Packaging and configuration design aspects of UCAV concept synthesis and optimization

Abstract

Uninhabited Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) escapes the bounds of conventional ideas and opens a big window of new opportunities in combat aircraft design. A conceptual design methodology was produced to investigate the packaging and configuration design aspects of UCAV. To obtain first estimates of the major parameters that define the aircraft, an initial sizing program was developed to consider the primarydesign variables and constraints requirements. They are subsequently applied to9 a numerical design synthesis methodology for UCAVs. The tailless UCAV was high on the list of interesting concepts because of the inherent benefits from the simple construction of a flying wing, its efficient low-drag aerodynamics, the ease of weapon and engine installations, and natural low observability of the design. A variety of packaging aspects was set up comprising of avionics bay, internal weapons carriage, propulsion system with the use of two-dimensional nozzle, undercarriage bay, and fuel tanks. The conceptual design possessed a flexible design layout for a wide range of configurations. The aircraft sysnthesis models were described, and validation and comparison results were presented where possible. The design methodology incorporated sufficiently accurate and realistic algorithms for the estimation of the packaging, geometry, layout, aircraft mass, and aircraft centre of gravity. A series of results was generated allowing a demonstration of several trade studies that could be accomplished. Results from a variety of particular designs were presented and discussed. Overall research conclusions were derived, and recommendations for further work prescribed. Appendices contained results of initial sizing program; publish data for avionics instruments, weapons, and UCVAs/UAVs; methodology implementation; and detailed aircraft parameters, packaging and configuration aspects of UCAV output data.