has announced its new Shark Unmanned Aircraft System. A small UAS capable of performing silent ISR at low altitudes for long periods of time, it is designed to fit within a five inch inner diameter launch tube. The Shark is built with the latest in composite materials and processes to produce an affordable system that weighs only 5.5 pounds.
The strength to weight ratio of the composite parts has been made possible utilizing a process Brock Technologies calls Super Compression Moulding (SCM.) With this method, the total number of composite plies is reduced without impact to the overall component strength. In addition to the SCM process, the Shark employs composite castings which allow for light weight embedded parts and in the near future, injection moulded parts. This translates to low per unit airframe costs, allowing the end user to operate with more advanced payloads and sensors. The system depicted incorporates a light weight gyro-stabilized pan, tilt sensor unit capable of housing an optical zoom EO colour camera, a long wave infrared camera, or a short wave infrared camera. This permits the Shark to perform both daytime and night-time operations.
Initial flight testing began in early 2010. The flight tests were performed by means of an in-flight mother ship launch. This series of air launches proved the advanced control systems and allowed Brock Technologies to tune the gains before tube launching.
The Shark UAS measures 31 inches in length and spans 38 inches with the wings deployed. This small lightweight system has a payload carrying capability of 1.0 lb. The small system footprint coupled with a quiet propulsion system makes it difficult to see or hear.