Leonardo Goes Solo
Leonardo Helicopters has been working on unmanned helicopter systems for years now. In particular, its SW-4 ‘Solo’ Rotary Unmanned Air System (SW-4 Solo) – a modified Leonardo SW-4 capable of being remotely flown from a common ground control station with automatic flight control system and mission management on board – has been involved in a series of demonstrations and tests with various European military organizations.
For instance, during 2015’s Exercise Italian Blade, the ground-controlled SW-4 Solo flew in close formation with manned helicopters to prove the feasibility of such a teamed approach. “To satisfy aviation authorities, the SW-4 had a safety pilot
on board capable of taking control at any time,” said Tony Duthie, head of land and maritime marketing for Leonardo Helicopters. “But the helicopter satisfied the purpose of the exercise, because it was controlled from the ground control station the whole time.”
When it comes to MUM-T missions, there are lots of ways that what Duthie terms “rotary-wing unmanned air systems” (RWUAS) and manned rotorcraft can work together in maritime missions. For instance, ship-based RWUAS and manned helicopters can tag team each other to provide constant surveillance over a given area or vessel, with one taking off to keep watch while the other helicopter is landing for refueling.
“You could also use the RWUAS to provide overwatch of the manned helicopter, as it drops a boarding party on a vessel of interest,” Duthie said. “This also gives
you two eyes on target as opposed to one.” RWUAS also can work with utility helicopters to provide logistics support to ground troops, and serve as scout ships for attack helicopters.
“Leonardo has demonstrated LOI 1 and LOI 2 using the SW-4 Solo,” Duthie said. It did this during Exercise Italian Blade in 2015, and in 2016 during the Royal Navy’s Exercise Unmanned Warrior. In this second exercise, the SW-4 Solo sent radar, EO/ IR, EW and ship identification data directly to a representative combat management system of a Royal Navy Frigate.
Achieving true manned/unmanned teaming will require the attainment of LOI 3 and LOI 4 through integration of RWUAS Ground Control Station capabilities into manned helicopters while minimizing any increases in crew workload. There is no doubt that Leonardo has made substantial progress towards this goal.
76
Mar/Apr 2019
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90
