Lockheed Aequare

Aequare
Role	Reconnaissance drone
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Lockheed Missiles and Space Company
Built by	Windecker Industries
First flight	1975
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	15-20

TheLockheed Aequare(Latin:"to equalize" ) was anunmanned aerial vehicledeveloped by theLockheed Missiles and Space Companyfor theUnited States Air Force.It was intended for launch from anF-4 Phantom IIfighter-bomber, and would carry a remotesensor arrayandlaser designatorfor use by the launching aircraft. The system was evaluated in the mid 1970s, but did not enter operational service.

Design and development

Development of the Aequare was initiated in 1973 with the awarding of a contract from theDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency(DARPA) to theLockheed Missiles and Space Companyfor the development of an expendable miniature air-launched remotely piloted vehicle (later known as unmanned aerial vehicle) for use by the United States Air Force (USAF) to find and designate targets forstrike aircraftin high-threat environments.The resulting aircraft, produced under subcontract byWindecker Industries,was equipped with a folding 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m) wing and a pusherducted fanpowered by aMcCulloch MC-101engine, and was intended to be launched from aSUU-42flare dispenser,which would be released from aMcDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom IIfighter-bomber at approximately 24,000 feet (7,300 m) and descend under parachute. Upon deployment of the main parachute, the Aequare would be released, starting its engine and flying underradio command guidancefrom a ground station,with imagery and telemetry transmitted through adatalink,with the launching aircraft acting as a relay using the CTU-2 datalink pod.The Aequare was equipped with cameras foraerial reconnaissanceand also was fitted with a laser designator to allow the launching F-4, or other aircraft, to attack targets found by the UAV.

Operational history

The Aequare first flew in mid-1975;between 15 and 20 prototype aircraft were produced. Following the end of the system's flight trials in March 1976,no production was undertaken.

A development of the Aequare, SAVIOR (Small Aerial Vehicle for Observation, Intelligence, and Reconnaissance), jointly produced by LMSC and Windecker, used the fuselage and engine of Aequare mated to a new fixed wing and landing gear configuration; it was used to researchautopilotdesign and launch-and-recovery techniques for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Specifications

Data fromParsch 2004

General characteristics

• Crew:None
• Length:7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
• Wingspan:7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
• Gross weight:140 lb (64 kg)
• Powerplant:1 ×McCulloch MC-101two-strokesingle-cylinder engine,12.5 hp (9.3 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed:115 mph (185 km/h, 100 kn)
• Range:200 mi (320 km, 170 nmi)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Lockheed MQM-105 Aquila
• Naval Research Laboratory Flyrt

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of unmanned aerial vehicles

References

Bibliography

• Francillon, Rene J. (1987).Lockheed Aircraft since 1913.Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN978-0-8702-1897-2.
• Munson, Kenneth (1988).World Unmanned Aircraft.London: Janes Information Group.ISBN978-0-7106-0401-9.
• Jane's Weapons Systems 1979–1980.London: Jane's Information Group. 1979.Retrieved2017-12-16.
• Parsch, Andreas (5 May 2004)."Lockheed Aequare".Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4: Undesignated Vehicles.Designation-Systems.Retrieved2017-12-16.