Beth Stevenson

MBDA has revealed an eVTOL unmanned aerial vehicle concept based around its developmental Enforcer lightweight weapon, which the company envisions will provide troops with a company-level organic close air support (CAS) capability. Spectre will be able to carry two of the seven-kg weapons within its hollow fuselage, providing company commanders with the option to deploy a low-cost countermeasure, rather than having to call on high-value assets to carry out the CAS mission.

 


“We recognized that a lot of close air support is difficult for companies…so we started to explore the use of UAVs in this role,” Stephen Scott, head of future battlefield weapons at MBDA, told media at the DVD exhibition in Millbrook, UK. “We think we have identified a capability gap; there are lots of UAVs that deliver ISTAR [intelligence, surveillance, target&nbsp;acquisition, and reconaissance], but not ones that can also deliver effects.”

 


Currently at a TRL 3 development stage, the concept has been developed using internal research and development funding from MBDA, and it is now undergoing flight-testing. Scott says that there is a five-year development plan for Spectre, and MBDA is looking for industrial partners that can provide additional capability such as advanced avionics.

 


MBDA has used the building blocks of its missile expertise to develop the UAV, which can alternatively carry one of the company’s 15-kg (33-lb) MMP missiles instead of the two Enforcers. The current endurance of the UAV is some 60 minutes, which Scott says is expected to increase approximately threefold by the time that UAV development is complete as a result of progress in consumer battery technology. Fully expanded, the UAV measures around two meters (33 inches) square, although with the wings folded—something that will be incorporated into the design to make it easier to deploy—it will be around 2-by-0.5 m.

 


While the UAV is designed around the Enforcer missile, the 25-kg payload capacity of Spectre will also allow it to be used as a cargo-carrying system that will be able to deliver logistical supplies and resupply&nbsp;weapons—including the Enforcer—to troops. The company is exploring developing a door for the belly of the fuselage for this application, said Scott.

 


He added that, while development contracts for the UK’s Autonomous Last Mile Resupply program were awarded ahead of Spectre being developed, MBDA would be keen to position the new capability for the program should the finalized requirement call for such a system. He also noted that a suitable application for Spectre in its offensive configuration might be against swarms of unmanned ground vehicles, and MBDA is exploring a swarm concept for the UAV, in which multiple examples could be operated in unison.

 


Enforcer is a multi-national development across MBDA, while Spectre is primarily being developed in the UK with input from the German arm of the company. Qualification of the Enforcer missile is expected to complete by the end of 2019, and the first customer for it is expected to be the German special forces. Basic firing trials using the Spectre concept are scheduled to take place over the coming 18 months, with ejection trials planned for 2019.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

MBDA Unveils Company-level UAV Concept

Spectre is a concept for a UAV that can be launched by troops to provide them with an organic close support capability

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Remotely piloted R44 helicopter landed on an offshore-style deck at a Louisiana airport

Robinson Unmanned R44 Airtruck Flies Offshore Cargo Demos

Charlotte Bailey

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

MQ-9B-mounted radar could complement piloted GlobalEye assets

Saab Fields Interest In LoyalEye Surveillance System

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

Hybrid-electric Chaparral drone makes first uncrewed eIPP flights

Elroy Air, Bristow Fly Autonomous Freighter in Louisiana

David Donald

At air force show, the company displayed mock-up of autonomous collaborative platform 

Saab Details Plans For Future Fighter Tech Demonstrators

Charles Alcock

The company assembled the first example in around nine months 

GKN Unveils Swedish Military UAV Technology Demonstrator

Operational trials were held in Michigan during July 

Regent Demonstrates Seaglider Drone in U.S. Navy Exercise

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Robinson Unmanned R44 Airtruck Flies Offshore Cargo Demos

Remotely piloted R44 helicopter landed on an offshore-style deck at a Louisiana airport

Saab Fields Interest In LoyalEye Surveillance System

MQ-9B-mounted radar could complement piloted GlobalEye assets

Elroy Air, Bristow Fly Autonomous Freighter in Louisiana

Hybrid-electric Chaparral drone makes first uncrewed eIPP flights

Saab Details Plans For Future Fighter Tech Demonstrators

At air force show, the company displayed mock-up of autonomous collaborative platform

GKN Unveils Swedish Military UAV Technology Demonstrator

The company assembled the first example in around nine months

Regent Demonstrates Seaglider Drone in U.S. Navy Exercise

Operational trials were held in Michigan during July

Elroy Air Wins $46 Million Army Contract for Chaparral

Contract covers jam-resistant navigation and hardened communications links

Robinson Unmanned Advances Through U.S. Drone Program

Sovereign manufacturing expertise essential to Pentagon initiative

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN