A team from BAE Systems has developed a compact mortar-based launcher for small Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs).

UAVs provide front line units with vital real-time intelligence without the need for conventional air support. Until now, the ability to rapidly deploy these platforms by individual Platoons has been limited to very small systems (typically weighing 3-5kg) which have limited capability.  More capable UAVs have not been suitable as they require large catapult or rocket-based launchers.

The new device, developed under a programme code-named ‘Project Artful’, allows UAVs of up to 25kg in weight to be paired with a mortar-based launch mechanism, which has European and world-wide patents pending, making it possible for individual front line units to rapidly deploy such systems.

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A new tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), is being used by British troops to patrol the skies of the Upper Sangin Valley in southern Afghanistan, helping to identify enemy threats and protect soldiers as they go about there work.

The Desert Hawk III is one of many assets that are employed to help seek out enemy fighters and one of the newest UAVs that the Royal Artillery use. The UAV provides an over-watch capability for soldiers patrolling from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Inkerman near Sangin.

Lance Bombardier Ricky Talbot, explained: “It’s a mini UAV; it provides reconnaissance for the FOB and over looks patrols. If the FOB wants us to check any vulnerable points or firing points we can easily check them with the Dessert Hawk.”

The Desert Hawk can be launched by just throwing it into the wind, but the gunners have learnt that for the best take off it is beat to gain speed before launching and so they launch it from the back of a quad bike. The UAV flies itself by inputting a route onto a digital map and a GPS within the aircraft follows that route. An operator can also fly the UAV using a simple games console hand controller.

At the end of the flight, the reconnaissance vehicle lands itself and, when it hits the ground, intentionally breaks into nine parts to minimise the stress on the aircraft. Different payloads can be bolted onto the UAV which gives the user alternative cameras and views to look at. The footage can be viewed live on the screen of a conventional laptop and also recorded to allow playback for commanders.

Working in partnership with Aberystwyth University’s new biosciences centre IBERS, QinetiQ has successfully completed the UK’s first flight of an autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for agricultural monitoring.

Farmers and foresters increasingly need accurate and timely information on the state on the land they occupy. For example, by mapping the fertiliser requirements of arable crops, farmers can ensure they only apply the precise amount of fertiliser required, saving them money and preventing the pollution that occurs when nitrate fertilisers are over-applied.

The QinetiQ team acted as systems integrator for the specially adapted UAV platform and flew a more than 15 flights during the ‘work up’ phase of this U-MAP programme, supported by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The UAV captured specialised video images that were used to create NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index) maps – sensitive indicators of the amount of vegetation present that can be used to determine fertiliser requirements.

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