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Summary

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Loral (Frontier Systems) W570, Arrow, Shadow

An interesting situation occurred in 1994. Once assigned to a direct contract by Lockheed and Boeing are somehow losing sight of the company Loral, which is on the agenda Aars also actively participated and secured a significant portion of the sensor and electronics equipment. With that, however, its managers decided nemienili reconciled and decided to take matters into their own hands. Branch Loral Western Development Laboratories approached Frontier Systems (a new company founded by Abraham Karem, after he sold his original company Leading Systems General Atomics Corporation) to create a suitable platform that could compete with the upcoming aircraft RQ-4 Global Hawk. The result was a unique machine-slim W570 with large wing span of 48.79 meters and 125.42 meters area only. This provides sensor antennas only minimally limited vision, but also had to be extremely flexible wing, was able to withstand considerable vibration and deflection. in the central part there is a pop-up up and down the torso with a length of 7.67 and a height of 2.74 meters. After his side at the top of the two engines were placed FJ44-2E. While the air intakes, they are located near the wing leading edge at the top of the machine outlet nozzles were scattered, and use technology to hot combustion gases mixing with the ambient air to reduce as many aircraft infrared footprint. Means of them could reach a top speed of Mach 0.7 (Mach overflight 0.6), the availability of 24 400 meters, an impressive range 34 630 km and can remain airborne for more than 60 hours, of which about two thirds of the target area. For this reason, had a greater proportion of the maximum takeoff weight of 20 412 kg fuel form. Empty machine weighs only 3042 kg, which was actually easier than it carried a payload of 4536 kg in weight. This mainly consisted of various powerful electronic sensors, having available power to 300 kW of electricity. Unusual (calculated) exercise machine stunned many around, especially the original partners in the project QUARTZ as the company Loral they somehow forgot to report on its activities and also that they used for their own benefit many technologies developed during the program Aars, without their knowledge. This action resulted in a very sharp legal conflicts and protests from both sides, according to one of the biggest stakeholders, concerning projects financed by the black budget. Form of final settlement is not known, but Boeing has decided to engage in further development of the resource.

The initial version of W570 was derived less variant Arrow, which had a maximum takeoff weight reduced by half and at the same affordable, range and endurance in the air, its payload is limited to 454 kg. Adequate to reduce the external dimensions of the range of 35.13 m, length 5.51 mA height of 1.98 meters. Consortium Loral / Boeing / Frontier Systems him were aiming mainly to non-military sector, with the assumption commercial use.

The main use, however, of course, lie in military reconnaissance and surveillance tactical long opposed strongly the target area. W570 machine specifications match the best Tier IV, but since those not assigned any formal contract, the priority became tender specifications around the Tier II Plus. For this purpose, a means had to be adjusted accordingly. In particular, the trailing edge of the wing was added in the middle of an additional tooth, so the body has become a fully integral part of the wing and has nevybiehal the rear. To increase the stability of the starting and landing, the designers decided to use a bit of an unusual four-chassis with two pre-pop front undercarriage legs, while the wheels are in the extended position to get to apex wing leading edge. Thus, at least partially able to offset the instability of great design that was extremely prone to spin, especially when the impact of ground effect or wind gusts. Although the machine managed to get the shortlist of five finalists of the Tier II Plus, the competition ultimately won. One can only speculate about the cause of the technologies used were low observability (which were in conflict with its sister program, Tier III Minus), a concept too risky or poor compliance with the guarantee provided for the development budget. However, not everything was lost.

Frontier Systems Company received a contract for the development, production and flight test demonstrator reduced, to verify the overall concept means. He received the designation of Shadow and was, in principle, although part of the Tier II Plus (should also serve as a pilot trainer for the type of survey equipment HALE), was fully funded by the black budget. His margin shrank to 19.81 m in overall length of 3.1 meters and 1.81 meters. The maximum takeoff weight of 1588 kg was accounted for by means of an empty 907 kg and a payload of 91 kg. Reduced size of course also reflected in performance. The aircraft, powered by one engine F112 Williams, could remain in the air 12 hours at the maximum available 15 240 meters. Flight tests were conducted in the second half of the 90 years under strict confidentiality.

In September 1995, conducted by Loral further attempt to promote their funds. Representatives of the USAF, U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, and BMDO (Ballistic Missile Defense Organization) presented the possibility of using machine W570 for defense against missiles with cruise missiles and destroy intercontinental ballistic missiles during the launch. For these missions could use mainly high payload weight carried by the considerable range and endurance required in the air. It was not yet a blind shot. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in cooperation with the U.S. Army is proposed to be used as a quick solution prepared pilotless means of RQ-4 Global Hawk, which was equipped with three to six missiles, destroying targets its kinetic energy, vy\u013eah\u010den�m sensor equipment, systems for self-defense, and additional communication accessories. Life of the system was set at 20 years of operational deployment beginning in 2003, and for this purpose should be built up to 75 unmanned machines in the total cost of weapon system at four billion dollars! It was therefore a lot of money. In design terms, the overall design must be re-adjusted slightly because of new requirements. Wing with the engine left shoulder from the original proposal W570, but got a new machine torso extension, which was above and below the wing visibly extended backwards. This will create space for additional sensor equipment and bomb pay \u013eahkovymenite\u013en�m with a modular arrangement. Rockets were placed on the launch pad, which at the time vys�vala shot out of the trunk. Even here, however, ultimately means W570 failed because, according to the representatives of potential users, neither for it could not find adequate utilization. Americans led by BMDO began this type of mission to support Israel in its development of unmanned combat means IAI HA-10 , but with a relatively smooth progression of the project Yal-1A Air Borne Laser interest to BMDO unmanned soluti

Loral Company proposed to be awarded funding for the project could be used as a temporary solution to General Electric J97-GE-3, which were in number 24 pieces stored in warehouses NASA Ames. Initially developed for the aircraft Teledyne Ryan AQM-91 Compass Arrow already in the 70 years, which made them yet valid (declassified) altitude record for subsonic jet aircraft at 24,384 feet. Their thrust is around 25 kN. Definitive powertrain to become engines of Williams FJ44-3E, which provide two-stroke, compared with the original FJ44-2E, used in the modification means for W570 Tier II Plus program. Should it be found funds, aircraft in the piece price of five million dollars without sensor equipment could be manufactured and ready for test flight has 18 months from contract award. If so, we sort of familiar with these characteristics? Yes, Loral Western Development Laboratories bought 8th January 1996 by Lockheed Martin …


   Air Vehicle Specifications - Developmental Systems
   Shephard's Unmanned Vehicles Handbook 2007
   The Shephard Press, 1996

Frontier Systems was the company that Abe Karem and key members of Leading Systems founded after Amber. Loral provided the overall program management and sensor integration management. One of the development efforts they had working on was a 26,000 lb flying wing concept for theater missile defense, called the W570A. (A slightly smaller version for ISR and communications relay missions for export and civilian use, was called the Arrow.) Reportedly, $10M was invested in its development. A scaled down version of the W570, the 3500 lb Shadow flying wing, was studied under the Tier II+ Phase I, and built in April 1996 as a high altitude endurance flight test bed and high altitude UAV trainer.

Specs

Engine: Twin 2,300 lb st Willaims-Rolls FJ44-2E turbofans

Wingspan: 48.79 m

Wing area: 125.42 m

Total length: 7.67 m

Total height: 2.74 m

Empty weight: 3,402 kg

Max. payload: 4,536 kg

Max. take-off weight: 20,412 kg

Max level speed: Mach 0.7

Max cruise speed: Mach 0.65

Service celling: 70,000 ft

Range: 18 000 nm

Max endurance: 60 h

Sources

http://www.uavcenter.com/english/wwuavs/north_america/eLR.asp

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