Photo gallery: Paris Air Show 2011

The Watchkeeper unmanned air system delivers accurate and timely combat ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) information to decision makers at all levels of command right down to the soldier on the battlefield.

The Watchkeeper is a high-performance multi-sensor, all-weather UAS that can remain airborne for over 16 hours in a single mission. It includes a high degree of automation, with automatic take-off and landing (ATOL), and has a de-icing capability, to expand its ability to operate in all weather/operational environments. Delivered in a dual-payload configuration, the system includes enhanced electro-optic/infrared sensors, with laser target designator, as well as an advanced I-Master synthetic aperture radar/ground moving target indicator radar.

Benefits:
. Affordable persistent ISR
. Flexible system architecture
. Multi-sensor air vehicle
. Advanced levels of autonomy and mission management
. Tactically deployable
. Capacity to support future growth capability

. Unmanned Aircraft System MQ-9 Predator B

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency displayed the Guardian, a maritime variant of the MQ-9 Predator B unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at the Paris Air Show. CBP acquired the UAS, manufactured by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems of Poway, California, to enhance the agency’s long-range maritime surveillance, detection and targeting capabilities in the Eastern Pacific, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, as well as to support anti-terror efforts along maritime smuggling routes.

The Guardian began operational testing and evaluation at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in February 2010 and began conducting missions in April.

Performance and weights:
• Level Speed 240 knots
• Altitude Ceiling Up to 50,000 ft.
• Range 2,800 NM
• Endurance up to 20 operational hours
• LOS Link Distance 150 NM
• Max Gross Weight 10,500 lbs.

Features:
• Ground Control Station
• Launch and Recovery System
• Electro-optical/Infrared Sensors
• Surface Search Radar/Ground Moving Target Indicator
• Line-of-sight Data and Control Link
• Ku-band Satcom Data and Control Link

. RQ-7 Tactical unmanned aerial system
 
The RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used by the United States Army and Marine Corps. Launched from a trailer-mounted pneumatic catapult, it is recovered with the aid of arresting gear similar to jets on an aircraft carrier. Its gimbal-mounted, digitally-stabilized, liquid nitrogen-cooled electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera relays video in real time via a C-band line-of-sight data link to the ground control station (GCS). The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "7" refers to it being the seventh of a series of purpose-built unmanned reconnaissance aircraft systems.

Dimensions:
. Wingspan: 4.27m
. Length: 3.4m
. Height: 0.86m
. Weights:
. Empty Weight: 90kg
. Maximum Payload: 25.3kg
. Maximum Take-Off Weight: 127.3kg
. Maximum Gross Weight: 170kg

Engines:
. Type: 1 x UEL AR 741 rotary engine
. Rating: 28.3kW
. Fuel capacity: RQ-7A – 40l<br />RQ-7B – 57l

Performance:
. Speed: 194.5km/h (105kt)
. Flight Ceiling: 4,572m (15,000ft)
. Endurance: 5 to 7 hours
. Mission Radius: 200km
. Climb Rate: 300m to 450m a minute
. Take-Off Distance (Launcher): 10m
. Maximum Dash Speed: 219km/h (118kt)
. Cruise Speed: 167km/h (90kt)
. Loiter Speed: 111km/h (60kt)