This paper presents the design philosophy behind the development of a Stealth Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) for real-time reconnaissance applications. The aspects of the threat analysis, the mission analysis and the Radar Cross Section (RCS) requirement definition leading to the design concept of the airframe, are introduced. The Electro Magnetic (EM) design requirements for low radar signature are derived and brought into context with the development of the composite airframe. The stealth design methodology of the radar absorbing composite structure is illustrated on the inward slanted dorsal fin of the specific UAV. The paper addresses the use of analytical modelling techniques for low RCS geometric shaping and presents a detailed design of the fin employing the electro-magnetically tuned composite materials. The special tooling and manufacturing processes of the stealthy fin are discussed. The work is concluded with a summary of the results of the electro-magnetic tests, the environmental tests and the structural qualification of the dorsal fin hardware.
Stealth airframe design methodology for high altitude real-time reconnaissance drones
Entwurfsmethodologie für das Geheimflugwerk von gelenkten unbemannten Echtzeit-Höhenaufklärungsfluggeräten
1997
9 Seiten, 3 Bilder, 9 Quellen
Aufsatz (Konferenz)
Englisch
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