Dragon Eye~(TM) UAV: Concept to Production

摘要

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), in collaboration with the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory (MCWL), has developed the Dragon Eye~(TM) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) System. The Dragon Eye~(TM) is an electrically powered, affordably expendable, man portable, airborne sensor platform for Small Unit reconnaissance. Its purpose is to give the forward deployed warfighter an organic capability to see "over the hill." The Dragon Eye~(TM) program was initiated in response to the U.S. Secretary of the Navy's Small Unmanned Air Vehicle Initiative to demonstrate a rapid transition from advanced technology research to a mission ready system. The program has matured from program inception in February 2000 to an expected production decision in March 2003. The primary phases of the program were: initial concept, first prototype, systems testing and integration, demonstrations, initial user evaluations, competitive transition to industry and down select to acquisition. This paper will discuss the phases of the program and provide lessons learned from the Dragon Eye~(TM) rapid development effort.