Global fires up on micro jet deal

Perth-based Global UAV Organisation has entered into a capability and technology demonstrator program with Australian Defence Industries Pty Ltd to develop a medium range tactical-unmanned aerial vehicle.

Global UAV and ADI have been contracted to build one demonstrator aircraft – dubbed Jandu by the Department of Defence – for evaluation by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation.

The turbofan powered, high-speed aircraft must have a top speed of 350 kilometres an hour, be able to carry a 50-kilogram payload, and be airborne for over four hours.

Global UAV will build the micro-turbofan engine and airframe at its Perth facility.

The company will manage and execute the integration of the engine and avionics systems into the airframe, support systems and flight trials.

The micro-turbofan engines built by Global UAV and tested in WA are about the size of a small portable television set.

Global UAV chairman Raalin Wheeler said that, under the ADI joint venture contract, the demonstration aircraft had to be ready for flight trials and assessment by defence aeronautical engineers by late next year.

“We were selected by ADI to be a partner because of our engineering capability to develop and manufacture micro-turbojet engines,” Mr Wheeler said.

Global UAV has the engineering skills to produce sophisticated airframes and systems.

It has, at its own cost, demonstrated a micro-turbojet powered aircraft to Defence Department experts.

“We have now separated ourselves from a lot of other contenders to receive the Defence funding as it stands,” Mr Wheeler said.

“Our Jandu UAV will be capable of high-dash speeds and extended endurance, or what is called loiter speed.”

Global UAV can manufacture the aircraft for civil and military specification and application.

Its micro-gas turbine technology has military, commercial and civil applications.

Mr Wheeler said that in 2002 and 2003 the company had won the Rolls Royce/Gas Turbine Builders Association fuel award.

It has also been accredited in the US by the Academy of Model Aeronautics to supply micro-jet turbines into the US market.

Its aircraft incorporate sophisticated navigation, guidance, control and communications systems, including GPS.

Global UAV’s airframes incorporate traditional and advanced composite materials.

Defence Minister Senator Robert Hill visited the company’s Perth premises late last year.

He said the Jandu high-speed aircraft would have the ability to carry payloads up to 50kg at speeds much higher than existing unmanned vehicles.

“The Jandu is one of six new, forward-looking projects that together will receive more than $10 million in funding under the eighth round of the capability and technology demonstrator program,” Senator Hill said.

“The new industry proposals under this program are further examples of Australian innovation and our ability to develop world-leading technologies.

“These proposals are not only innovative and imaginative, but are designed to give defence an operational edge.

“They could also result in major savings for defence, spin-offs for commercial applications and provide future export opportunities.”

Although the Global UAV-ADI collaboration is unique because its aircraft will be powered by a micro-fan jet engine and extremely sophisticated modern avionics, Australian innovators are not newcomers to unmanned aerial vehicle design and manufacture.

The Australian Government Aircraft Factory developed and built the Jindivik unmanned aerial target vehicle, which first flew in 1950.

Jindivik travelled at speeds of more than 800km/h and could reach an altitude of 24,300m.

More than 1,000 Jindiviks were built and sold to defence forces in Sweden, the US, Great Britain and Australia.

A decade later, the DSTO and the Australian Government Aircraft Factory developed and built the ship-borne rocket-powered Ikara guided weapon.

It had a 20km range and could carry anti-submarine torpedoes.

In the 1970s the Turana unmanned target drone was developed and built, followed by the Nulka decoy in the 1980s and the Aerosonde robotic surveillance aircraft in the 1990s.

Several other Australian unmanned aircraft have also been developed.

Global UAV is the first such company to involve WA industry and capital and its micro-turbofan engine and airframes were developed in WA.