Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

U.S. soldiers transporting UAV RQ-7.

opponents to attack ground targets, and unmanned aerial vehicles, but also greatly enhance the payload

reporter/Weidong Xu

Today, UAVs have become an essential combat equipment of the U.S. military. With the gradual armed UAV technology, for the installation of miniature weapons become a priority. According to the U.S., “Aviation Week” reported on March 3, Air Force and the Army is working with Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and other arms giant to develop only a few kilograms of precision strike weapons, designed to equip small UAVs.

small UAV loaded “canine”

present, the main weapons the U.S. military unmanned aerial vehicles are originally equipped with armed helicopters of the “Hellfire” anti-tank missiles, medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles for such weapons, is not suitable for small UAVs. For example, the U.S. Army and Marine Corps wide range of equipment RQ-7 “Shadow” UAV can not mount the 100 pounds (46 kilograms) heavier missiles. In order to enable small UAVs have their own “canine weapon,” the U.S. military needed micro-guided munitions.

U.S. Raytheon developed the “small tactical munition” (STM) is designed specifically for small UAV. The bomb weight 13 pounds (about 6 kg), using GPS and semi-active laser-guided, all-weather capability.

Raytheon’s advanced weapons project leader Tangniu Man called it “La Motte” (Lamott) meaning “to the missile on the table.” Put into mass production, STM missile costs will decline. More importantly, if the larger RQ-1 “Predator” and the MQ-9 “Reaper” unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with STM missile, then the two UAV’s payload will be significantly improved. With Newman’s words, “You can use 6-8 STM missiles replace a ‘Hellfire’ missiles.”

At the same time, Lockheed Martin and the U.S. Army is also actively developing a small unmanned aerial vehicles equipped with such missiles. Regional protection and survival of the U.S. Army project leader, said Charles Murphy said that a missile being developed semi-active laser guidance equipment is expected to head or head active millimeter wave guide, and is equipped with explosive warheads, can hit ground targets, UAVs can also attack the enemy. Because of its weight only FGM-148 “Javelin” anti-tank missile 1/5, or even used as personal weapons. Clearly, the micro-munitions not only greatly enhance the UAV payload, but also to expand UAV combat missions.

achieve “damage control” against

hunting Taliban and with unmanned aerial vehicles, “base” Qaeda leader, has become the U.S. military in Afghanistan war on terror and Pakistan the standard model, accidental injury, manslaughter incidents occur. In addition to selectively target error, the other friendly fire incidents, mostly because the ammunition might be too large, implicated in the vicinity of innocent civilians. With “Hellfire” missiles, for example, there are eight kilogram warhead only, in densely populated towns, villages can easily lead to accidental injury. Similar STM missile weapons, the whole weight of less than 10 kilograms, can be for civilian vehicles, “base” organization leaders to implement high-precision and low collateral damage of the blow, to minimize harm to civilians, thereby reducing the U.S. military in implementation of “targeted killings” task facing the pressure of public opinion.

small UAVs in urban warfare, the prospect of war on terror and other areas has been very clear. If the future of its armed, can be added to a powerful and inexpensive “no Air Force.” U.S. to actively develop such equipment, apparently to compete in this field advantage.