Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Drone Kestrel
Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2015 9:49 amAllied forces training with Kestrel
UARV Kestrel
Length: 0.8 meter
Wing Span: 1.2 meters
Weight: 3.1 kg
Propulsion: 1 x electric motor with 2 x high-capacity lipo batteries, solar powered.
Flight time: 3.5-7 hours with return to home functionality, near endless with sunny conditions.
Electronic equipment: SACHERI versions of SIGINT, SAR, COMINT, Active Infrared, Electro optical, LWIR, laser Illuminator, GMTI/GMTT, SACHERI Battlespace Network Configuration, all of which can be switched out fr any version for similar or more advanced capabilities.
Abstract
A stealthy, silent, and small UAV designed for intelligence gathering and battlespace manipulation, the Kestrel is an unarmed UAV that does more without weapons than most armed UAVs could ever hope too. One of the hidden yet most decisive elements to Marshite Full Spectrum Dominance, the Kestrel is an invaluable tool of war.
Construction and Deployment
The Kestrel's main consideration during construction was keeping the platform lightweght yet sturdy enough to handle the winds that it was expected to deal with. Another concern was keeping it stealth, in both the radar and visual ranges. Fiberglass reinforced plastic is used wherever possible for the construction of the body, with factors taken into consideration regarding weight and the placement of electronics. The result is a sturdy platform that can resist a good deal of low-impact crashes and is light enough to be carried to the battlefield by members of a fireteam. The webbing in between the wings is light silk.
Stealth is achieved through multiple factors. First and foremost, the small size of the craft, combined with the height at which it flies, often masks it from visual identification. Even if it is seen, it is often mistaken for a bird- most Kestrels are constructed to appear broadly similar at great range to many avian creatures of like size. Radar detection is prevented, or forestalled, by a few factors. The shape that makes the craft appear birdlike has several radar absorbing cross sections, and radar absorbing material is applied as well. The result is that the already bird like signature of the Kestrel is squashed. Cost concerns lead some to not apply the radar absorbing materials, the effect of which is minor. Internal electrics are composed of Indium Gallium Arsenide, selected despite its higher cost over silicon for its extremely high resistance to electromagnetic pulse attack. Circuitry is further protected by kraton insulation, to further improve electromagnetic resilience.
Deployment is squad based. Most Marshite Squads have the ability to deploy one Kestrel pre-battle. Multiple soldiers carry parts of the aircraft so the additional weight doesn't harm the capacity of the soldiers on the ground. It is assembled in less than five minutes and deployed. Once deployed, it can be operated in multiple fashions. A specialist on the ground can control it through SACHERI, it can be manually operated by a vehicle, or it can operate autonomously based on programming through SACHERI.
For the most part, forces do not engage with one UAV per squad. One Kestrel is often enough for an entire company, though two to three are often deployed per company. On the rare day that one crashes or is shot down by small arms, another is almost immediately deployed.
Electronics
The Kestrel is dependent and relied upon entirely for it's suite of customized electronics gear. It is all coordinated with the SACHERI Battlespace Network- it both receives and feeds information into it. It has a wide and effective suit of capabilities thanks to this, and SACHERI plays an important role in all of its functions. The Kestrel uses synthetic aperture radar. Creates images by using radio waves that bounce off of surfaces, then measuring the echos. The SAR can be used in all weather conditions, while still providing an accurate image. These images are crossreferenced with SACHERI to provide detailed analysis and identification of what threats face friendly forces.
The Kestrel features an important signals intelligence suite. It can intercept electronic signals, and either records them as new information or matches them to known data, including communication between people, and records the information. COMINT is used to find out who transmitted the signal, their location, and how long the signal lasted. Advanced cryptanalysis features utilize the networked SACHERI battlespace for the pure processing and information technology prowress inherent in the design, allowing a Kestrel to decipher encrypted enemy ELINT and COMINT data. This is one of the most important elements of the Kestrel. It can hack into and decipher enemy communications and enemy missile and other electronics systems. Not only does this have a massive intelligence gathering potential, but it can be absurdly useful in battle. SACHERI can flood enemy communication and ELINT arrays with bunk data to shut down enemy systems, take them over, turn over communications, spoof missiles, and generally dominate the electronic battlefield. Unknown numbers of Marshite lives have been saved by the Kestrel's incredible ELINT, electronics warfare, and COMINT capabilities.
The Kestrel has an array of sensors that feed into SACHERI. Infrared sensors, which detect heat. Electro-optical sensors, which detect changes in light. Long wave infrared imager (LWIR), which is a unique camera that captures thermal images to show differences in heat. Laser illuminator, which records video when it is dark with night vision technology. The end result is a high capability sensor suite that, when combined with SAR and SIGINT and when networked, gives the soldier on the ground a complete and accurate assessment of who the enemy is, where he plans on striking, with what, when and how.
This assumes a level of saturation. Alone, the Kestrel is a competent intelligene gathering craft that feeds information easily into SACHERI. However, the cryptanalysis feature degrades significantly when not networked, meaning heavily encrypted channels may not be cracked. It loses much of it's electronic warfare capability.
Propulsion and Flight Time
The Kestrel is powered by a small yet powerful electric motor powering small turboprops. Two high capacity, long lasting lithium polymer batteries power the motor. One works at any given time, allowing the other to be recharged. Small solar panels are placed on top and and act to recharge the drained batteries. Thanks to this system, the Kestrel can stay up for as long as the mission or power allows it.
Export
The Kestrel is a powerful tool of information control and can play a central role in dominating the battlespace environment and help out significantly in intelligence gathering. The small size enables a high degree independence and mobility, and its construction allows it to operate in a great number of environments. Because of its highly effective nature, the Kestrel is a Level I restricted system, and when purchased, comes without SACHERI.
The UARV Kestrel costs $140,000. DPRs cost $2.8 billion standard NS dollars.
It can be purchased through Covenant Arms.
UARV Kestrel
Length: 0.8 meter
Wing Span: 1.2 meters
Weight: 3.1 kg
Propulsion: 1 x electric motor with 2 x high-capacity lipo batteries, solar powered.
Flight time: 3.5-7 hours with return to home functionality, near endless with sunny conditions.
Electronic equipment: SACHERI versions of SIGINT, SAR, COMINT, Active Infrared, Electro optical, LWIR, laser Illuminator, GMTI/GMTT, SACHERI Battlespace Network Configuration, all of which can be switched out fr any version for similar or more advanced capabilities.
Abstract
A stealthy, silent, and small UAV designed for intelligence gathering and battlespace manipulation, the Kestrel is an unarmed UAV that does more without weapons than most armed UAVs could ever hope too. One of the hidden yet most decisive elements to Marshite Full Spectrum Dominance, the Kestrel is an invaluable tool of war.
Construction and Deployment
The Kestrel's main consideration during construction was keeping the platform lightweght yet sturdy enough to handle the winds that it was expected to deal with. Another concern was keeping it stealth, in both the radar and visual ranges. Fiberglass reinforced plastic is used wherever possible for the construction of the body, with factors taken into consideration regarding weight and the placement of electronics. The result is a sturdy platform that can resist a good deal of low-impact crashes and is light enough to be carried to the battlefield by members of a fireteam. The webbing in between the wings is light silk.
Stealth is achieved through multiple factors. First and foremost, the small size of the craft, combined with the height at which it flies, often masks it from visual identification. Even if it is seen, it is often mistaken for a bird- most Kestrels are constructed to appear broadly similar at great range to many avian creatures of like size. Radar detection is prevented, or forestalled, by a few factors. The shape that makes the craft appear birdlike has several radar absorbing cross sections, and radar absorbing material is applied as well. The result is that the already bird like signature of the Kestrel is squashed. Cost concerns lead some to not apply the radar absorbing materials, the effect of which is minor. Internal electrics are composed of Indium Gallium Arsenide, selected despite its higher cost over silicon for its extremely high resistance to electromagnetic pulse attack. Circuitry is further protected by kraton insulation, to further improve electromagnetic resilience.
Deployment is squad based. Most Marshite Squads have the ability to deploy one Kestrel pre-battle. Multiple soldiers carry parts of the aircraft so the additional weight doesn't harm the capacity of the soldiers on the ground. It is assembled in less than five minutes and deployed. Once deployed, it can be operated in multiple fashions. A specialist on the ground can control it through SACHERI, it can be manually operated by a vehicle, or it can operate autonomously based on programming through SACHERI.
For the most part, forces do not engage with one UAV per squad. One Kestrel is often enough for an entire company, though two to three are often deployed per company. On the rare day that one crashes or is shot down by small arms, another is almost immediately deployed.
Electronics
The Kestrel is dependent and relied upon entirely for it's suite of customized electronics gear. It is all coordinated with the SACHERI Battlespace Network- it both receives and feeds information into it. It has a wide and effective suit of capabilities thanks to this, and SACHERI plays an important role in all of its functions. The Kestrel uses synthetic aperture radar. Creates images by using radio waves that bounce off of surfaces, then measuring the echos. The SAR can be used in all weather conditions, while still providing an accurate image. These images are crossreferenced with SACHERI to provide detailed analysis and identification of what threats face friendly forces.
The Kestrel features an important signals intelligence suite. It can intercept electronic signals, and either records them as new information or matches them to known data, including communication between people, and records the information. COMINT is used to find out who transmitted the signal, their location, and how long the signal lasted. Advanced cryptanalysis features utilize the networked SACHERI battlespace for the pure processing and information technology prowress inherent in the design, allowing a Kestrel to decipher encrypted enemy ELINT and COMINT data. This is one of the most important elements of the Kestrel. It can hack into and decipher enemy communications and enemy missile and other electronics systems. Not only does this have a massive intelligence gathering potential, but it can be absurdly useful in battle. SACHERI can flood enemy communication and ELINT arrays with bunk data to shut down enemy systems, take them over, turn over communications, spoof missiles, and generally dominate the electronic battlefield. Unknown numbers of Marshite lives have been saved by the Kestrel's incredible ELINT, electronics warfare, and COMINT capabilities.
The Kestrel has an array of sensors that feed into SACHERI. Infrared sensors, which detect heat. Electro-optical sensors, which detect changes in light. Long wave infrared imager (LWIR), which is a unique camera that captures thermal images to show differences in heat. Laser illuminator, which records video when it is dark with night vision technology. The end result is a high capability sensor suite that, when combined with SAR and SIGINT and when networked, gives the soldier on the ground a complete and accurate assessment of who the enemy is, where he plans on striking, with what, when and how.
This assumes a level of saturation. Alone, the Kestrel is a competent intelligene gathering craft that feeds information easily into SACHERI. However, the cryptanalysis feature degrades significantly when not networked, meaning heavily encrypted channels may not be cracked. It loses much of it's electronic warfare capability.
Propulsion and Flight Time
The Kestrel is powered by a small yet powerful electric motor powering small turboprops. Two high capacity, long lasting lithium polymer batteries power the motor. One works at any given time, allowing the other to be recharged. Small solar panels are placed on top and and act to recharge the drained batteries. Thanks to this system, the Kestrel can stay up for as long as the mission or power allows it.
Export
The Kestrel is a powerful tool of information control and can play a central role in dominating the battlespace environment and help out significantly in intelligence gathering. The small size enables a high degree independence and mobility, and its construction allows it to operate in a great number of environments. Because of its highly effective nature, the Kestrel is a Level I restricted system, and when purchased, comes without SACHERI.
The UARV Kestrel costs $140,000. DPRs cost $2.8 billion standard NS dollars.
It can be purchased through Covenant Arms.