Even with drones already dominating the skies, neutralizing adversaries and covertly collecting data, new research is still underway on the generation of pilotless planes to come. And the United States isn't the only country interested in developing long-range and lethal drone technology.
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Groups of European and Asian nations — allies and former adversaries alike — are busy investing in next-generation unmanned aerial vehicles of their own.
These UAVs — some in development, some testing, and some already in service — are part of a global competition to gain aerial superiority.
But right now, only a handful of companies are working seriously on this next wave of drones. Some are researching independently, some are working for a single nation, others are working for a dozen.
Here's the top tier of next-gen drone tech.
Northrop Grumman X-47B
The
strike fighter was developed by Northrop Grumman as part of a research
contract awarded in 2007. Look for these in use for the Navy, which
hopes to use them as carrier-based drones. Tests for that begin in 2013.
National Origin: United States
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In development, used by Navy for testing
Cruise Speed: around 420 mph, (Mach 0.55)
Wingspan: 62 ft
Range: At least 2,400 miles
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In development, used by Navy for testing
Cruise Speed: around 420 mph, (Mach 0.55)
Wingspan: 62 ft
Range: At least 2,400 miles
Boeing Phantom Ray
The
project was hatched in 2007, and was carried out in utmost secrecy. The
drone's development was funded internally, without funding from the
government of military. The Boeing Phantom Ray, which precedes the development of the Phantom Eye, is Boeing's planned ground strike and surveillance drone.
National Origin: United States
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In development, maiden flight April 27, 2011
Cruise Speed: 614 mph (Mach 0.8)
Wingspan: 50 ft
Range: 1500 miles
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In development, maiden flight April 27, 2011
Cruise Speed: 614 mph (Mach 0.8)
Wingspan: 50 ft
Range: 1500 miles
General Atomics Predator C Avenger
General Atomics Courtesy Photo
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: Deployed. Maiden flight April 4, 2009
Max Speed: 460 mph
Wingspan: 66 ft
Range: 20 hours
BAE Systems Taranis
Fun
Fact: the Taranis is pictured here in an Anechoic chamber, a room which
cancels out sound or electromagnetic waves. It's used for calibration,
testing, and measurements.
Intended Customers: United Kingdom
Status: Ground tests complete, Flight trials upcoming
Cruising Speed: Unknown
Wingspan: 30 ft.
Range: Expected intercontinental
Dassault nEUROn
The name refers to intended buyers of the planned drone, the European
community. Flight tests were planned for last year but were delayed to
late 2012. Pictured here is a replica of the aircraft, as the project is
being closely protected by manufacturer Dassault.
National Origin: France
Intended Customers: Euro-zone nations, especially France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Greece.
Status: Maiden flight planned for 2012
Cruising Speed: Undetermined, Top speed 0.8 Mach
Wingspan: 41 ft
Range: Unknown
Intended Customers: Euro-zone nations, especially France, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Greece.
Status: Maiden flight planned for 2012
Cruising Speed: Undetermined, Top speed 0.8 Mach
Wingspan: 41 ft
Range: Unknown
EADS Cassidian Barracuda
The
Barracuda is a project of German and Spain to develop a ground-attack
drone. The test model, despite a successful maiden voyage, crashed into
the Atlantic is late 2006. Germany initiated the program with Spain
after abstaining from involvement in the nEUROn project for fiscal
reasons.
National Origin: Germany and Spain
Intended Customers: Euro-zone nations, especially Germany and Spain, possibly Italy and Sweden.
Status: Maiden flight April 2006. Remains in development.
Cruising Speed: Uncertain, Top Speed 0.85 mach
Wingspan: 24 ft
Range: Unknown
Intended Customers: Euro-zone nations, especially Germany and Spain, possibly Italy and Sweden.
Status: Maiden flight April 2006. Remains in development.
Cruising Speed: Uncertain, Top Speed 0.85 mach
Wingspan: 24 ft
Range: Unknown
Mikoyan Skat
Made
by Mikoyan — formerly MiG — the Skat was developed as one of two
concept drones for the Russian government. Skat means "manta ray" in
Russian, and the aircraft would be used against enemy air defenses and
as an attack drone. Development was discontinued recently.
National Origin: Russia
Intended Customers: Russia
Status: Discontinued. Work on Russian drone project to be continued by Sukhoi Holding.
Cruising Speed: N/A, Top Speed was 500 mph
Wingspan: 37 ft
Range: N/A
Intended Customers: Russia
Status: Discontinued. Work on Russian drone project to be continued by Sukhoi Holding.
Cruising Speed: N/A, Top Speed was 500 mph
Wingspan: 37 ft
Range: N/A
Lockheed Martin RQ-170
Details
on this one are sparse, mostly because the RQ-170 was developed by
Lockheed Martin for covert use. A significant setback occurred with the
capture of one in-service RQ-170 by Iran. The Air Force, which uses the
RQ-170 already for surveillance purposes, has contracted Lockheed Martin
Advanced Development Programs to make the drones.
National Origin: United States
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In service with U.S. Air Force. One allegedly crash landed, and is in Iranian possession
Top Speed: Information unavailable
Wingspan: around 39 ft
Range: Information Unavailable
Intended Customers: United States Military and clandestine services
Status: In service with U.S. Air Force. One allegedly crash landed, and is in Iranian possession
Top Speed: Information unavailable
Wingspan: around 39 ft
Range: Information Unavailable
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