Griffon Aerospace MQM-171 Broadsword

The Griffon Aerospace Broadsword is a significantly enlarged derivative of the MQM-170A Outlaw aerial target UAV. It was developed primarily as a research and test vehicle to evaluate new sensors, payloads, propulsion systems and other UAV components. The U.S. Army has successfully evaluated the UAV as the YMQM-171A, and has subsequently accepted the system as operational equipment.

Photo: Griffon Aerospace

YMQM-171A

The MQM-171A is very similar in general layout to the MQM-170A Outlaw. Like the latter, it can be launched from a pneumatic catapult and recovered by a skid landing, and can optionally be fitted with a tricycle landing gear for conventional landings. Operation with landing gear is considered standard procedure when the UAV is employed as a non-expendable research vehicle. Broadsword is equipped with mid-fuselage bays which can be configured as either payload bays or fuel tanks. Maximum payload capacity is about 54 kg (120 lb). The standard GCS (Ground Control Station) consists of one or more laptop computers with mission and status displays, and a telemetry suitcase with transceivers and data links. Flight control options are the same as for the Outlaw, i.e. either manual control or GPS-guided automatic flight path.

Photo: Griffon Aerospace

YMQM-171A

In U.S. Army service, the operational Broadsword systems are primarily used for RDT&E (Research, Development, Test and Evaluation) of new weapons systems. DOD nomenclature records also list an MQM-171B with exactly the same description as the -171A. It is unclear what the difference is between the MQM-171A and B versions.

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for MQM-171A:

Main Sources

[1] Griffon Aerospace Website (incl. older content from the Internet Archive)

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Last Updated: 24 December 2024