Honeywell RQ-16

The Honeywell RQ-16A is a ducted fan VTOL micro air vehicle UAV. Developed by Honeywell, it is suitable for backpack deployment and single-person operation.

Development

The Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) program was launched by the DARPA. Following a $40 million technology demonstration contract to Honeywell Defense and Space Electronic Systems in 2003, the MAV project was transferred to United States Army's Future Combat System (FCS) program to fulfill the need for Class I platoon-level drone. In May 2006, Honeywell was awarded a $61 million contract to develop an advanced MAV with extended endurance and heavy-fuel engine. [cite news | publisher=Armada International | url=http://www.armada.ch/08-3/complete_08-3.pdf | first=Roy | last=Braybrook | title=United States Fly High | date=June 2008| accessdate=2008-07-31] [cite news | publisher= Jane's Information Group. | title=Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems | first=Richard | url=http://www.janes.com/extracts/extract/jhms/jhms9726.html | date=July 21, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-31] In 2007, the United States Navy awarded Honeywell a $7.5 million contract for 20 G-MAVs (denoting the use of a gasoline engine) for deployment to Iraq with the US Multi-Service Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group. The hovering feature of MAV has been critical for U.S. forces in Iraq that search for roadside bombs. Military convoys have been using MAVs to fly ahead and scan the roads. MAV’s benefit is its ability to inspect a target—a suspicious vehicle, structure or disturbed earth—from close range, covering ground much more quickly than an unmanned ground vehicle and without putting people at risk. [cite news | publisher= National Defense | title=Demand on the Rise for Small Hovering Drones | first=Breanne | last=Wagner | url= http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2008/March/Demand.htm | date=March 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-31] [cite news | publisher=Defense Technology International | http://integrator.hanscom.af.mil/2008/May/05222008/05222008-17.htm | first=David | last=Eshel | title=Mini-UAVs rack up big gains | date=May 15, 2008 | accessdate=2008-07-31] Iraq trials were so successful that, in January 2008, US Navy unveiled a surprise order for 372 MAVs, designated RQ-16A. The 186 MAV systems will comprise two air vehicles with 93 ground stations. Delivery is scheduled between June and November 2008. [cite news | publisher=Flight International | url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/25/221092/us-navy-unveils-surprise-order-for-ducted-fan-uavs.html | first=Stephen | last=Trimble | title=US Navy unveils surprise order for ducted-fan UAVs | date=January 25, 2008| accessdate=2008-07-31] The gasoline engine powered RQ-16 is reported to weigh convert|8.4|kg|lb|-1, have an endurance of around 40 minutes, 10,500 ft ceiling and about six nautical mile operating radius. Forward speeds up to convert|70|knots|km/h|0 have been achieved, but the G-MAV is operationally restricted to convert|50|knots|km/h|0 by software. VTOL operation is subject to a maximum wind speed of convert|15|knots|km/h|0. Sensors include one forward and one downward looking daylight or IR cameras.

pecifications (approximate)

aerospecs
ref=
met or eng?= eng

crew=None
capacity=
length m=
length ft=
length in=
span m=
span ft=
span in=
swept m=
swept ft=
swept in=
rot number=
rot dia m=
rot dia ft=
rot dia in=
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
width m=
width ft=
width in=
height m=
height ft=
height in=
wing area sqm=
wing area sqft=
swept area sqm=
swept area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
volume m3=
volume ft3=
aspect ratio=
wing profile=
empty weight kg=
empty weight lb=
gross weight kg=8.4
gross weight lb=20
lift kg=
lift lb=

eng1 number=
eng1 type=
eng1 kw=
eng1 hp=
eng1 kn=
eng1 lbf=
eng1 kn-ab=
eng1 lbf-ab=
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=
eng2 kn=
eng2 lbf=
eng2 kn-ab=
eng2 lbf-ab=

max speed kmh=130
max speed mph=81
max speed mach=
cruise speed kmh=
cruise speed mph=
stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=
range miles=
endurance h= ca. 0
endurance min= 40
ceiling m=3,200
ceiling ft=10,500
g limits=
roll rate=
glide ratio=
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
sink rate ms=
sink rate ftmin=

armament1=
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

ee also

aircontent
see also= Micro air vehicle
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

External links

* [http://www.honeywell.com/sites/aero/Surface3_C2BCFDD45-93F1-A559-929F-B19804F9A9BF_H76AC9EBC-A788-26B0-3EE8-18CBB5BDECF7.htm Honeywell Aerospace page on Unmanned Aerial Systems]