Fifth-Generation Target Drone Phase I Design

摘要

The Fifth Generation Target Study (5GTS) was a conceptual design task for a large target drone aircraft capable of representing key Sth generation fighter signature and performance attributes. The target drone's intended uses are to test air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, and to ensure that modern tracking systems are capable of identifying and targeting 5th generation fighters. The costs associated with a new military design were unaffordable for a target, so the team looked into taking advantage of the materials and methods that were developed for the new Very Light Jets in general aviation. This paper is the second in a series of four on the conceptual design of 5GTS. It describes six conceptual designs created by Sierra Technical Services, the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Air Force Aeronautical Systems Center, and the United States Air Force Academy. The six designs were analyzed and evaluated relative to the evolving SGTS requirements. These analyses helped the design team understand and refine the 5GTS requirements and also eliminated three of the six candidate configurations from further consideration.