Conceptual Design of Low-Signature High-Endurance Hybrid-Electric UAV

November, 2011
IDA document: d-4496-final-s
FFRDC: Systems and Analyses Center
Type: Documents
Division: Science and Technology Division , Science, Systems and Sustainment Division
Authors:
Authors
Yevgeny Macheret, Jeremy A. Teichman, Robert E. Kraig See more authors
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Conceptual Design of Low-Signature High-Endurance Hybrid-Electric UAV
The results of this investigation show the feasibility of designing a hybrid-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that has low acoustic/visual signature and extended cruise flight endurance. The conceptual design is based on a small internal combustion engine that powers the cruise portion of the flight and an electric motor for loiter/intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) portions. Relatively minor reductions in loiter mission duration produce a substantial increase in range. A decrease of 1 whr in the electric (loiter) energy onboard produces a gain of 13.3 whr in the gasoline (cruise) energy. These hybrid aircraft would allow extended range search-loiter-search missions, which are not possible with the existing electric UAVs.