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The Boeing Insitu ScanEagle is a small,
low-cost, long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) built by Insitu, a
subsidiary of Boeing. The ScanEagle was designed by Insitu based on the Insitu
SeaScan, a commercial UAV that helped fishermen look for fish. The ScanEagle
continues to be upgraded with improved technology and reliability.
ScanEagle is a descendant of another
Insitu UAV, SeaScan, which was conceived of as a remote sensor for collecting
weather data as well as helping commercial fishermen locate and track schools
of tuna. ScanEagle emerged as the result of a strategic alliance between Boeing
and Insitu. The resulting technology has been successful as a portable Unmanned
Aerial System (UAS) for autonomous surveillance in the battlefield, and has
been deployed since August 2004 in the Iraq War.
ScanEagle carries a stabilized
electro-optical and/or infrared camera on a lightweight inertial stabilized
turret system integrated with communications range over 62 miles (100 km), and
flight endurance of 20+ hours. ScanEagle has a 10.2-foot (3.1 m) wingspan a
length of 4.5 feet (1.4 m) and a mass of 44 pounds (20 kg) and can operate up
to 80 knots (92 mph; 150 km/h), with an average cruising speed of 48 knots (55
mph; 89 km/h). Block D aircraft featured a higher-resolution camera, a
custom-designed Mode C transponder and a new video system. A Block D aircraft,
flying at Boeing's test range in Boardman, Oregon set a type endurance record
of 22 hours, 8 minutes.
ScanEagle needs no airfield for
deployment. Instead, it is launched using a pneumatic launcher, patented by
Insitu, known as the "SuperWedge" launcher. It is recovered using the
"Skyhook" retrieval system, which uses a hook on the end of the
wingtip to catch a rope hanging from a 30-to-50-foot (9.1 to 15 m) pole. This
is made possible by high-quality differential GPS units mounted on the top of
the pole and UAV. The rope is attached to a shock cord to reduce stress on the
airframe imposed by the abrupt stop.
Each ScanEagle system costs US$3.2
million (2006). A complete system comprises four air vehicles or AVs, a ground
control station, remote video terminal, and the Skyhook launch and recovery
system.
Improvements
On 18 March 2008, Boeing, with ImSAR and
Insitu successfully flight-tested a ScanEagle with ImSAR's NanoSAR A radar
mounted aboard. The ImSAR NanoSAR is the world's smallest Synthetic Aperture Radar,
weighs 3.5 lb (1,590 g) and is 100 cubic inches (1.6 litres) in volume. It is
designed to provide high quality real-time ground imaging through adverse
weather conditions or other battlefield obscurants.
In 2009, Boeing and Insitu announced the
NightEagle, a modified ScanEagle Block E with an infrared camera for night
operations.
In August 2010, Boeing announced plans
to control ScanEagles from control stations on E-3A AWACS aircraft and on the
V-22.
In July 2011, a team of two ScanEagles
and another UAV cooperated to search and navigate a mountain area autonomously.
Operational
History
The ScanEagle entered service with the
U.S. Navy in 2005. In addition to the United States military, the Australian
Army also operates the ScanEagle UAV. As well the Canadian Government announced
in August 2008 that they would lease the ScanEagle for use of their military
operations in Afghanistan.
In April 2009, a ScanEagle launched by
the U.S. Navy was used during the stand-off between the U.S. Navy and a
lifeboat controlled by pirates holding Capt. Richard Phillips of the MV Maersk
Alabama in the Indian Ocean after a failed hijack attempt.
Insitu announced that the ScanEagle had
totaled 500,000 combat flight hours and over 56,000 sorties by July 2011.
In December 2012, Iran stated it had
captured an American ScanEagle that allegedly violated its airspace over the
Persian Gulf. Iran later stated it had also captured two other ScanEagles. The
U.S. Navy stated that none of its ScanEagles were missing. Photo evidence of an
ScanEagle in Iran showed no U.S. military markings. It was also reported that
Iran is producing a copied version of the ScanEagle and has put that UAV into
military service.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew
|
none on-board
|
Length
|
3.9 feet (1.19 meters)
|
Wingspan
|
10.2 feet (3.1 meters)
|
Loaded Weight
|
39.7 lbs (18 kilograms)
|
Powerplant
|
1 × 3W 2-stroke piston engine, 1.5 hp
|
Performance
Maximum speed
|
55-80 mph
|
Endurance
|
20 + hours
|
Service ceiling
|
16,000 feet above ground level (4,876
meters)
|
Avionics
High resolution, day/night camera and
thermal imager
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