ARMY AL&T
value, and everyone is clamoring for them,” said Weaver. “Any time you take a Soldier out of harm’s way, it is benefi- cial. Unmanned aircraft provide much more accessibility and flexibility.”
Weaponizing any aircraft platform is highly complex, but it is even more challenging with unmanned systems. Testers have to take into account various effects of firing a missile, most notably the thermal and blast overpres- sure and how that affects the aircraft’s sensors and its ability to maintain stability in flight. The data needed to make such a determination include measurements of pressure, tempera- ture, and vibration, all of which require sophisticated instrumentation. One recent test on a vertical-lift UAS required test officers to construct a 3-story tower and to tether the running craft’s landing gear to the top, after which the test rocket was loaded using
UAS have shown their utility and value, and
everyone is clamoring for them. Any time you take a Soldier out of harm’s way, it is beneficial. Unmanned aircraft provide much more accessibility and flexibility.
a cherry-picker bucket. Tests taking place early in the development cycle, on the other hand, might simply entail mounting the gun tube to a hard stand to collect firing data.
Whether or not the platform is weap- onized, YPG testers concern themselves with the sophisticated sensors that UAS carry, as well as the aircraft’s ability to sustain flight for long periods of time.
YPG’s testers can accommodate every phase of the developmental process. “We have the infrastructure here to
easily move from testing one level of platform maturity to another,” said Franklin. “It is good synergy for the private industry customer.”
YPG’s capabilities also allow for exten- sive testing of platforms that blend conventional aircraft with unmanned systems. Furthermore, all of the tests can be conducted concurrently and, typically, without having to compete for runways and airspace with manned fighter jets, as is common at other installations. Another bonus is the wealth of infrastructure meant for other sectors of YPG’s broad test mission that can be leveraged to support UAS evalu- ations. YPG is home to technical and tactical targets, as well as generator and combined maintenance shops, all of which are useful for UAS testing. YPG testers can even do cooperative tests with artillery firing.
“We have the air and ground resources customers need to challenge their systems,” said Weaver. “Flying is one thing. Once you have achieved flight, what is your purpose for flying? We have everything you need to demon- strate a platform’s utility.”
Safety in the Skies Most of the airspace over the United States is unrestricted. To fly their craft in these conditions, UAS developers must acquire a certificate of authoriza- tion (COA) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
YPG Test Officer Bill Loftis measures the temperature of an unmanned aircraft’s motor. (U.S. Army photo by Mark Schauer.)
This is a lengthy and exhaustive process that can take months. It is specific not only to the aircraft, but also to the aircraft configuration.
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