![]() Like the D-21, Compass Arrow was an “ultimate” design that soon ran into the cost-capability conundrum that afflicts so many UAV programs. The Air Force invited two companies North American and Ryan Aeronautical to compete for the lucrative contract that included 100 production vehicles, which Ryan (maker of the Lightning Bug series drones) won. Still, AFSC’s Reconnaissance/Strike office gained control and awarded the contract in June 1966. NRO Director Al Flax, thought by many to be one of the most important advocates of drones in that era, fought hard for NRO and Big Safari cognizance over Compass Arrow. Moreover, they felt normal acquisition practices would incorporate normal Air Force standardization and maintainability features that would minimize contractor involvement in operations and result in lower operations and maintenance costs. Systems Command believed that NRO drone management encouraged cozy “sole-source” (non-competitive) contracts that led to unnecessary cost escalation. Officials at Air Force Systems Command, which represented the “normal” or “white world” of the Air Force acquisition system, had become so enthusiastic about the growth potential for drone reconnaissance that they attempted to wrest drone development from the NRO and the special acquisition arrangement with Air Force Logistics Command’s Big Safari office. The new design incorporated such highly sophisticated technologies that a SAC reconnaissance historian said it represented “a revolutionary development in the evolution of the special purpose aircraft.” SAC wanted the completely new Compass Arrow to take over for the high altitude modified Lightning Bug drone that had proved vulnerable to enemy missiles. ![]() Perhaps the key point about Compass Arrow is that it represents the only true follow-on UAV ever produced by the US. These developments long ago demonstrated and documented capabilities which today are available in times of peace or war and for use in military, industrial, or commercial venture.Īnother outlandish UAV system designed for reconnaissance operations over China was the project called Lone Eagle, later renamed Compass Arrow. Such accomplishments continued with the design and development of high-altitude surveillance vehicles such as the Compass Arrow and Compass Cope aircraft. Instead of flying extremely high-speeds like the D-21, the Fire Fly possessed a unique design that made it nearly impossible to pick up on radar. Ryan Aeronautical developed a reconnaissance UAV capable of penetrating deep into Chinese airspace: the Model 154, (also known as the Compass Arrow, or Fire Fly). Twenty eight were produced, but after the rapprochement with China in the early 1970s which ended aerial overflight reconnaissance, they did not become operational. It could fly a 2000-mile mission, self-navigated by a Doppler Inertial guidance system and on-board computer. It flew at 78,000 feet and incorporated many early 'stealth' techniques. We’ve created a sophisticated and industry-leading sense-and-avoid system that will allow our drones to operate at greater distances while safely and reliably avoiding other aircraft, people, pets, and obstacles.The Ryan-built Firefly Model 154 COMPASS ARROW, first of the second generation of UAVs, was designed for high-altitude, low-detectability reconnaissance. Our drones can encounter new, unexpected situations and still make safe decisions-autonomously and safely. We know our customers will only feel comfortable receiving drone deliveries if they know the system is safe and reliable. That’s a game-changer, and we’re very excited about it. Still, Prime Air’s Flight Science team has created new custom-designed propellers that will reduce the MK30’s perceived noise by another 25%. Even when they descend to deliver packages, our drones are generally quieter than a range of sounds you would commonly hear in a typical neighborhood. Our drones fly hundreds of feet in the air, well above people and structures. Reducing the noise signature of our drones is an important engineering challenge that our team is working on.
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