Unveiled
for the first time at 2011′s Dubai Air Show, ADCOM’s latest UAV, the
United-40, features a unique biplane configuration.
Although a nascent industry, one of
the UAE’s primary drone programs was started by a consortium of
companies under the aegis, Advanced Communications Research and
Development Center, more commonly referred to as ADCOM Systems. Thus
far, the company has manufactured unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs),
aerial targets, air traffic control radar systems as well as advanced C2
solutions.
Those in the industry may have observed
their systems at 2011′s Paris or Dubai Air Shows, or even more recently
in last years Eurosatory Exhibition or ILA Berlin Air Show. If you still
haven’t had the opportunity to see some of their systems, the company’s
website is located here.
According to ADCOM self reporting, the
company manufactures seven UAVs and four aerial target models as well
as associated support systems such as ground control stations and
various payloads. (The ADCOM Ground Control System was reportedly
designed and manufactured with the help from South Korean companies, and
by extension a supply chain that includes Chinese parts).
The company’s latest model, the
United-40, a Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV, was first
unveiled at the Dubai airshow in 2011 and was reportedly ready for prime
time in the first quarter of 2012. As observed above, the unusual
biplane configuration provides for enhanced performance and endurance,
according to ADCOM CEO and general designer, Ali Al Dhaheri.
Namrod Missile for the ADCOM United-40
Using US models as baselines, Al Dhaheri claims that the United-40′s unique design gives it a glide ratio of 1:43. That’s four times more glide ratio than the MQ-9 Reaper. In
addition to fuel conservation, the aircraft is capable of taking off
and landing on runways as short as 120 meters and can be equipped with
eight Namrod missiles on an internal rotary launcher. At this year’s
Idex 2013, Al Dhaheri unveiled United 40 block 5 whose performace
included over 100 hours of operation without refueling and a new ceiling
at 30,000 ft (up from 23,000).
The impetus for developing the United-40
reportedly came after the US Department of State denied the UAE’s
request for ten Predators in 2002. Since then, the UAE has been on a
quest to build their own MALE UAV and further develop their local
industrial base. Possibly as a thumb of the nose, the UAE Air Force
started the UAV Research and Technology Center at Al Dhafra Air Base,
the same location the USAF currently has the 380th AEW stationed with
their RQ-4 Global Hawks. (Alternatively, the US may be helping the UAE
with tactics for their current set of UAVs, a possible added bonus due
to the UAE’s close cooperation in other areas)
Satellite imagery from Digital Globe on 13DEC10 show’s ADCOM’s rail launched UAV testing facility.
Although open source imagery hasn’t
shown ADCOM’s UAVs operating at Al Dhafra, Digital Globe imagery and
open source sleuthing has managed to locate at least 2 positions where
the UAE and by extension partner firms have tested locally manufactured
UAVs. The first location is broken up into two sections and by
equipment: helicopter and rail launched UAV testing.
Imagery
from Digital Gobe on 13DEC10 shows two ADLR-021 Rail Launchers from
ADCOM and nine recently received SA-22 (5 visible on closeup) at the
site.
In regards to the latter, imagery on
13DEC10 show the ADCOM testing site located 9 miles south of Al Dhafra
Air Base. The site is complete with air traffic control and two ADCOM
ADLR-021 Rail Launchers. Interestingly, imagery also captured nine
recently received SA-22 (Pantsir-S1) on site which may suggest this
location doubles as an air defense range.
Imagery from Digital Globe shows section two of the testing site located immediately to the West of the ADCOM testing site.
The second section of the site
located just to the east is equipped with several helicopter hardstands,
although nothing was deployed at the time of imaging. That said, open
source reporting reveals the site was recently associated with Sweden’s
CybAero, a commercial UAV manufacturer that reportedly assembles
the Apid 55 in the UAE. By correlation, it’s probably a safe bet to
assume the Austrian made Schiebel S-100 was also put through its paces
at this location. The UAE has reportedly ordered 40 x S-100.
Digital Globe imagery shows position three of ADCOM’s associated testing sites.
The last position associated with
ADCOM testing is located seven miles to the south of the rail and
helicopter testing areas. The area provides ample room to test take-off
and landing on unimproved surfaces as well as a safe stand off distance
should any accidents occur. (The area is similar to that used by the
USAF to test its UAVs at Cuddeback Lake). This area was discovered after
acquiring several video feeds from ADCOM UAVs with the coordinates
clearly displayed on the remote pilot’s HUD.
Although ADCOM is a relatively young
company, it has made considerable strides in the UAV market in a short
period of time. According to market information, the company currently
employs over 600 people, many in the heart of the Industrial City of Abu
Dhabi-ICAD (Mussafah Area) and reportedly has branches internationally.
With what began with targeting drone manufacturing in the 1990s, ADCOM
has grown substantively to provide a robust product line to now include
the production of 9mm and 50mm calibre ammunition. As a result, the
company has quickly become an instant favorite with the UAE military.
United-40 Overview:
Specifications:
| Wingspan | 20 m | 65.61 ft |
| Length | 11.13 m | 36.54 ft |
| Height | 4.38 m | 14.37 ft |
| Total lifting area | 24.3 sqm | 261.56 sqft |
| Empty weight | 520 kg | 1146 lb |
| Max. take-off weight | 1500 kg | 3306 lb |
| Payload weight | 1000 kg | 2204 lb |
| Fuel tank capacity | 900 lt | 237 gallon |
| Power | Hybrid: Main engine – 115 hp; Electric power – 80 hp | |
Flight Performance:
| Stall speed | 50 km/h | [14 m/s] | 26 kt |
| Cruise speed | 75-220 km/h | [20-60 m/s] | 40-120 kt |
| Endurance | 120 hrs | ||
| Ceiling | 7000 m | 23000 ft |
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