Army Uav's, Types and Serials

[Brendan Cowan]

Just a teaser folks:

1. Do we know all the UAV types being operated by the Army/ADF? (I know of Aerosonde and Codarra systems being evaluated).
2. Do their serials fall within the conventional system?
3. If so, is it time to add them to the site?

Cheers BC


Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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Thursday 3 November, 2005
176/2005

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES TO BE DEPLOYED TO IRAQ

Miniature Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) will be deployed to Iraq to provide increased protection for Australian Defence Force soldiers and will be a new ally in operational missions in the southern Al Muthanna province.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said four Skylark miniature UAVs will be deployed to assist the second rotation of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG). A further two UAVs will remain in Australia for training and preparation purposes.

"The miniature UAVs will be used on reconnaissance and surveillance missions, and provide real-time information about the terrain and activities in an area," Senator Hill said.

"This will increase our troop's understanding of the Al Muthanna area, and increase their ability to respond to identified threats.

"The UAVs that will deploy with the AMTG are a miniature, lightweight and portable system that is easy to recover and relaunch."

Senator Hill said the Government was investing more and more on research and development of unmanned vehicle technology for use in future operations and for surveillance purposes.

"These new intelligent and largely autonomous systems will in the future be able to carry out hazardous tasks traditionally reserved for warfighters which will reduce exposure and risks to Australian Defence Force personnel," Senator Hill said.

"UAV are an increasingly important part of the modern battlefield, particularly because they increase the troop's ability to detect, respond and remain informed of activities across a wide area.

"This information can then be used to warn our troops and help them avoid potentially dangerous situations.
"The rapid acquisition and deployment of the miniature UAVs is another example of the Government's commitment to supporting our ADF personnel on operations.

"The UAV will complement an already impressive array of equipment including the Bushmaster Infantry Mobility Vehicle, Australian Light Armoured vehicle and enhanced combat body armour already supplied to our soldiers in Iraq."

The ADF has conducted extensive testing and evaluation of UAVs, including a successful operational trial of an Australian-designed UAV in the Solomon Islands in 2003.

Still imagery and a low resolution MPEG video of the Skylark UAV can be found at : http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2005/nov/20051101s.cfm

Media contacts:
Sascha Meldrum (Senator Hill)
08 8237 7920 or 0409 034 241

Defence Media Liaison
02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

[darren.crick]

I knew they were being operated, I have not noted any standard serials. but thats doesnt mean they dont exist.

did everyone see in the latest aviation the artists impression of A41-3? :)

[Brendan Cowan]

Yes, and if they do exist - they are going to be hard to spot - just like the UAV's themelves!

:D

[Brendan Cowan]

Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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Monday 12 December, 2005 199/2005

NEW TACTICAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE CAPABILITY

The Australian Defence Force will be equipped with a fleet of long range tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to be used as Army's 'eyes in the sky' which will play a crucial intelligence and surveillance role in Australia combined arms force, Defence Minister Robert Hill announced today.

Senator Hill said the Government had agreed to the $145 million UAV project to provide the Army with a high precision day and night surveillance and targeting capability with accompanying ground systems.

The tactical UAVs will provide wide-ranging surveillance with advanced retractable sensor technology to work closely with the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter to support operations on the battlefield.

Boeing Australia has been selected as the preferred tenderer to provide the Israel Aircraft Industries I-View UAV system because it offered the best value for money.

A new Army regiment will operate the tactical UAVs at Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, in Queensland. Boeing Australia will provide the through-life-support for the UAV systems, generating around 125 new jobs in the Brisbane area.
The first tactical UAVs are expected to be in operational service in 2008. They will complement the ADF's layered UAV system of short-range miniature SKYLARK UAVs that are being deployed to Iraq and the High Altitude Long Endurance Maritime UAV that is to be purchased under Project Air 7000.

"The I-View has a fully automatic take-off and landing system that dramatically increases operational reliability. Its catapult launcher and unique parafoil landing concept enables it to be deployed and recovered from an uneven area smaller than a football field.

"This capability, which includes real time video, will enable 24-hour surveillance for the protection of Australian forces as well as the identification of enemy targets.

"All Australian tenderers provided innovative and competitive proposals, demonstrating the maturity of Australian industry in this emerging field.

"The Government is investing on more research and development of unmanned vehicle technology for use in future operations and for surveillance purposes.

"UAVs are an increasingly important part of the modern battlefield, particularly because they increase the troop's ability to detect, respond and remain informed of activities across a wide area. This information can then be used to warn our troops and help them avoid potentially dangerous situations."

Still imagery and a MPEG video of the I-View UAV can be found at: http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download


Media contacts
Sascha Meldrum (Senator Hill)
08 8237 7920
0409 034 241

Defence Media Liaison
02 6265 3343
0408 498 664

[Martin Edwards]

It is with sadness I read about UAVs.
They have no soul.
I don't think airshows will ever be the same again.
BTW If there are no pilots needed then where is Qantas going to steal their pilots from!!! :P

[Brendan Cowan]

No soul onboard - no soul to be lost - That's the point I guess.

But yes - they do lack the adrenalin factor!

Still, they are part of the ADF inventory - so if they have serials - we have something to record and track.

BC

[Demon50]

I must be suffering from Grumpy Old Man syndrome because I reckon the Army UAVs will be as hard to spot as next week's winning Lotto numbers.

I really can't see the point in logging these things as they do nothing for me at all and are just like sophisticated radio controoled models IMHO. Jindiviks and Kulkara (?) do nothing for me, neither will these UAVs.

But now I'll contradict myself by saying that we'll probably have to log Global Hawks !!!

[Brendan Cowan]

To my way of thinking, there are several classes of UAV:

1) Those originally designed for piloted operation and then converted such as the Meteor U16/21 and Canberra U10 - drones in the old speak.

2) Generally higher performance medium sized types designed for pilotless operations and specific missions such targets and recce (Like the Jindi, Global Hawk & Predator) or now even warlike operations (X-45, X-47, etc)

3) Recce types that would probably not look out of place at your local RC Model club.

4) Surveillance types not much larger than an insect.

Personally, I think that the appeal of each of those classes ranges from fascinating at the top and decreasing to near zero at the bottom.

But I don't think that the wow factor is necessarily the point here.

My cold clinical view is that UAV's are increasingly integrating into the world's military inventories including that of the ADF. It is very probable for example that our Orions could be replaced with some P-8's, A few global Hawks and range of smaller supporting UAVs. That is the layered CONOPs in vogue at the moment. The movement into autonomous targeting, precision armed UAVs has already begun.

I think that it would be wrong to think that piloted aviation is dead. Remember the Duncan Sandy's report bold decree that the guided missile spelt the end of the piloted interceptor! No, there will still be aircrew.

So what is our place in this?

We are historians - bower bird collectors of facts and perspectives picking up anything that fits our collection policy!

If UAVs fit into the A or N serial ranges (and we don't yet know for certain that they do - but I suspect at least some will) - then I think that we should record them on ADF Serials.

Now, I think I'd better back down off my soapbox and back away quickly with out making eye contact. I fear I may have just unwittingly set myself up as a future UAV type Page Author! :o

Cheers

BC

[mark]

What about the use of the Bloodhound SAM in the sixties (with 30 Sqn RAAF?).
No A serial and therefore nothing on the ADF site (that i can recall).

Yet if a UAV is allocated a A or N serial we must (unhappily) track it.

Then there are civil registered aircraft used by the ADF on our ADF serials site not allocated A or N serilas....so maybe the Bloodhound's should be included.

What about Sidewinders,Sparrows,Harpoons.....I give up!

Regards mark

[darren.crick]

Interesting thread guys...

along time ago in a land far far away (sorry), we decided that we would record/track/include any aircraft operated by units of the ADF... so thats what our current policy is...

Is a Bloodhound an aircraft? Is a sidewinder? I doubt they have A Serials but I am sure they would have some sort of ID. They wouldnt be easy to track thats for sure.

Take a look at Joe Baugher's USAF Serials and see what is included there...

I'll leave you with that to consider.

Darren

[Brendan Cowan]

Yep,

Joe's site is an absolute "must-see" reference.

My simple view is basically if it has an A or N number - it falls into our domain!

Cheers

BC

[Brendan Cowan]

Also, on the subject of useful reference sites like Joe's - I also like Andreas Parsch's Military Designation Systems Site.

[URL=http://www.designation-systems.net/]Designation-Sytems.net[/URL]

[Brendan Cowan]

Interesting that they are using the TUAV capability in conjunction with the Tigers. No mention of UAV types.....

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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PARLSEC 021/2006 Wednesday 29 March 2006

TACTICAL UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE FACILITIES A STEP CLOSER

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald has welcomed the first step in bringing forward a proposal for the construction of facilities to support the new Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) capability at Queensland's Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera.

The proposal has today been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Public Works.

"The proposed facilities, which are budgeted at $17.45 million, will support the operation, training and maintenance requirements for the new TUAV capability," Senator Macdonald said.

"The project will also provide working accommodation for the new 20th Surveillance and Target Acquisition Regiment, recently established to operate the TUAVs," he said.

The TUAV facilities project combines the refurbishment of a number of existing facilities at Gallipoli Barracks, with construction of some new purpose-built facilities to support the TUAVs specialised maintenance and training requirements.

The TUAV is a remote controlled capability which is able to provide airborne surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisitions to assist land operations. They will provide wide-ranging surveillance and work closely with the Tiger Armed Reconnaissance Helicopter.

Senator Macdonald said the new facilities will provide essential support to this new capability.

Subject to Parliamentary clearance, construction on the project will commence in late 2006 and is planned to be completed by late 2007.


Media information:
Media Adviser: Rachel Kingsford Smith 0408 019 537
Defence Media Contact: (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

[darren.crick]

more teasers and no serials I'm afraid... there are plenty of gaps in the numbering system!

[Dave Masterson]

I have to agree with you Bob.I also think that UAV's are radio controlled "Gizmos"
Not worth recording on the adf site. Then again I'm not the boss. :huh:

[Brendan Cowan]

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Media Mail List
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PARLSEC 049/2006 Monday 22 May 2006

UNMANNED AIRCRAFT TRIAL FOR NORTH WEST SHELF GOING AHEAD

A Defence trial, using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and an Armidale Class patrol boat, will be conducted across Australia's North West Shelf region in September 2006, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Senator Sandy Macdonald announced today.

Senator Macdonald said the proposed trial was a commitment made by the Australian Government in its 2004 election policy Securing Australia's North West Shelf.

"The North West Shelf region is of vital strategic and economic interest to Australia and enhancing existing security in this area is a priority for the government. Criminal activities such as illegal fishing, drug running and people smuggling must be stopped," Senator Macdonald said.

Senator Macdonald said the trial will assess the potential of UAVs to operate under a joint, integrated surveillance capability with the Navy's Armidale Class Patrol Boats to provide an additional layer of surveillance in Australia's approaches.

The trial is being led by the Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) in collaboration with the Navy, RAAF, Army and other areas of Defence, as well as the Joint Offshore Protection Command (a partnership between Defence and the Australian Customs Service).

US company General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) will be jointly conducting the trial with Defence. A UAV system, made by the company, will serve as the aerial platform for the trial.

Conducted over 30 days, including a flying period of 14 days, the trial will start with three test flights out of RAAF Edinburgh near Adelaide, followed by four missions from RAAF Learmonth on the north west coast of Western Australia. RAAF Edinburgh will also be the primary mission control site while the UAV is airborne.

Contracts were signed in March with both US companies, paving the way for the trial to proceed during the month of September. The UAV being used has been modified specifically for the purposes of the Australian trial. It will carry only sensor and communications equipment suitable for maritime surveillance missions.

"This UAV trial is a valuable exercise for Defence. The results will assist in developing the requirements for phase one of Air Project 7000. Under this project Defence plans to acquire a long endurance, multi-mission unmanned aerial system," Senator Macdonald said.


Media information:
Media Adviser: Rachel Kingsford Smith 0408 019 537
Darryl Johnston (DSTO)
(02) 6265 7949 or 0404 823 741
Defence Media Contact:
(02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664

[Damien]

Hmmm......to list or not to list. I agree with Brendan - if it has an A or N number, it should be included. The Link Trainer could hardly be considered an aircraft, could it? (BTW Dean, I got to 'fly' in one of those a few times, too! :D )