L-3 Unmanned Systems

L-3 Unmanned Systems (L-3 US) has a history of delivering proven products, systems and services for a variety of customers and applications.  Combined, the company has over 35 years of engineering, designing, manufacturing, integrating and supporting UAS.

Headquartered in New York City, L-3 Communications employs over 66,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aircraft modernisation and maintenance, C3ISR systems and government services. L-3 is also a leading provider of high technology products, subsystems and systems. L-3 Unmanned Systems has harnessed these industry-leading capabilities to develop their family of next generation precision UAS.

CUTLASS Tube-Launched Small UAS

CUTLASS is a tube-launched Small UAS capable of both air and ground launch from both 120mm and 150mm launch tubes.

Originally developed as an air deployable flying sensor, CUTLASS provides a stand-off off-board sensing capability to ISR aircraft. CUTLASS features a high lift-to-drag ratio design to maximise endurance and range.  It includes a sliding wing deployment mechanism to maximize wing length. It is powered by an electric motor with folding propeller blades and includes both command and control and video communication data links to either ground or airborne remote control stations.

CUTLASS is integrated with a steerable low-light camera that enables a variety of day / night ISR missions. The steerable camera interfaces to an embedded real-time video tracker to provide automated target tracking and geo-location.

VIKING Family of Tactical UAS

VIKING 100

The VIKING 100 air vehicle offers users an affordable, compact tactical UAS capable of performing a wide range of remote sensing, precision dispensing, or other aerial robotic applications requiring reliable performance, low operating cost, and ease of use.

The VIKING 100 is constructed of all composite materials and features a proven high-wing design with excellent ground clearance that allows operation from runways and semi-improved surfaces; electrically actuated maingear disc brakes quickly decelerate the air vehicle after touchdown, allowing short-field landings.  A trailer-mounted pneumatic launcher is available to enable launching in tactical conditions.

VIKING 100s 16HP 2-stroke engine burns a conventional gas/oil mixture for 10-12 hour flights. An optional multi-fuel engine increases endurance to 12-14 hours. Endurance may vary based on payload. Fuel for the flight is contained in the air vehicles fuselage tank. The air vehicle and payload are powered by a alternator with rechargeable onboard batteries.

The VIKING 100 system is easily deployed; typically a crew of three is required for set-up, operation and maintenance. The VIKING 100 can be set-up and ready to fly in under one hour, and breaks down in minutes into a few easy to handle components which quickly pack in the supplied hard-shell transportation and storage container. Factory support, including training, payload integration and onsite flight services are available separately as required.

VIKING 300

L-3 US VIKING 300 air vehicle offers users a tactical UAV capable of performing a wide range of remote sensing, precision dispensing, or other aerial robotic applications requiring reliable performance, long endurance, medium-sized payload capacity, and ease of use.

The VIKING 300 is constructed of all composite materials and features a proven high-wing design with excellent ground clearance that allows operation from runways and semi-improved surfaces. Generous flaps enable short rolling take-offs and slow flight; electrically actuated main gear disc brakes quickly decelerate the air vehicle after touchdown, allowing short-field landings.

VIKING 300s 290cc 2-stroke engine burns a conventional gas/oil mixture. Fuel for the 8-10 hour flight is contained in the air vehicles fuselage tank. Air vehicle and payload are powered by a 500W alternator with rechargeable onboard batteries.

The VIKING 300 payload bay is almost 2000 cubic inches and can accommodate various military and commercial payloads controlled by the ground control station data link. The modular construction allows for easy assembly and system enhancements as required.

Factory support includes training, payload integration, onsite flight services and full maintenance.

VIKING 400

The VIKING 400 UAS is integrated with Autonomous Take-Off and Landing (ATOL) technology supplied by L-3 Unmanned Systems' flightTEK system. Missions are flown using a GPS waypoint navigation which can be reassigned during flight. Embedded sensor data processing provides automated Multi-INT ISR Operations.

The VIKING 400 UAS can be equipped with a variety of payload technologies including, EO/IR, LIDAR, SIGINT, ELINT and Chemical/Biological/Radiological/Nuclear (CBRN). Payload capacity for the VIKING 400 is 75-100lbs with nearly 7,000 cubic inches of payload volume.

Operational and data range of the VIKING 400 UAS is >70nm line-of-sight (LOS) data link range with an endurance of 8-12 hours depending on payload weight integrated. Data is received and transmitted through state-of-the-art digital data link technology.

TIGER SHARK 

L-3 US TIGER SHARK UAS offers users a tactical unmanned systems capable of performing a wide range of remote sensing, precision dispensing, or other aerial robotic applications requiring reliable performance, long endurance, medium-sized payload capacity and ease of use.

The TIGER SHARK is constructed of all composite materials and features a proven high-wing design with excellent ground clearance that allows operation from runways and semi-improved surfaces.  Generous flaps enable short rolling take-offs and slow flight; electrically actuated main gear disc brakes quickly decelerate the air vehicle after touchdown, allowing short-field landings.

TIGER SHARKs 2-stroke engine burns a conventional gas/oil mixture.  Fuel for the 8-10 hour flight is contained in the air vehicles fuselage tank.  

The TIGER SHARK and payload are powered by a 500W alternator with rechargeable batteries. The TIGERSHARK payload bay is almost 2000 cubic inches and can accommodate various military and commercial payloads controlled by the Generation IV Ground Control Station data link.  The modular construction allows for easy assembly and system enhancements as required. L-3 UUS can support the TIGER SHARK UAS with system training, payload integration, engineering services, worldwide flight support services, full maintenance and field support kits.

MOBIUS

The MOBIUS Optionally Piloted Aircraft (OPA) system is designed to fulfil a wide range of unmanned ISR and RSTA missions. The aircraft can also be flown in a manned configuration providing flexibility for operations, training, and R&D. Open architecture across the entire system design assures maximum operational flexibility.

Based on a proven, FAA-certificated design (Experimental R&D Certificate), the carbon-composite aircraft overcomes many of the operational and logistical limitations of more classic, glider-like designs found in nearly all of todays unmanned aircraft.

Ground Control Station (GCS)

L-3 US Generation IV GCS is a highly portable command and control station that is easily transported in the standard configuration, or can be adapted to be built into a shelter.

The standard configuration has 1350MHz and 900MHz frequency hopping uplinks, and an 1800MHz downlink; all transmitted and received through the automated tracking dual-parabolic antenna array. This array is designed for 360 continuous rotation to track the unmanned aircraft during flight.

Included in the Gen IV GCS are a rugged shipping container, mission control module with slide-out payload operator monitor, payload inputs, payload controller, air vehicle controller, notebook computer with mission planning software with NEMA data output and MGRS grid and all cabling required for operation.

The Gen IV GCS can be tuned for different frequencies, and has an optional intercom system (ICS) available.

The Gen IV GCS is the preferred command and control system for L-3 US VIKING 100 and 300 Tactical UAS as well as the TIGER SHARK UAS.

The Gen IV GCS can also be configured to control a variety of other unmanned aircraft. 

UAS Avionics and Technology

linkTEK information dissimination system (IDS) performs IP (UDP/IP) over RF BLOS, LOS, and wired communications, enabling multi-node networks sharing information, and video. linkTEK supports data communication over BLOS interfaces including the Inmarsat satellite communication (SATCOM) network. It is equipped with an embedded Wi-Fi (802.11) LOS communication capability for close range high rate data dissemination. linkTEK IDS supports 3rd party LOS radios that can be enabled by simple in-field configuration update. linkTEK is equipped with an embedded JPEG 2000 video compression system for standard NTSC/PAL video signals. A corresponding JPEG 2000 viewer application is provided that can be hosted on most COTS computers or smaller COTS PDA devices.

flightTEK SMC (SAASM GPS, Miniaturized, Certified) is L-3 US smaller more integrated flight control solution using flightTEKs flight proven high performance UAS guidance, navigation and control software. SMC is a miniaturised tightly integrated hardware package that includes a SAASM GPS receiver (non-SAASM options also available), an integrated inertial measurement unit (IMU), an integrated 3-axis magnetometer, and an integrated air data sensor. flightTEK SMC offers one of the most sophisticated and reliable autonomous flight control solutions available off-the-shelf today. flightTEK SMC is more than just an autopilot, it serves as a complete mission management system by employing L-3 US' patented Variable Autonomy Control System (VACS).

The On-board Precision Auto Landing System (O-PALS) enables the autonomous launch and recovery of unmanned aircraft at fixed recovery sites. The system increases the operational UAS flexibility and reduces operations and support costs. O-PALS uses an altimeter for onboard precision altitude reference and does not require any ground aiding or tracking system infrastructure at the landing site. The design is compatible with SBAS or differential GPS capability if available. Once configured and installed in the host aircraft the system gives the operator push button launch and recovery capability.