U.S. Air Force Reveals Operational Stealth UAV


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U.S. Air Force Reveals Operational Stealth UAV

Posted by David A. Fulghum at 12/4/2009 3:33 PM CST

David Fulghum and Bill Sweetman/Washington

The secret is out. The U.S. Air Force has confirmed the existence of the “Beast of Kandahar” UAV that was seen flying out of Afghanistan in late 2007. The jet aircraft – a tailless flying wing with sensor pods faired into the upper surface of each wing – is the RQ-170 Sentinel, developed by Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works. An Air Force official revealed to Aviation Week Friday afternoon that the service is “developing a stealthy unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to provide reconnaissance and surveillance support to forward deployed combat forces.”

The USAF statement came after discussion of the UAV emerged here on Ares. “The fielding of the RQ-170 aligns with Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates’ request for increased intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) support to the Combatant Commanders and Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz’s vision for an increased USAF reliance on unmanned aircraft,” according to the statement.

Air & Cosmos

The RQ-170 is flown by the 30th Reconnaissance Squadron at Tonopah Test Range, Nev. – home of the F-117 stealth fighter when the program’s existence was secret – and falls under Air Combat Command's 432d Wing at Creech Air Force Base, Nev. In Kandahar, the Sentinel was seen operating out of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems’ hangar.

The 30th RS was activated as part of the 57th Operations Group on Sept. 1, 2005, and a squadron patch was approved July 17, 2007. The activation – although not the full meaning of the event – was noted among those who watch for signs of activity in the classified world.

The RQ-170 designation is similar to that of the F-117 – a correct prefix, but out of sequence to avoid obvious guesses of a program’s existence. Technically, the RQ designation denotes an unarmed aircraft rather than the MQ prefix applied to the armed Predator and Reaper UAVs. The USAF phrase, “Support to forward deployed combat forces,” when combined with visible details that suggest a moderate degree of stealth (including a blunt leading edge, simple nozzle and overwing sensor pods) suggests that the Sentinel is a tactical, operations-oriented platform and not a strategic intelligence-gathering design.

Many questions remain about the aircraft’s use. If it is a high-altitude aircraft it is painted an unusual color – medium grey overall, like Predator or Reaper, rather then the dark gray or overall black that provides the best concealment at very high altitudes.

The wingspan appears to be about 65-ft., about the same as an MQ-9 Reaper. With only a few images to judge from – all taken from the left side – the impression is of a rather deep, fat centerbody blended into the outer wings. With its low-observable design, the aircraft could be useful for flying the borders of Iran and peering into China, India and Pakistan for useful data about missile tests and telemetry, as well as gathering signals and multi-spectral intelligence.

Read the Aviation Week story.

Comments (21) | Permanent Link

Tags: ar99, RQ-170, stealth, uav, Afghanistan, Tonopah, Beast, of, Kandahar

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jetcal1 wrote:

Judging from the pictures posted on blogs, I have to wonder. The main gear looks like the ones used on recent Grumman aircraft and the JSF.

Given the nature of retraction for the nose gear and the depth and probable location of the CG...to my very untrained eye, that reeks of an internal weapons bay.

Oh, and the size of the nose wheel also screams unimproved field instead of CV ops.

Just a few thoughts.

12/4/2009 4:10 PM CST

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Solomon wrote:

a couple of questions from some reporters shouldn't be enough to out a program. i wonder what gives.

12/4/2009 4:16 PM CST

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Bill Sweetman wrote:

Well, it's not just "some" reporters, Solomon.

Seriously, the beast clearly wasn't that secret or it wouldn't be trundling around Kandahar in broad daylight. There comes a time when it makes more sense to be open (which makes ops easier) than to keep a secret that everyone knows.

Jetcal - the interesting thing about the nose gear is that it retracts sideways, like the de Havilland (Hawker Siddeley) Trident airliner. And the gear of an all-wing aircraft always looks big in side-view because you can't see most of the aircraft.

12/4/2009 4:22 PM CST

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Bobbymike wrote:

This article says - With its low-observable design, the aircraft could be useful for flying the borders of Iran and peering into China, India and Pakistan for useful data about missile tests and telemetry, as well as gathering signals and multi-spectral intelligence.

I said on 12/01/09 - My guess is that you have a Iranian defensive systems probing platform. Put this platform up with a Rivet Joint or other platform to record all the electronic and radar noise coming from Iran.

Since I am hardly ever right in my speculation :)

12/4/2009 4:46 PM CST

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Solomon wrote:

So if nothing else then it seems like the Air Force has a platform for a deep strike UCAV....I wonder if this is why they've been so luke warm to the Navy effort.

12/4/2009 4:53 PM CST

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JeffRL wrote:

Rather than being "sensor pods" above the wings, could they instead be antennas for uplinking data to satellites?

12/4/2009 7:50 PM CST

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mrcrea wrote:

Solomon, I've seen a couple of posts on another website mentioning how beefy those landing gear look in another photo. I wonder if it is a navy version, that just hasn't had a carrier trial.

Also, I'm curious about the thickness of the body. Is it just extra fuel and sensors or is there an internal bay? It's kinda hard to see anything b/c the landing gear is so large.

12/5/2009 3:29 PM CST

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RSF wrote:

Anyone know what the range/endurance this thing might have? It could give us some idea of what they were doing with it in Kandahar.

12/5/2009 4:07 PM CST

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YO-3A007 wrote:

Low altitude, radar absorbing, silent or extremely quiet. Check out Skunk Work's 1967-1971 silent nightm low altitude airplanes in Vietnam www.yo-3a.com www.prizecrew.org

12/5/2009 9:50 PM CST

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Solomon wrote:

Mrcrea...
Hadn't thought of that. Lockheed Martin attempting to preempt the Northrop offering by having this successful trial of their vehicle in a war zone made public?!

Its Machiavellian but it makes sense. If it is carrier compatible then wow, Good stuff for them, procurement nightmare #3 for Ashton Carter.

12/6/2009 1:55 AM CST

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