Given the drive for multi-role aircraft, Lockheed-Martin has taken the idea a step further and created the first truly mission-configurable unmanned aerial vehicle. The Simple Mission Adaptive Remote Tactical Systems Mk II is the product of an intensive four year research and design program. The base chassis is a blended body design with lateral chines which extend to short control wings at midbody. The high dorsal mounted rotor system is constructed almost entirely of composite materials. The bearingless design gives the UAV an unparalleled maneuverability envelope, much greater than any manned rotorcraft is capable of. Mounted at midback are a pair of GE T304-D Turbofan engines. The inlets are faired ovals flaring out from the false cockpit rise on the front of the airframe, while the turbine exhaust is funneled through the trapezoidal tailboom to power the NOTAR thruster. Recessed beneath the nose of the rotorcraft is a universal mount bracket for any sensor or weapon turret that meets the LM4022-62 compatibility criteria. The three turrent mountings offered by Lockheed-Martin all enjoy a field of view measuring 110 degrees to either side of centerline, as well as 10 degrees above the horizon to a full 90 degrees below. Further back along the fuselage is a fully modular storage bay. Lockheed-Martin offers four payload configurations for the bay: extra internal fuel, air-deployable cargo storage, weapon storage, or mounting for additional sensor storage and/or mounting. Lockheed-Martin claims to have sold the entire first production run of one hundred units, an impressive response given the traditional competitiveness of the aerospace industry. A second production run is sure to follow, although the company is cautioning that a delay in delivery is possible for any subsequent orders due to modifications incorprated based upon customer feedback.
The SMART Systems Mk II drone comes as a base chassis with a universal mini-turret mount as well as a centerline payload bay. Turret options offered are Surveillance, which features a FLIR, low-light TV, both with 100x optical zoom and flare compensation. The Surveillance and Targeting turret features both of the previous systems and adds a high-powered laser designator. The third turret option is Tactical, and comes with a Stoner-Ares M107 GPHMG with Smartlink II interface and 500 rounds integral storage. The payload bay options are either pure cargo, air-droppable if required, a 200 liter fuel tank, an additional sensor pallet mounting an millimetric wave ISAR system (sensors rating 6), as well as 3000 Mp of online storage for recording sensor data, or a centerline weapon mount capable of holding up to 300 kg of missiles or rockets.
| SMART Systems Mk II Options | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Option |
Cost |
CF Req |
Load Req |
|
Surveillance |
7500 ¥ |
Factored In |
Factored In |
|
Surveillance and Targeting |
9500 ¥ |
Factored In |
Factored In |
|
Tactical |
11,500 ¥ |
Factored In |
Factored In |
|
Internal Fuel Pallet |
6000 ¥ |
4 |
400 |
|
Cargo Storage |
4500 ¥ |
0 |
0 |
|
Sensor Pallet |
12,000 ¥ |
4 |
200 |
|
Weapon Storage |
9000 ¥ |
2 |
100 |
| Handling | Speed | Accel | Body | Armour | Sig |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 100 | 10 | 2 | 4 | 4 |
| Autonav | Pilot | Sensor | Cargo | Load | |
| -- | 3 | 4 | 4 | 400 | |
| Seating | -- | Setup/Breakdown | -- | ||
| Entry | -- | Landing/Takeoff | VTOL | ||
| Fuel | Jet Turbine (200 Liters) | Economy | 0.35 km/Liter | ||
| DP Cost | 1795 | Cost | 45,000 ¥ | ||
| Template | Rotary-Wing UAV, Medium | Reference | Rigger3 | ||
| Features |
Remote Pilot Advanced Programming (Rating 3) Sensors (Level 4) ECCM (Level 2) Standard Armor (Rating 4) Remote anti-aircraft miniturret |
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