Enhancing electromagnetic launch capability: design of a small launch system for large UAVs

Cox, Tom; Yang, Tao; Gerada, C.

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) play a critical and increasing role in modern combat, giving significantly enhanced surveillance, communication and strike capabilities. There are currently a large range of UAV’s available, but in general the more capable the UAV, the larger and heavier it becomes. The largest UAVs such as the Naval MQ-4C Triton are currently operated exclusively from land-based runways.
The BAE systems “UXV Combatant” is designed as a drone mothership, able to deploy large numbers of UAV’s and including two 50m flight decks for launch and recovery systems. In order for the UXV combatant to deploy large naval drones such as the Triton, a significant electromagnetic launch system will be needed. This work looks at design and modelling of an electromagnetic launch system capable of launching a Triton sized large UAV at high acceleration from a small naval platform. The work considers both the UXV combatant design, and the use of the rear flight deck of the existing Type 45 design.
The work consists of outlining the launch requirements of the drone, initial scoping of system power requirements and selection of launch topology, analytical modelling of the system launch cycle and Finite Element Analysis to verify the chosen motor system design.
The results of this work show that an electromagnetic linear motor based system capable of launching large naval drones is feasible from a Type 45 scale launch platform, either configured as a drone carrier or by using the existing flight deck.

Citation

Cox, T., Yang, T., & Gerada, C. Enhancing electromagnetic launch capability: design of a small launch system for large UAVs. Presented at Engine as a Weapon International Symposium, EAAW 2017

• Conference Name: Engine as a Weapon International Symposium, EAAW 2017
• End Date: Jun 21, 2017
• Acceptance Date: Jun 5, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 20, 2017
• Deposit Date: Aug 15, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 15, 2017
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Keywords: UAV, Electromagnetic Launch, UXV Combatant, EML
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/867235
• Related Public URLs: https://www.eaaw.org.uk/
• Contract Date: Aug 15, 2017