Scan Eagle

[mmelli]

I read abut amazing Scan Eagle autonomy and endurance.
More than 20 hr!!! at 50-60 kts. speed. In example, it can fly more than 400 nm, remain in patrol for 4 to 5 hr over the objective, and return to base ! !

With this long distance, what kind of data link system is used by Scan Eagle ?

A special radio modems ?
A military satellite communications web ?

Cheers

[lvspark]

I think they are using Iridium

[RCAV8R13]

Primary link is FreeWave. Video is redundant TXs, one in each winglet for a total of three TXs. We have an Iridium system working for one of our civilian customers.
We just flew for 28h 44min with heavy fuel (JP-5) and landed with another four hours of fuel left! This is an indudtry first for a heavy fueled plane this size and vaults us WAY ahead of our competition, once again.
RCA