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Aerosonde Textron Systems UAS Unmanned Aerial System
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The Aerosonde Mark 4.7 is an UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) designed and manufactured by the Company Aerosonde a strategic business of AAI Corporation, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc. company. This impressive endurance, as well as the aircraft’s payload flexibility, modularity and affordability, make it an ideal choice for remote data collection and reconnaissance missions for military, civil and scientific entities. In 2006, the aircraft set a world flight endurance record in its class by remaining in flight without refueling for more than 38 hours. In 2007, an Aerosonde was the first unmanned aircraft to penetrate the eye of a hurricane. Under a program administered by NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Aerosonde aircraft flew a mission of more than 17 hours, a record 7.5 of which were spent navigating Hurricane Noel’s eye and boundary layer. In 2009, the Aerosonde Mark 4.7 system was introduced to provide expeditionary intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Including the novel Soft Hands net recovery technology, the system rounded out the year with a successful shipboard launch and recovery demonstration off the M-80 Stiletto ship. The Aerosonde Mark 4.7 was showcased at the 2010 Bahrain Air Show, where the flight team conducted the system’s first flights in the Middle East region. These included a flight during a driving sand storm, which displayed the aircraft’s rugged, all-weather capability. |
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Technical Data |
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Design |
The general layout of the Aerosonde UAS is very similar to other modern UAS. The main internal components (payload, engine, fuel, sensors and avionics) are all held in a centralized nacelle. To this is affixed a straight wing assembly running over the top of the rear of the fuselage. From each wing trailing edge exists thin boom stalks that connect the aft tailplanes uzed for stabilization. The engine is fitted to the extreme end of the fuselage nacelle and arranged in a "pusher" setup powering a simple two-bladed propeller system.
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Mobility |
The Aerosonde is powered by a modified Enya R120 model aircraft engine which provides the UAV to flight at a maximum speed of 148 km/h and a service ceiling of 4,500 m. The Aerosonde unmanned aircraft system (UAS) offers an impressive endurance of more than 26 hours (with a minimal payload). With a full electro-optic/infrared payload, the Aerosonde aircraft can achieve more than 10 hours’ endurance.
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Payloads equipment |
The Aerosonde UAS offers multi-payload capability, including demonstrations of signals intelligence, communications relay and electronic warfare payloads |
Combat use |
The Aerosonde UAS employs a catapult system to take off from small, remote clearings and ships, and also can launch from the roof of a fast-moving ground vehicle. It can land via belly or net capture using AAI’s proprietary launch and recovery trailer, or LRT, system with Soft Hands™ recovery technology. The Aerosonde Mark 4.7 is compatible with AAI’s Expeditionary Ground Control Station (EGCS) for fast, easy setup and launch. All Aerosonde aircraft also are being incorporated into AAI’s interoperability network of common ground control technologies, including the NATO standardization agreement (STANAG) 4586-compliant One System® Ground Control Station and One System Remote Video Terminal. A typical system includes: - Three Mark 4.7 aircraft - One trailer-mounted combined launch/recovery system - Three EO/IR/LP payloads - EGCS, the newest hardware configuration of AAI’s STANAG 4586-compliant One System Ground Control Station family - Associated ground equipment - Award-winning, long-term logistical support
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Specifications |
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Type
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Light UAS Unmanned Aerial System
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Country users
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United States
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Designer Company
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United States - Aerosonde / Textron Systems
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Payloads equipment
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Cloudcap Technology payload – TASE T2 day/night payload with laser pointer
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Operator
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1
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Altitude
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4,600 m
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Weight
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17.5 kg or 25 kg with K-twin engine
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Speed
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150 km/h
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Endurance
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10 hours a
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Dimensions
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Lenght: ? m; Wingspan: 3.6 m; Height: ? m
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