TECHNOLOGY OF PROPULSION SYSTEM FOR UNMANNED COMBAT AERIAL VEHICLE (UCAV) – A REVIEW

Abstract

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that is used for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance and carries aircraft ordnance such as missiles, ATGMs, and/or bombs in hardpoints for drone strikes. These drones are usually under realtime human control, with varying levels of autonomy. Unlike unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicles, UCAVs are used for both drone strikes and battlefield intelligence. Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicle (UCAV) propulsion technology is significantly related to the flight performance of UCAVs, which has become one of the most important development directions of aviation. It should be noted that UCAVs have three types of propulsion systems, namely the fuel, hybrid fuel-electric, and pure electric, respectively. This paper presents and discusses the classification, working principles, characteristics, and critical technologies of these three types of propulsion systems. It is helpful to establish the development framework of the UCAV propulsion system and provide the essential information on electric propulsion UCAVs. Additionally, future technologies and development, including the high-power density motors, converters, power supplies, are discussed for the electric propulsion UCAVs. In the near future, the electric propulsion system would be widely used in UCAVs. The high-power density system would become the development trend of electric UCAVs. Thus, this review article provides comprehensive views and multiple comparisons of propulsion systems for UCAVs.