RQ-95K Dulumi

RQ-95K Dulumi
Role	Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle
National origin	Joseon
Manufacturer	Daesung Aerospace,. Inc.
First flight	24 February 2019
Introduction	November 2023
Status	In service
Primary user	Royal Joseon Air Force
Produced	2019–present
Number built	28
Program cost	$ 9 billion
Unit cost	$135.3 Million

The RQ-95K Dulumi is a high-altitude, remotely-piloted surveillance aircraft introduced in 2016. The RQ-95K provides a broad overview and systematic surveillance using high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors with long loiter times over target areas.

The RQ-95K Dulumi is operated by the Royal Joseon Air Force (RJAF). It is used as a high-altitude long endurance (HALE) platform covering the spectrum of intelligence collection capability to support forces in worldwide military operations. According to the RJAF, the superior surveillance capabilities of the aircraft allow more precise weapons targeting and better protection of friendly forces.

Development

Until 2008, the Royal Joseon Air Force operated the RQ-4 Global Hawk as the only HALE UAV. However, as the cost of the RQ-4 Global Hawk program increased and the program scaled down in the U.S., questions were raised about the continuity and affordability of the Global Hawk program within Joseon. Accordingly, the Ministry of Defense of Joseon started the next-generation domestic HALE UAV project, replacing the Global Hawk program, which is questioned about its sustainability, and purchasing domestic UAVs to reduce technology accumulation and maintenance costs, and pursue stable operation.

A total of three companies participated in the next-generation domestic UAV development project. Among them, the XQ-95 model of Daesung Aerospace was finally selected, and the development of UAVs began in 2009.

Design

Overview

The RQ-95K UAV system comprises the RQ-95K air vehicle, which is outfitted with various equipment such as sensor packages and communication systems, and a ground element consisting of a Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), and a Mission Control Element (MCE) with ground communications equipment. Each RQ-95K air vehicle is powered by a Hanwha Aerospace JT-163 turbofan engine with 9,430 lbf thrust, and carries a payload of 5,000 pounds (2,267 kilograms). The fuselage uses aluminum, semi-monocoque construction with a V-tail; the wings are made of composite materials.

The RQ-95K is capable of conducting sorties lasting up to 30 hours long and scheduled maintenance must be performed sooner than on other aircraft with less endurance. However, since it flies at higher altitudes than normal aircraft, it experiences less wear during flight. It can survey as much as 40,000 square miles (100,000 km2) of terrain per day, an area the size of the southern part of the Korean Peninsula or Iceland.

System and ground facilities

The RQ-95K is capable of operating autonomously and "untethered". A military satellite system (X Band Satellite Communication) is used for sending data from the aircraft to the Mission Control Element(MCE). The common data link can also be used for direct down link of imagery when the UAV is within line-of-sight of compatible ground stations. For dense flight areas the autonomous navigation is switched off and the RQ-95K is remote controlled via the satellite link by pilots on the ground who are supplied with the same instrument data and who carry the same responsibilities as pilots in manned planes.

The ground segment consists of a Mission Control Element (MCE) and Launch and Recovery Element (LRE), provided by Raytheon. The MCE is used for mission planning, command and control, and image processing and dissemination; an LRE for controlling launch and recovery; and associated ground support equipment. The LRE provides precision Differential GPS corrections for navigational accuracy during takeoff and landings, while precision coded KPS(Korea Positioning System) supplemented with an inertial navigation system is used during mission execution. By having separable elements in the ground segment, the MCE and the LRE can operate in geographically separate locations, and the MCE can be deployed with the supported command's primary exploitation site. Both ground segments are contained in military shelters with external antennas for line-of-sight and satellite communications with the RQ-95K.

Sensors

The RQ-95K uses a SAR(Synthetic-aperture radar) radar, EO(Electro-optical) sensors, and IR(Thermography#Cameras) cameras to monitor targets and target points. The SAR has a ground moving target indicator (GMTI) mode, which can provide a text message providing the moving target's position and velocity. Both SAR and EO/IR imagery are transmitted from the aircraft to the MCE as individual frames, and reassembled during ground processing. An onboard inertial navigation system, supplemented by KPS satellite navigation updates, comprises the navigational suite.

The RQ-95K's camera is capable of identifying objects on the ground as small as 30 cm (12 in) in diameter from 20 km (66,000 ft) in the air.

The SAR radar's SAR-MTI system operates in the X band in various operational modes, such as the wide-area MTI mode with a radius of 62 mi (100 km), combined SAR-MTI strip mode provides 20 ft (6.1 m) resolution over 23 mi (37 km) wide sections, and a SAR spot mode providing 6 ft (1.8 m) resolution over 3.8 square miles (9.8 square kilometers).

Armaments

The RQ-95K can carry air-to-surface armaments equivalent to 4,000 lbs in four pylons equipped on the main wing. While the RQ-95K's armed capabilities are deemed non-essential, in its mission to monitor battlefield environments with immediate and unpredictable threats, the RQ-95K is equipped with air-to-ground armaments to utilize them when immediate threat elimination is needed.

Artificial intelligence

In 2020, the RQ-95K was upgraded to Block II, with the main upgrade being the installation of the same model of AI hardware and software as the KMAQ-2 on the RQ-95K. RQ-95K Block II has robust and reliable self-management and self-flight capabilities through advanced algorithms running on high-performance processors. The management system has full control over the aircraft in a variety of situations, including aircraft condition monitoring and error detection, fuel condition monitoring, maximum g loads management, take-off and landing, flight control, waypoint navigation, aerial rendezvous, and aerial refueling. Management systems can also operate in conjunction with manned or other unmanned aerial vehicles, requiring little human intervention. If communication with human commanders is not smooth due to enemy electronic warfare, management systems control aircraft to complete pre-populated tasks and return to base.

The management system is powered by powerful, highly autonomous AI. These features are backed by algorithms such as self-defense, and threat assessment algorithm.

Protection

The RQ-95K has military-grade protection against non-nuclear and nuclear shock wave EMPs.

Operators

• Joseon
  • Royal Joseon Armed Forces
    • Royal Joseon Air Force
    • Royal Joseon Navy