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Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Formation

SkyForce is an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) consisting of three main components linked together via the SkyForce network-centric command and control software. The system consists of multiple, optionally piloted, unmanned aircraft; with quick change payloads; a primary mission-management ground control station; and remote and mobile user terminals. These three essential components, give the mission commander a high performance, long endurance, multi-payload type unmanned aircraft system that can be configured with different payload types.

Aircraft

SkyForce’s aircraft are based on a modified Velocity platform with an aviation fuel certified conventional aircraft engine. The system also offers a heavy fuel propulsion option for lower fuel consumption and increased endurance. The platform has a large payload bay with payload carriers for quick change to meet varying mission requirements. The aircraft also accommodates a single pilot for optionally-piloted flight.

The SkyForce fleet of unmanned aircraft currently includes:

• SkyWatcher: designed for long endurance, low and medium altitude, multi-payload intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
• SkyRaider: designed to operate at higher speeds and equipped to carry stores on its wing stations.

Mission-Management Ground Control Station

This fully-equipped ground control station is the primary mission-management unit for the SkyForce system. From this location, a single mission manager can task up to 12 aircraft and coordinate with 20 other user nodes. With three monitors inside the mission-management ground control station, the mission manager can simultaneously supervise the entire system, view and analyze the status of all aircraft, relay vital information, and communicate with the nodes on the system and other privileged systems when necessary.

Mobile Ground Control User Terminal

The mobile ground control user terminal is for use by authorized users within the theater of operation. From this user terminal, operators can command available aircraft within the area of interest based on authority limits set by the mission-management ground control station. The operator at the user terminal can then fly the appropriate payloads while the aircraft adjusts its flight to accommodate the commanded view of the scene. The information gathered is then disseminated among the nodes on the system and to other privileged systems-- regardless of location or proximity to the area of interest.

Payloads

With a wide variety of interchanging payload options, SkyForce helps the operator to easily obtain vital intelligence data without the necessity to incorporate additional resources. The versatile quick change payload option enables any combination of payload types among the aircraft in a constellation. The system’s multiple payloads accommodate a variety of mission requirements including Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Electro Optic (EO) / InfraRed (IR) imaging, Signals Intelligence (SigInt), Communications Intelligence (CommInt), Communications Relay and others. With the ability to easily integrate so many payloads so quickly into one or more platforms, SkyForce is a key component to intelligence missions.