A10 Warthog Drone - The venerable A-10 Thunderbolt II is considered an unmanned weapons delivery platform under the Defense Advanced Projects Agency's Persistent Close Air Support program. (Photo: Darpa)
Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are developing new systems and concepts for close air support using an unmanned version of the twin-engine A-10 Thunderbolt II. The company was awarded a $7 million contract in April 2011 as part of the first phase of the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) Persistent Close Air Support (PCAS) program.
A10 Warthog Drone
The goal of the PCAS program is to demonstrate the ability of the terminal attack pilot (JTAC) in the field to "see, select and use the weapon at the moment of their choice from the A-10 unmanned/unmanned," according to Darpa. The agency's statement released in September 2010. The program will develop a "standard architecture for interoperability" between the JTAC and the aircraft, with the necessary equipment in the carry-on bag. An aircraft within 30 nm of a target is expected to deliver the weapon to that target within six minutes of the JTAC request. The bonfire demonstration is planned for 2015.
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Raytheon and Northrop Grumman also had to develop plans and system requirements for an operational PCAS system. Darpa is expected to select one of the two companies during the second 12-month phase, which is expected to begin this spring. This phase will focus on the design of the A-10 platform and JTAC suite, culminating in a critical design review next year.
The companies declined to comment on the current status of the PCAS program, and Darpa did not immediately respond to AIN's inquiries. Raytheon announced in April that it is partnering with Rockwell Collins and GE Aviation on the PCAS program. Most recently, on Feb. 16, drone maker Aurora Flight Sciences, of Manassas, Va., said it had been selected by Raytheon to develop its drone technology. Aurora replaces Raytheon's first choice Proxy Aviation Systems.
While a vintage Fairchild Republic A-10 Warthog from the 1970s is the designated PCAS platform for the demonstration, Darpa says the plan is to develop an interface that can be used in a variety of manned and unmanned aircraft. You are reading free review articles. which may differ from The Motley Fool's Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today for instant access to top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investment resources and more. Learn more
The US Air Force has been trying to replace the A-10 "Wartog" ground attack fleet for years. Here they are again -- but this time there's a new twist to this story. While one arm of the Pentagon is working on phasing out the A-10, the other arm is working on a 21st century replacement.
The Air Force May Build A Real A 10 Replacement After All
The most notable feature of the A-10 Warthog is its massive gun. Now DARPA wants a flying gun ... without a plane. Image source: Getty Images.
Reported last week, the Air Force "announced plans Feb. 10 to begin ... retiring some A-10s even as others build new wings."
According to Air Force Undersecretary for Financial Management Gen. John Pletcher, the Air Force is spending "$161 million to continue upgrading and upgrading avionics" on some A-10s, and sticking (at least in part) to its promise to keep at least 218 aircraft "upgraded" A- 10 flying for the next two decades. However, the USAF wants to retire the 44th
The A-10s begin later this year — and that effort could threaten the $2 billion in revenue Boeing (BA -0.09%) hopes to eventually earn when it goes through the entire A-10 fleet, renewing and replacing wings. quite long in the tooth.
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Now there's good news here, too, for Boeing -- and for A-10 fans. In the US Senate chamber, Martha McSally, a member of the Armed Services Committee, was a former A-10 pilot - and died against the Air Force plan. There is also a tail in the House. Ann Kirkpatrick -- who is not an A-10 pilot, but represents the Air Force base where the plane is based.
However, if they fail in their efforts to keep funding for all A-10s, an entirely different arm of the federal government is devising a plan that could become the future of close air support for U.S. forces on the ground. .. and includes drones.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency -- DARPA, the Pentagon's "mad science division" -- has submitted a 2021 defense budget request, including $13.27 million for the "development and demonstration of technologies that enable "a tactical missile system launched from air capable of multiple - mission support."
This remote-controlled drone, called the "Gunslinger... will utilize the capabilities of an advanced missile system with a gun system that can produce detachable and attractive effects on multiple targets." Launched on a larger aircraft, the Gunslinger is airborne and has an internal gun system (perhaps a Gatling-type gun like the A-10), which the drone will use to engage ground targets as well as ground-to-air targets. It is similar to a similar DARPA program in action - the "Flying Missile Rail" - which is developing drones that can attack targets with missiles.
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At this early stage, most details about the Gunslinger remain up in the air (so to speak), as DARPA is only exploring "conceptual design and modeling work." But ultimately the goal is to develop a working prototype, then test it and eventually deploy it in the Air Force and Navy—a process that could take at least several years.
Based on how previous DARPA projects have worked, the first step is to invite companies to submit proposals to build various systems that meet the goals set out in the FY 2021 budget request. I imagine that could include a giant defense company like Raytheon ( RTN), which has significant experience in building MALD (Miniature Air-Launched Decoy) missiles that perform autonomous missions like drones. I also expect to see interest from Kratos Defense & Security (KTOS -1.99%) , which has been instrumental in developing anti-aircraft drone systems for the Pentagon—most famously, the Gremlin drones.
And maybe there are others. Depending on the size of the "gun" the Gunslinger will carry, for example, defense contractor AeroVironment (AVAV 0.12%) is the Pentagon's most used supplier.
, a switchblade kamikaze drone that can be used. If the level rises again, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin also have drone programs and could be interested in bidding. (Indeed, since Boeing and Northrop currently provide maintenance support for the Warthog fleet as part of the A-10 Prime team, they might consider the Gunslinger a way to maintain revenue if the A-10 looks like it's finally going away).
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In short, right now Gunslinger looks like a pie-in-the-sky project that may never be finished - by anyone. Then, five years ago, DARPA's idea to build a flying aircraft carrier - a plane, which carries drones that start to attack targets and then return to the flying craft. Five years later, we saw the first Gremlin deployed on a C-130 transport aircraft last year.
Just because a project sounds like science fiction doesn't mean the mad scientists at DARPA can't make it a reality.
Rich Smith has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Motley owns shares of AeroVironment and advises. The Motley Fool has a privacy policy.
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