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. |
