Scientists at the Naval Research
Laboratory (NRL) have developed and successfully flight tested
the first prototype Eager vehicle (Electric Preferential
Acquisition Decoy). The decoy is a recoverable, tethered,
electric-powered
rotary wing vehicle with an RF repeater payload. Eager
represents a breakthrough concept for affordable, effective ship
defense.
According to NRL project manager
Peggy Davidson, "Eager is designed for littoral warfare,
where engagement timelines are extremely short. The decoy is
deployed prior to entering a potential engagement area and is
on station at all times, ready to respond to the first threat
radar pulse. This is a significant improvement over current decoy
systems which are not deployed until a threat is detected, allowing
tens of thousands of pulses to paint the ship."
Eager will have an operational life of 1000 hours versus
minutes for existing electronic decoys of comparable unit cost.
Consequently, Eager also can be operationally much more
cost effective to own when considered on a cost/hour basis. Ms.
Davidson notes that, "Eager provides the ship with
an elevated platform capable of carrying a variety of payloads,
such as a receive antenna with data link for over-the-horizon
detection."
Eager weighs approximately 100 pounds, has a rotor diameter
of 10 feet, and a mission payload capacity of 15 pounds. According
to Ms. Davidson, "the Eager airframe is a simple, easily
fabricated modular unit made with carbon composite material.
The RF payload, electric propulsion system, tether, power supplies,
avionics, and flight control systems are advanced technology
prototypes integrated with off-the-shelf components. The tether
contains optical fibers for passing payload and control signals
from shipboard processors, and conductors for payload and vehicle
prime power. This on-ship power supply allows on-station endurance
limited only by system reliability. The vehicle is launched without
pyrotechnics from a ship (or ground) platform, and can be recovered
and redeployed."
The Eager Advanced Technology
Demonstration (ATD) is a three-year effort (FY95-FY97) sponsored
by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and funded through the
Program Executive Office for Theater Air Defense (PEO (TAD))
for the development and demonstration of a preferential acquisition
decoy for ship self-protection. The effort is being performed
by NRL's Tactical Electronic Warfare Division.
Initial flight tests are for
the vehicle only, but the payload will be integrated into the
vehicle and flight tested during August in preparation for the
final system demonstration in September, 1997.
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