Lockheed Martin RQ-3 DarkStar

RQ-3A Darkstar
Role High-altitude endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
Manufacturer Lockheed Martin/Boeing
First flight March 29, 1996

The RQ-3 DarkStar (known as Tier III- or "Tier three minus" during development) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Its first flight was on March 29, 1996. The Department of Defense terminated DarkStar in January 1999, after determining the UAV was not aerodynamically stable and was not meeting cost and performance objectives.[1]

Design and development

The RQ-3 DarkStar was designed as a "high-altitude endurance UAV", and incorporated stealth aircraft technology to make it difficult to detect, which allowed it to operate within heavily defended airspace, unlike the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk, which is unable to operate except under conditions of air supremacy. The DarkStar was fully autonomous: it could take off, fly to its target, operate its sensors, transmit information, return and land without human intervention. Human operators, however, could change the DarkStar's flight plan and sensor orientation through radio or satellite relay. The RQ-3 carried either an optical sensor or radar, and could send digital information to a satellite while still in flight. It used a single airbreathing jet engine of unknown type for propulsion. One source claims it's Williams-Rolls-Royce FJ44-1A turbofan engine.[2]

The first prototype made its first flight on March 29, 1996, but its second flight, on April 22, 1996, ended in a crash shortly after takeoff. A modified, more stable design (the RQ-3A) first flew on June 29, 1998, and made a total of five flights before the program was canceled just prior to the sixth and final flight planned for the airworthiness test phase. Two additional RQ-3As were built, but never made any flights before program cancellation.

Although purportedly terminated on January 28, 1999, it was reported in April 2003 that the RQ-3 was still in development as a black project.[3] The size and capabilities were reported to have increased somewhat. It was further alleged that the first such example had been used in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.[3] There has been no independent confirmation.

The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "3" refers to it being the third of a series of purpose-built unmanned reconnaissance aircraft systems.

RQ-3A Dark Star on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington

Survivors

Specifications

Overhead view
Dark Star at the Museum of Flight.

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

Sources

References

  1. ↑ UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES: DOD’s Demonstration Approach Has Improved Project Outcomes United States General Accounting Office Report to the Secretary of Defense, August 1999
  2. ↑ http://cowboylogic.us/stalking-iran-and-bin-ladin-with-a-drone/
  3. 1 2 Aviation Week & Space Technology. April, 2003.
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