Page 15 - Flight International (January 2020)

DEFENCE

Sierra Technical Services Sierra Technical Services

Sierra Technical Services UAV is powered by twin GE J85 engines and, priced at $10 million, may be suitable as attritable combat aircraft

UNMANNED SYSTEMS GARRETT REIM LOS ANGELES

Stealthy 5GAT has ambitious targets
Manufacturer nears first-quarter flight debut for versatile aerial target drone that could also fulfil Loyal Wingman role
ierra Technical Services the Lockheed Martin F-35A. designed for supersonic [flight], on external pylons, but does not
Srecently completed several They could also be asked to take nor were the inlet lips.” have provisions for an internal

ground tests, including an engine on dangerous tasks, or to operate The 5GAT was commissioned weapons bay: a capability that
run, on its Fifth Generation as robotic scouts. as a stealth target by the US would require a major redesign.
Aerial Target (5GAT). Sierra Technical believes its Department of Defense’s “We can carry all kinds of
The aircraft, which is powered 5GAT platform has abilities that Director, Operational Test and electronics, artificial intelligence
by two GE Aviation J85 engines would give it advantages over Evaluation (DOT&E), and super- gear, [intelligence, surveillance
salvaged from retired Northrop Kratos Defense & Security sonic flight was not part of its and reconnaissance] equip-
T-38 jet trainers, is intended to be Solutions’ XQ-58A Valkyrie, a mission requirements, explains ment,” says Hayes, who declines
used as a stealth target drone for pioneering attritable UAV built in Hayes. It is designed to be a to make a detailed comparison
the US Air Force (USAF). collaboration with the US Air disposable asset for mock air of the design versus the Valkyrie.
“We ran both engines all the Force Research Laboratory. combat and a sparring partner This is because Sierra Technical
way to [military] power at the that helps combat pilots learn helped to design the XQ-58A,
same time,” says Roger Hayes, how to shoot down stealth air- and he says it would be a
“It will be able to fly
president and co-owner of Sierra craft, such as China’s Chengdu conflict of interest to disclose
J-20 or Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57. such information.
Technical. “We tested out our faster than a Valkyrie.
flight controls – elevons and The DOT&E paid for the
rudders – and everything It will be more aircraft to be designed, built and HEALTHY COMPETITION
worked well.” flown after the USAF and US Hayes notes that competing with a
The unmanned air vehicle manoeuvrable as well” Navy initially declined to build business partner on a separate
(UAV) should be ready for its first Roger Hayes stealth targets of their own. product line happens frequently in
President, Sierra Technical Services
test flight during the first quarter However, the USAF last year the US defence sector. “You know,
of this year, Hayes says. released a request for information it’s strange bedfellows, but it’s com-
However, because the 5GAT is “It will be able to fly faster than for its own stealthy Next-Genera- mon in the industry,” he says.
inherently low-cost – estimated a Valkyrie. It will be more tion Aerial Target, which could Because of the wide variety of
by Sierra Technical to be less manoeuvrable as well,” says replace the earlier effort. Loyal Wingman applications,
than $10 million per production Hayes. “We believe that it has a As well as being stealthy, the from air combat to intelligence,
copy – and has a low-observable high potential of solving some of 5GAT can manoeuvre at +7.5g surveillance and reconnaissance
shape, the company is also open- the Loyal Wingman require- and -2g for short periods, though roles, Hayes says he believes
ly pitching it as an “attritable” ments, once they’re defined [by it cannot sustain these. there is room for both aircraft.
Loyal Wingman. the USAF].” “The aircraft will bleed off “For the Loyal Wingman there
Attritable aircraft are a new In particular, the 5GAT’s J85 energy very quickly due to are certain aspects that we believe
concept in aerial warfare: UAVs engines give it the ability to fly at limitation of the thrust from that the 5GAT or a derivative
so cheap that combat losses will high subsonic speeds. these engines,” explains Hayes. would be very suitable, even
not break the bank. For example, “We’re going to limit it to high “We can make 7.5g turns, but not more suitable in some cases then
the USAF’s Loyal Wingman subsonic,” says Hayes. “It would sustain them for very long – that the Valkyrie,” he says. “And then,
programme is aimed at develop- probably go supersonic without is basically a typical operational there are many cases where the
ing such assets for use alongside much trouble, but none of the scenario.” Valkyrie would be more suitable
its fleet of piloted fighters, such as structure was analysed or The 5GAT can carry weapons than the 5GAT derivative.” ■

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