Development of Engines for Unmanned Air Vehicles: Some Factors to be Considered

IDA examined similarities and differences between gas-turbine engine requirements for manned and unmanned air vehicle (UAVs) and identified needs for technology development and engine development for two classes of UAVs: Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) UAVs and Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAVs). We found the potential market for UAVs similar to that for manned aircraft, but current efforts are generally exploratory and procurement quantities are uncertain. Advanced engines will payoff for UAVs, with specific fuel consumption having the highest impact, followed by thrust/weigh ratio and engine procurement cost. It follows that technology directions for UAVs are similar to those for manned aircraft. Engines for UAVs do not pose any unique technical problems necessitating the development of a new engine, and hence a significant system buy will be needed to obtain the benefits of a new engine and offset the development cost. Minor modifications to new or existing transport engines will be preferred for long-range C4ISR applications, Significantly modified or new engines will be preferred for UCAV applications, but questions about the possibility of a common Navy-Air Force engine and related procurement-quantity issues should be answered before any commitment is made to engine development. The original document contains color images.