BAE Systems recently said one of its teams has developed a much-needed front line capability for launching small, unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) from a compact mortar- based launcher.
“We identified that the burden of transporting launch and support equipment has been a major factor in preventing the use of small UAVs on the front line,” Chris O’Brien, from BAE Systems, said. “This new system dispenses with the need for specialist launch equipment such as rockets and catapults, bringing brigade-level capability to individual platoons.”
According to BAE, platoons have been limited to deploying very small systems–between about six and 11 pounds–that have limited capability providing real-time intelligence independent of conventional air support. Large, cumbersome catapult or rocket-based launchers required for more capable UAVs have often not been suitable.
BAE’s new launcher, developed under the “Project Artful” program, was designed to be simple, easy to use, and portable. It allows UAVs of up to about 55 pounds to be paired with a mortar-based launch mechanism, which has European and worldwide patents pending, the company said.
Project Artful was initially developed by BAE’s Military Air Solutions business, based in North West England, but quickly grew into a partnership involving a number of small and medium enterprises including IBEX Ropes, Cranfield Aerospace and Blue Bear Systems Research. BAE’s Land Systems business was also part of the Project Artful team.
The launcher was designed to work with a wide variety of different UAVs and mortars without the need for re-qualification, O’Brien said.
A key goal was to develop a method of reducing the enormous forces produced by the mortar launch to a level survivable by the UAV.
“By developing and applying scientific methodologies that hadn’t been used in this area before, we were able to design an innovative UAV launch mechanism,” Rebecca Darby, a graduate engineer for BAE Systems said. “By using a simple bungee cap based device we have been able to reduce the launch loads placed upon the UAV by a factor of twenty,” she added.
The system has been extensively tested to demonstrate its versatility and reliability, BAE said.