One of the earliest, successful unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAV) used by the United States was the airborne-launched Q-2 designed
by the Ryan Aeronautical Company. The Q-2, also called “Firebees”, began
testing in 1951 and could sustain up to two hours of flight and could reach a
maximum height of 60,000 feet. The design and evolution of the Firebee led to
the creation of the Fire Fly and Lightning Bug UAVs, also produced by Ryan
Aeronautical Company. These were specifically reconnaissance vehicles and were
extremely successful during the Vietnam War.
Figure
1: Q-2A Firebee (Parsch)
The Firebee featured swept flight surfaces and a
circular inlet at the nose. The Firebee could be ground-launched by a single
RATO booster, or it could be air-launched off of a specifically modified
Douglas A-26 Invader bomber. The Firebee went through a few upgrades and uterations
during its life. The redesiging of the Firebee included a new nose
configuration, with a new “chin” intake. Stronger, more powerful engines
replaced the existing ones, the wings became slightly longer, and they were
fitted with a longer-lasting booster. By the early 1990s, the Firebee BQM-34S had
been equipped with electronic countermeasure equipment, flare and chaff
dispensers, tracking beacons, transponders, and other reconnaissance equipment.
Figure
2: Firebee BQM-34S (Parsch)
Today, KRATOS Unmanned Systems Division is producing
the BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target; this a modern take on the
original Firebee heritage. This new design consists of a carbon fiber and epoxy
construction to allow a significant increase in performance and endurance of
the aircraft. The previous designs were built out of aluminum. It has a maximum
airspeed of 0.92 Mach (U. S. Air Force). The altitude capabilities range from
50 ft above ground to 50,000 ft above sea level.
Figure
3: BQM-167A (KRATOS)
KRATOS.
(n.d.). BQM-167A. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.kratosusd.com/products/unmanned-aerial-systems/bqm-167a
Parsch,
A. (n.d.). Teledyne Ryan Q-2/KDA/xQM-34/BGM-34 Firebee. Retrieved January 15,
2016, from http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-34.html
U.S.
Air Force. (2009, May 20). U.S. Air Force. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104562/bqm-167a-air-force-subscale-aerial-target.aspx
Great post. The historical progression from Firebee to 167A from a basic aero-design perspective is remarkable. The movement of the inlet from the center-line to a hanging configuration falls right in line with manned fighter aircraft.
ReplyDeleteGreat Post. These are remarkable UAVs I was intrigued when I read that in a flight demonstration with the F4 the Firebee took lead in hitting it's target over the F4. amazing how technology has advanced even since then!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I also began with Ryan aircraft for aerial target but then talked about how that aircraft evolved into surveillance aircraft as the lineage for the Predator. Then discussed the evolution of the Predator and compared the two air-frames.
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to read the further evolution of the target aircraft further into the contemporary time period.