The Pentagon plans to add the Gremlins unmanned aerial vehicle launch and recovery facility to the future C-130 transport fleet.
The United States Department of Defense is aiming for a small UAV fleet from the C-130 Hercules airlift to perform reconnaissance missions and destroy enemy radar. This new feature will turn the C-130 into an air carrier for UAVs in the future, according to Popular Merchanics.
The Pentagon's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a contract to General Atomic Aeronautical Systems to develop a lightweight UAV called the Gremlins, using the key components tested. thoroughly tested. Gremlins will be small in size with low cost, capable of performing many different purposes. Each can carry a payload of 27 kg, range 500 km.
During wartime, C-130 transports can fly near enemy air defense systems, and then deploy the UAV Gremlins from the tailgate. UAVs will secretly identify targets such as headquarters or radar stations, or force the enemy to fire missiles to shoot down. The data is then transferred to the Gremlins equipped with strong explosives to perform a self-destructive destruction of the target.
In peacetime, small UAV squadrons could operate near the borders of potential adversaries to gather intelligence. The Gremlins reconnaissance version can perform at least 20 missions, with 24-hour spacing between deployments.
Phase three of the project, including the launch and recovery of the Gremlins fleet from C-130 transport, will be conducted after 2019.
Duy Son
