Small, silent UAV for covert urban operations

Published 15 August 2011

A 9-pound man-packable UAV called Ghost is designed for silent urban operations in daylight and at night; Ghost’s two rotary electrical engines allow it to operate in complete silence, provide real-time intelligence to ground forces working in cities and towns where densely located buildings and other urban cover can conceal enemy forces, terrorists, or other hostile combatants; the UAV is ideally suitable for law enforcement as well

Columbus, Mississippi-based Stark Aerospace, an Israel Aircraft Industry (IAI) North America company, is showing its 9-pound twin-rotor man-packable UAV called Ghost for silent urban operations in daylight and at night. IAI will unveil the covert-operations UAV this week at the AUVSI Unmanned Systems North America trade show being held in Washington, D.C. on 16-19 August. Observatoire de l’Industrie reports that the Ghost small hovering UAV which looks like a smaller – much, much smaller — version of the Boeing CH-47 Chinook twin-rotor heavy-lift helicopter. It is designed to provide real-time intelligence to ground forces working in cities and towns where densely located buildings and other urban cover can conceal enemy forces, terrorists, or other hostile combatants.

The UAV can be fitted with different imaging equipment and sensors, such as visible-light cameras and infrared sensors. Sensor data can be data-linked back to operators.

The Ghost UAV-helicopter has automatic vertical takeoff and landing capability and can loiter for as long as thirty minutes. IAI engineers designed the system with two rotary electrical engines so it can operate silently and support day and night special operations missions.

IAI designed the Ghost UAV and its control system based on computer gaming to make the system intuitive for operators, who need little training to work the system, company officials say. Two soldiers can carry the entire system in their backpacks. System components include two UAVs, batteries, control unit, and communications. Ghost is suitable for paramilitary and homeland security applications, IAI officials say.

Source: homelandsecuritynewswire.com

IAI to Unveil « Ghost », a Rotary Mini UAV System at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America

Aug. 8, 2011

BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Israel

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) will present the Ghost, an innovative, small hovering unmanned platform at AUVSI’s Unmanned Systems North America , August 16-19, in Washington, DC.

Ghost weighs approximately 4 kg (9 lbs), and provides real-time intelligence to ground forces operating in urban areas. Ghost is equipped with an automatic vertical takeoff & landing system and can loiter for up to 30 minutes. The system was designed with twin rotary electrical engines so it can be silent and support day and night special operation missions.

The unique man-machine interface and operational concept is based on the principles of computer games and makes the system extremely intuitive to operate and requires little training. The entire system can be carried in backpacks by two soldiers and includes: two platforms, batteries, and a command and control unit with communications. Ghost is suitable for paramilitary and homeland security applications due to its simplicity and ease of operation.

Itzhak Nissan, IAI’s President and CEO, said: « The innovative concepts used to develop Ghost highlight IAI’s goal to do its utmost to support the ground forces. GHOST demonstrates IAI’s leading technology and know-how gathered through years of experience in unmanned aerial systems. »

Ghost will be on display at Booth 713 – Stark Aerospace, a subsidiary of IAI North America. Other UAVs on display will include the ETOP (Electric Tethered Observation Platform) and the Heron UAS. Heron recently reached full operational capability as part of the German Air Force’s activities in Afghanistan.

Israel Aerospace Industries is one of Israel’s leading technological-industrial companies with around 16,000 employees, generates annual sales of approximately US$3.3 billion. The Company has gained worldwide recognition as the leader in the development of aviation and aerospace technology in the military and civilian markets alike

IAI/Malat Division is one of the world’s most experienced unmanned air vehicle system manufacturers. With more than 900,000 UAV flight hours and 35 years of operational experience by 48 customers and more than 30 years of operational experience in system development, integration, manufacturing, providing integrated logistics support, depot maintenance and technical assistance to fielded operational systems.