The Northrop Grumman Bat is a medium-altitude unmanned air vehicle originally developed for use by the United States Armed Forces. Designed primarily as an intelligence "ISR" gathering tool, the Bat features 30 lb payload capacity that is unmatched in a 10 ft wing span. Northrop Grumman received design and marketing rights from Swift EngineeringKiller Bee to sell which was renamed the Bat UAS in April 2009. The Bat UAS was redeveloped to increase payload carrying capacity and extend range. The latest variant offered for sale by Northrop Grumman has a wing span of 14 feet and can carry up to 100 pounds of payload. The Bat "14" UAS has a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet above sea level and a maximum endurance of 18 hours. On August 12, 2011, Northrop Grumman was awarded $26,178,369 on a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification basis for Sand Dragon B Tier II UAVs for detecting IEDs and roadside bombs.
Characteristics
The Bat UAS System is packaged for transport into two major assemblies: Launch/Recovery & Air Vehicle/GCS
* Transportable on MV-22, HUMVEE, C-130, and by Helicopter
Bat UAVs incorporate COTS payloads for reduced costs and ease of maintenance
Automatic Recovery is programmed and controlled via autonomous computer and differential GPS using a portable net system
Catapult launcher functions are controlled and monitored by GCS software
The blended wings merge with the fuselage into a single airfoil to reduce aerodynamic drag, improve fuel economy, and increase flight endurance. Made largely of composites, including epoxy/carbon fiber and fiberglass, the airfoil is rigid, providing structural efficiency and stiffness, reducing materials and manufacturing costs. With net hooks in the nose and a rear push propeller, the craft lands in a mobile retrieval net. The current Hirth engine with 5-bladed propeller provides a flight time of up to 18 hours. The Bat is designed to have a lower than average visual and radar cross-section profile. A heavy-fuel engine design is also available for ease of environmental integration. The payload capabilities consists of, for example, still image and real-time video cameras, EO/IR and SAR sensors, Kestrel MTI, laser range finders, laser designators, infrared cameras, communication relays, IED detection, radar jamming EW, chemical and biological detection systems, psy ops, and flare dispensers.
Uses
The Bat UAS has the ability to carry numerous types of payloads for collecting intelligence, including still image and real time video cameras, EO/IR and SAR sensors, laser range finders, laser designators, Infra-Red cameras, communications relay equipment, chemical, biological, and IED detection systems and flare dispensers. The Bat series is planned for commercial sale to support private security surveillance, and as a means to monitor pipelines, power lines, Border Protection as well as weather phenomenon.
