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Technology update
Developing an unmanned aircraft
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To complement existing and future manned aircraft, Saab is currently engaged in studies directed towards developing technology for unmanned aircraft. Current studies include image processing, target identification, and decision support, in which Saab is collaborating with the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and Linkoping Institute of Technology.
The transition from manned to unmanned aircraft opens up new prospects for design and production. The situation for operations in controlled airspace and under different tactical conditions will also change when the pilot is replaced by a set of technical control systems. Development of unmanned aircraft is therefore being planned in different stages. Before a pilotless aircraft is introduced, new technical and design demonstrators must be built. These will be used for purposes such as studying new doctrines, which will require the establishment of new rules. The demonstrators will also be used to test a new operation and maintenance organization, at the same time as links between ground and aircraft are designed.
Project NFFP 272UAV configurations have now been initiated as part of the National Aeronautical Research Program (NFFP). The focus of this project is the design of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) for ground attack against heavily defended targets. Among requirements to be met are low production costs and minimal radar signature. This work is being conducted together with the Aeronautical Research Institute (FFA), Ericsson Saab Avionics, and Saab Dynamics. The project began several years ago and has so far been successful. Cost and signature results have been presented as planned. Wind tunnel tests were conducted at FFA during the spring.
Frank Bokulich
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