275lbs of thrust. It generates high thrust to weight ratio, consumes less fuel and minimises operational cost. The TF34 boasts dual stage high pressure turbine, four stage low pressure turbines, annular combustor and 14 stage high pressure axial flow compressors.
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Payload equipment
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Defense analysts assessed that the RQ-170 Sentinel could be fitted with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, synthetic aperture radar and signal intelligence. Several specialists have also speculated that the two undercarriage fairings over the UAV's wings may house datalinks and that the belly fairing could be designed for modular payloads, allowing the UAV to be used for strike missions and/or electronic warfare. It has also been reported that the RQ-170 is "almost certainly" equipped with communications intercept equipment as well as highly sensitive sensors capable of detecting very small amounts of radioactive isotopes and chemicals which may indicate the existence of nuclear weapons facilities.
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The RQ-170 Sentinel was certainly designed to execute intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and electronic warfare missions over a target area. The RQ (R stands for reconnaissance) designation indicates that the aircraft is unarmed, unlike the “MQ” designation used for armed drones like MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reapere, which are equipped with missiles and precision-guided bombs.
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