Aviation / Aerospace

ADCOM Systems United 40

Medium Altitude, Long Endurance (MALE) UAV [ 2013 ]

The ADCOM Systems United 40 UAV is being developed for long endurance reconnaissance and surveillance sorties with possible arming capabilities in the future.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 02/01/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image courtesy of ADCOM Systems marketing material; All Rights Reserved.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]

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Entering the field of military-minded drone aircraft is the Persian Gulf nation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with its rather ambitious "United 40" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) by ADCOM Systems. The United 40 is currently envisioned as an intelligence-gathering, reconnaissance and communications relay platform, capable of supporting various operations including those of special forces, regular army and humanitarian aid responses. It is conceivable that the system may also evolve along a more direct combat platform line, able to carry munitions into combat and self-designate its targets - currently, four presented underwing hardpoints will serve to carry mission pods (100kg each station). The total payload capability (including internal) is to be 2,200lb.

Perhaps the most unique physical quality of the United 40 is its serpentine-like fuselage which bends down aft of the forward section to create a noticeable valley. The empennage is then slightly elevated to complete the shape, mounting a single vertical tail fin without any tailplanes present. A three-bladed propeller blade is noted at the extreme rear of the design, arranged in a "pusher" configuration. Intakes are also found at either side of the extreme fuselage aft. The main wing units of the United 40 are also of particular note for there are two individual mainplanes - one mounted forward and the other mounted aft. The forward pair sits higher than the aft pair when views in profile and all are of a low-aspect ratio design similar to that of gliders. Dimensionally, the United 40 is given a length of 11 meters, a wingspan of 20 meters and a height of 4.4 meters. The undercarriage is a retractable tricycle arrangement which limits operation of the United 40 to prepared runaways. The entire vehicle showcases an empty weight of 1,150lb with a Maximum Take-Off Weight of 3,300lb.

As it stands, the United 40 is to be powered by a twin engine arrangement with its primary engine installation being a conventional unit outputting at 115 horsepower. This is to be coupled with an electric system developing up to 80 horsepower. All told, the United 40 is expected to reach speeds between 75 and 200 kilometers per hour - this range based on available marketing material from ADCOM Systems. Additionally, its service ceiling is expected to reach around 7,000 meters (23,000 feet) while mission endurance times will reach some 120 hours of constant operation.

The United 40 is also known by the designation of Yabhon Smart Eye 2.

Specifications

Service Year

2013

Origin

United Arab Emirates

Status

IN-DEVELOPMENT
Program in Progress.

Crew

0
UNMANNED

Production

1
UNITS

ADCOM Systems, Incorporated - UAE

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

National flag of the United Arab Emirates

Algeria; Egypt; Russia; United Arab Emirates

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

✓ Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.

Length

36.5 ft
(11.13 m)

Width/Span

65.6 ft
(20.00 m)

Height

14.4 ft
(4.38 m)

Empty Wgt

1,146 lb
(520 kg)

MTOW

3,307 lb
(1,500 kg)

Wgt Diff

+2,161 lb
(+980 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the base ADCOM Systems United 40 production variant)

Installed: 1 x Primary engine developing 115 horsepower with 1 x Electric motor generating 80 horsepower.

Max Speed

137 mph
(220 kph | 119 kts)

Ceiling

22,966 ft
(7,000 m | 4 mi)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base ADCOM Systems United 40 production variant. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

Possible - Aircraft mock-up has been seen with various stores fitted across four primary hardpoints. Mission equipment typically centered around combat/damage assessment, intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, surveillance and communications relay. Payload of up to 1,000kg/2,200lb.

Supported Types

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 4

Mounting Points

-

7

5

-

4

6

-

HARDPOINT(S) KEY:

X

15

13

11

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

COLOR KEY:

Fuselage Centerline

Fuselage Port/Wingroot

Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot

Wing/Underwing

Wingtip Mount(s)

Internal Bay(s)

Not Used

Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).

"United 40" / "Yabhon Smart Eye 2" - Base Series Designation.

"Algeria 54" - Algerian local designation and production; operations began in 2019.

Yabhon NSR - Variant.

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