| |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| a | ||||||||||||||||||||||
RQ-170
Sentinel High-Altitude Long-Endurance HALE Unmanned Aerial System |
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| |
||||||||||||||||||||||
The
RQ-170 is a top-secret American high-altitude long-endurance unmanned
aerial system (UAS) designed and manufactured Skunk Works, a division
of Lockheed Martin. The Air Force's RQ-170 program leverages the Lockheed
Martin Advanced Development Programs and government efforts to rapidly
develop and produce a low observable UAS. The RQ-170 directly supports
combatant commander needs for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
to locate targets. First RQ-170 went in production in 2007 and took
off for its first flight secretly from Kandahar Air Force Base in Afghanistan
during the same year. The USAF officially unveiled the operations of
RQ-170 in its fleet in December 2009. Lockheed Martin's Sentinel UAS
is actually flown by Air Combat Command's 432nd Wing at Creech Air Force
Base, Nev., and the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at Tonopah Test Range,
Nev. The number of RQ-170 Sentinel UASs remains secret but sources estimate
it to about 20 units. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Variants | ||||||||||||||||||||||
- |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical Data | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Back
menu |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||
With
its "flying-wing" design, the RQ-170 Sentinel looks pretty
similar to a small version of the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit "Stealth
Bomber". Its design is also very close to those of the Lockheed
Martin's RQ-3 DarkStar and P-175 Polecat. Featuring low observable profile
and stealth technology, the RQ-170 is likely to be a stealth aircraft
fitted with reconnaissance equipment. The Sentinel's precise dimensions
remain secret but analysts estimated them to 4.5m length, 1.84m and
a wingspan between 20-26m. The RQ-170 features a tricycle type landing
gear. About 90% of the aircraft could be made up of composite materials
to decrease its overall weight. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Mobility |
||||||||||||||||||||||
The
RQ-170 is a stealthy jet-powered UAV. The fuselage contains a single
power-plant. The engine is thought to be either a General Electric TF34
or a Honeywell TFE731. The postulated weight and ceiling parameters
suggests the possible choice of a General Electric TF34 engine. The
TF34 is a twin-shaft, bypass turbofan engine, which produces 9,275lbs
of thrust. It generates high thrust to weight ratio, consumes less fuel
and minimises operational cost. The TF34 boasts dual stage high pressure
turbine, four stage low pressure turbines, annular combustor and 14
stage high pressure axial flow compressors. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Payload
equipment |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Defense
analysts assessed that the RQ-170 Sentinel could be fitted with an active
electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, synthetic aperture radar
and signal intelligence. Several specialists have also speculated that
the two undercarriage fairings over the UAV's wings may house datalinks
and that the belly fairing could be designed for modular payloads, allowing
the UAV to be used for strike missions and/or electronic warfare. It
has also been reported that the RQ-170 is "almost certainly"
equipped with communications intercept equipment as well as highly sensitive
sensors capable of detecting very small amounts of radioactive isotopes
and chemicals which may indicate the existence of nuclear weapons facilities. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Combat use | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
RQ-170 Sentinel was certainly designed to execute intelligence, surveillance,
target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and electronic warfare
missions over a target area. The RQ (R stands for reconnaissance) designation
indicates that the aircraft is unarmed, unlike the “MQ”
designation used for armed drones like MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reapere,
which are equipped with missiles and precision-guided bombs.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
| Specifications | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Back
menu |
||||||||||||||||||||||
RQ-170 Sentinel UAS Unmanned Aerial System Lockheed Martin technical data sheet specifications information description intelligence identification pictures photos images video information US Air Force United States American defence industry military techn
- Posted On
