Performance analysis and design of loitering munitions: A comprehensive technical survey of recent developments is a report by Mark Voskuijl.

Loitering munitions are becoming increasingly prevalent in armed conflicts, prompting the development of a comprehensive database derived from publicly available information. This database encompasses various attributes such as dimensions, weights, and performance metrics, including flight endurance and communication range. Utilizing this dataset, six distinct categories of loitering munitions are identified, and statistical trends, represented by equations, are established for each category. These statistical trends find support in aircraft performance theory customized for the specific applications of loitering munitions.

The integration of the database, statistical trends, and aircraft performance theory facilitate the analysis of flight performance and design considerations for new loitering munitions, particularly those with limited non-technical information accessible in the public domain, such as images and news articles. Drawing on the statistical trends and aircraft performance theory, it is deduced that, for long-range applications, the conventional configuration stands as the preferred design solution. Meanwhile, the cruciform configuration proves advantageous when precision flight path control is paramount. The tandem wing configuration combines the advantages of canister launch with relatively high aspect ratio wings suitable for extended-range flight. Lastly, the delta wing design offers a substantial internal volume and high terminal attack airspeed.

To illustrate the flight performance capabilities of two types of loitering munitions currently employed in the Yemen conflict—a long-range conventional design and a delta wing configuration—two case studies are included. These examples showcase the practical applications of statistical trends and aircraft performance theory in assessing and understanding the performance of loitering munitions in real-world conflict scenarios.

Publication Date– March 2022

Performance analysis and design of loitering munitions: A comprehensive technical survey of recent developments contains the following major sections:

  • Introduction
  • Aircraft performance and design criteria
  • Sizing correlations
  • Example case studies
  • Conclusions and recommendations

Open Access Paper. This article is distributed under the terms of the Attribution-Non-Commercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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Author– Mark Voskuijl

See Also-

Persistent Systems Wave Relay Supports Loitering Munitions

Elbit Systems Awarded $95 million SkyStriker Loitering Munition Contract

Image Credit: Adobe Stock by Mike Mareen