During the Euronaval Exhibition and Conference 2014 in October at Paris, Insitu announced the ScanEagle 2, the next generation of its re...
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During the Euronaval Exhibition and Conference 2014 in October at Paris, Insitu announced the ScanEagle 2, the next generation of its revolutionary ScanEagle aerial surveilance platform.
Leveraging lessons learned from more than 800,000 operational hours, ScanEagle 2 provides increased payload power and expanded payload options, a more robust navigation system, better image quality due to a fully digital video system and a state-of-the-art, purpose-built propulsion system from Australian Orbital Engines.
The aircraft’s new architecture also maximizes commonality with all Insitu systems, reducing training, hardware and life-cycle costs. The UAV has less endurance of 16 hours against the 24 hour for the ScanEagle. The reduced payload makes way for more powerful onboard ISR equipments.
Engineered for unmatched performance, ScanEagle 2 employs a whole-systems approach to affordability and higher reliability that includes a new propulsion system – the first reciprocating internal combustion propulsion system designed and manufactured specifically for Small-Unmanned-Aircraft-Systems-class vehicles.
ScanEagle 2 also enables commonality with other unmanned systems thanks to an open-architecture ground control system, as well as a launch-and-recovery system it shares with Integrator, Insitu’s other unmanned platform.
The miniature UAV-4 feet long with and 10 foot wingspan, is designed as a low-cost, long-endurance autonomous unmanned vehicle (UAV) to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) data or communications relay.
Key features:
- Endurance: 16+ hours
- Ceiling: 19,500 ft / 5,950 m
- Cruise speed: 50-60 knots / 25-30 m/s
- Engine: heavy fuel (JP-5 or JP-8) or gasoline engine
- Payload Integration On-board power: 100-150 W for payload (varies with engine type)
- Empty structure weight: 41.8 lb / 19 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 51.8 lb / 23.5 kg
- Max horizontal speed: 80 knots / 41.2 m/s
- Max payload weight: 7.7 lb / 3.5 kg
- Length: 5.6 ft / 1.71 m
- Wingspan: 10.2 ft / 3.11 m
Insitu is a Boeing subsidiary located in Bingen, US. ScanEagle is based on Insitu's Seascan miniature robotic aircraft and draws on Boeing's systems integration, communications and payload technologies.
ScanEagle is launched autonomously via a pneumatic wedge catapult launcher and flies pre-programmed or operator-initiated missions guided by GPS and its onboard flight-control system.
It is retrieved using a "Skyhook" system in which the UAV catches a rope hanging from a 50-foot high pole. The patented system allows ScanEagle to be runway independent and operate from forward fields, mobile vehicles or small ships.
