Northrop Grumman Bat

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Bat
Role Reconnaissance UAV
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Designer Swift Engineering
First flight 14 March 2006

The Northrop Grumman Bat is a medium-altitude

ISR" gathering tool, the Bat features 30 lb (14 kg) payload capacity that is unmatched[citation needed
] in a 10 ft (3.0 m) wing span.

Northrop Grumman received design and marketing rights from Swift Engineering to the Killer Bee, renamed the Bat in April 2009.[1]

The Bat UAS was redeveloped to increase payload carrying capacity and extend range. The latest variant has a wing span of 14 feet (4.3 m) and can carry up to 100 pounds (45 kg) of payload. The Bat "14" UAS has a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet (5.2 km) above sea level and a maximum endurance of 18 hours.[2]

On August 12, 2011, Northrop Grumman won a $26m contract for Sand Dragon B Tier II UAVs able to detect IEDs and roadside bombs.[3]

Characteristics

  • The Bat UAS System is packaged for transport into two major assemblies: Launch/Recovery and Air Vehicle/GCS.
  • Transportable on
    C-130 and by helicopter[4]
  • Bat UAVs incorporate COTS payloads for reduced costs and ease of maintenance.[4]
  • Automatic Recovery is programmed and controlled via autonomous computer and differential GPS using a portable net system.[4]
  • Catapult launcher functions are controlled and monitored by GCS software.[4][5]

The

carbon fiber and fiberglass, the airfoil is rigid, providing a structural efficiency which reduces materials and manufacturing costs. With net hooks in the nose and a rear pusher propeller, the craft lands in a mobile retrieval net.[6]

The current Hirth engine with its five-bladed propeller provides a flight time of up to 18 hours. The Bat is designed to have a lower than average visual and

radar cross-section profile. A heavy-fuel engine version is also available.[4]

The payload capabilities include still image and real-time video cameras,

psy ops, and flare dispensers.[citation needed
]

Uses

The Bat UAS can carry numerous types of payloads for collecting intelligence, including still image and real time video cameras, EO/IR and SAR sensors, laser range finders, laser designators, Infra-Red cameras, communications relay equipment, chemical, biological, and IED detection systems and flare dispensers. The Bat series is offered for surveillance of civil disturbances, borders, pipe- and power-lines, as well as meteorology.[7]

Specifications (Bat UAS)

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: None
  • Length: 12 ft (3.7 m)
  • Wingspan: 14 ft (4.3 m)
  • Gross weight: 350 lb (159 kg)
  • Payload: 75 lb (34 kg)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 104 mph (167 km/h, 90 kn)
  • Endurance: 18 hours
  • Service ceiling: 17,000[8] ft (5,200 m)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Northrop Grumman Announces Bat(tm) Line of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems". Northrop Grumman Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  2. ^ a b Defense Review [1] retrieved on August 15, 2014
  3. ^ Defense Industry Daily Defense Industry Daily staff retrieved on August 14, 2014
  4. ^ a b c d e Airforce Technology "Bat Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), United States of America" retrieved on August 15, 2014
  5. ^ Defense Review "Northrop Grumman Bat 12 UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System): Catapult-Launched Tactical Low-Observable/Stealth Drone Aircraft with Blended Wing-Body for Electronic Warfare (EW)/Attack Ops (Video!)" retrieved on August 15, 2014
  6. ^ Black, Sara (5 January 2007), "Blended Wing UAV", Composites World, archived from the original on 5 September 2008
  7. ^ "KillerBee UAV". Archived from the original on 23 October 2006. retrieved on March 17, 2007
  8. ^ "Bat UAS™" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-06-26. Retrieved 2018-03-13.

External links

Media related to Northrop Grumman Bat at Wikimedia Commons