Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1446249
The industry also presented several solutions meeting the requirements of the Polish military in the UAV domain. Among the exhibitors, one could have found the US-based General Atomics Aeronautical System with its Predator B platform, also known under the military designation MQ-9 Reaper. The presence of the US company is a response to the operational requirements expressed by the Polish military. The MoD, within the framework of the Zefir procurement program, plans to purchase up to 4 sets of 3 MALE UCAV platforms. The solutions offered by General Atomics are already manufactured and operated (also in combat) by a growing number of nations. Currently, the MQ-9 Reaper UAVs are in service in the United States, France (with recent combat debut in Africa), Spain, Italy, and the UK. The Netherlands also received its first MQ- 9s last year. MQ-9B Sky Guardian - a derivative of the Reaper - was sold to Belgium, the UK, and the UAE. Kratos XQ-58 Valkyrie was one of the major aviation highlights at this year's MSPO event in Kielce. The XQ- 58 Valkyrie has been created within the USAF LCASD (Low-Cost Attritable Strike Demonstrator) program, aimed at creating a modular, unmanned aerial system having a price tag of up to USD 3 million apiece, and being capable of carrying two SDBs at a distance of 4,800 kilometers, using an internal weapons bay. Kratos accomplished the task in little less than 2 years from the commencement of the project, to the Valkyrie's maiden flight. This shows the manufacturer's capacity. Kratos, for years now, has been specializing in the design and development of unmanned platforms for a myriad of military purposes, including aerial targets, models of which were presented in Kielce as well. The most distinguishing feature of the XQ-58 Valkyrie is the take-off/landing method. The aircraft is launched from a wheeled launcher platform (also presented in Kielce) and then lands using a parachute and a set of energy- absorbing cushions, making the landing soft. The implementation of the latter solution has been put on hold now. Works are underway, aimed at creating another system that would diminish the impact effects when using a parachute for landing. Thanks to the above, the XQ-58 Valkyrie does not need typical airfield infrastructure, and it takes only 120 minutes from the landing, to prepare the aircraft for the next flight. A prototype of the XQ-58 Valkyrie is currently operated by a US Air Force test flight team at the Yuma range in Arizona. Up until now, 10 one-hour sorties were conducted. The experience and conclusions gathered are to be utilized throughout the upcoming advanced UAV- focused programs, including the Skyborg project. During the test phase, a small Altius-600 UAV was dropped from the weapons bay of the Valkyrie mothership. M/UM-T (Manned/Unmanned Teaming) was another domain in which tests were conducted. Despite the experimental profile, the designers and engineers at Kratos did factor in a possibility to mount standard USAF AAM pylons on the aircraft. Thanks to the above, the XQ-58 will offer the capability to carry two wingtip- carried AIM-9X Sidewinders, and two UAVs and Air Platform Weapons EXHIBITION