Northrop Grumman Sandstorm

History

Northrop Grumman directs the Sandstorm/Long Shot Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) program developed by Montana Unmanned Systems. Consisting of Sandstorm UAS and Longshot, an internet-based software suite, the program is designed to provide the U.S.

Air Force (or any other drone operator) with a cost-conscious training alternative to using mature (and expensive) combat drones machine. Since most UAV accidents occur during launch or recovery and are sponsored by satellite-based control systems (resulting in overcompensating student pilots), Sandstorm was designed with low-cost training in mind.

Sandstorm is specifically designed to simulate various drone types to date (2012). Under the supervision of an instructor, students can connect to the drone via broadband, and the controls are customized to replicate Predator/Reaper-type controls fairly closely. A Sandstorm drone costs around $100,000, while a Predator or Reaper costs millions.

Add to that the costs of operating, maintaining and repairing these systems, including accident costs, and a significant price increase in a single fiscal year. Northrop Grumman reports that the U.S. Air Force saves millions of dollars annually when fully utilizing Sandstorm/Longshot products.

Longshot software's internet-based connection allows students to control the UAS from anywhere in the world without the inherent latency of satellite connections.

The design of the

Sandstorm drone itself is traditional, with a low-set, swept-back monoplane, a well-contoured fuselage, and a wheeled tricycle landing gear. The plane is usually powered by engines recessed into the rear of the fuselage, driving three-bladed propellers in a "thrust" configuration.

The avionics are housed in the front bump, while the optics are housed in the chin fairing. An air intake can be seen along the rear ridge portion of the design, while the vertical caudal fin consists of a pair of fins sloping outward along the dorsal side and a vertical caudal fin on the ventral side.

The wingspan is 15 feet and the barrel length is 8 feet, which means it's much smaller than a full-size Predator or Reaper dronemeaning fewer ground crews to manage the airframe and less expensive to acquire.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Changes