Innovative Development. Global Hawk and Darkstar. Volume 2: Flight Test in the HAE UAV ACTD Program

摘要

The United States has seen a three-decade-long history of poor outcomes in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development efforts. Technical problems have led to cost growth and schedule slip as well as to disappointing operational results. Costs have tended to escalate so much during development that the resulting systems have cost more than users have been willing to pay, precipitating program cancellation in almost every case. This history prompted the unique developmental approach adopted at the beginning of the High-Altitude Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (HAE UAV) program. There has also been a long history of efforts made to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of weapon system acquisition policy, processes, and management. Capturing the experience from ongoing or recently completed efforts employing nonstandard or innovative acquisition strategies can facilitate such improvements. This research contributes to that effort. In 1994, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), in conjunction with the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO), began the development of two UAVs. These systems were intended to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance information to the warfighter. As such, they responded both to recommendations made by the Defense Science Board and to operational needs stated by DARO on behalf of military service users.