Jij] ~ MAR 

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INTELLIGENCE REPORT COMPASS DWELL 

DESIGNATION 

EXECUTIVE 

PRIME 

STATUS 

MISSION 

TYPE 

FUNDING 

TIMETABLE 

GENERAL 

Compass Dwell; Remotely Piloted Vehicle (RPV); PE 642l6F; PE 64732F 

USAF Aeronautical Systems Division 

Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 

Selection pending 

Engineering Development 

Long duration reconnaissance 

Drone aircraft 

($ millions) 

RDT&E 

(all estimates) 

Not applicable 

FY73 

$ 3.0 

FY72 FY71 FY70-69 

1.5 

Compass D,vell is one of approximately 30 reconnaissance and surveillance related projects sheltered under the "Compass" name (see the 

DMS Code Name Handbook). The "Dwell" indicates an Air Force effort 

aimed at development of long duration flight capable reconnaissance 

drones. An outgrowth of the Comfy Bee studies begun in 1968, the 

USAF has narrowed the program to considerations of two sailplane 

concepts both built around Schweizor gliders. 

The first is the L-450F (designated X1v1Q-93) entry provided by LTV 

Electrosystems, Greenville, TX. A modified version of the Schweizer 

2-32, the L-450F reportedly is powered by a modified United Aircraft 

of Canada PT6A-26 turboprop. A test model of this vehicle flew 21 

non-stop hours during tests in late 1971. It is designed for operation 

at altitudes up to 52,000 feet and supposedly for missions of 30 hours. 

The L-450F can be used in either manned or unmanned modes. In the 

drone configuration (without pilot seat and cockpit canopy), the aircraft can carry 700 pounds of electronic payload. One test aircraft 

crashed in 1970, but the Air Force bought about six more of the aircraft from LTV during the past year. 

The second model is to be supplied in 1972, reportedly, by Martin 

Marietta. The company is understood to be modifying a Schweizer 

2-32 to operate only as a drone and to be powered with a piston 

engine. The type of engine to be used has not been announced. The 

Martin aircraft will undergo flight tests at Edwards AFB during the 

fall of 1972. 

These unmanned Compass Dwell drones are expected to replace U-2 and 

SR-7l aircraft for many of the strategic and tactical reconnaissance 

and surveillance missions assigned to the Air Force. They obviously 

are expected to be far less costly to operate and maintain than either 

of the higher priced aircraft or the more sophisticated satell i te 

systems. 

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COMPASS DWELL, Page 2 

MARKET 

INTELLIGENCE REPORT 

COMMENT 

FORECAST 

The unmanned aircraft, drone or remotely piloted vehicle projects 

within the various military agencies have attracted wide attention 

in the aerospace industry. The systems involved, particularly the 

electronic and optical devices, are sophisticated, challenging and 

profitable, thereby representing an attractive business potential 

during somewhat slim market pickings. 

However, the drones themselves are tending to go in the other direction; i.e., toward simplification and lower prices. 

The chances are the Compass Dwell type drone will not be bought in 

the vast quantities of the counterpart, the target drone. So the 

level of business to be generated from the "production" program that 

will ensue from the developmental testing of the two currently known 

candidates (see above) will probably be limited in nature and low 

value in dollar volume. 

On the brighter side are the long term prospects that drones, or 

RPVs, do seem to have. High altitude overflights (under guise of 

accidents) of potentially hostile countries, the surveillance of 

ocean lanes (see Program 749 Report herein for a possible drone 

application), the tactical combat requirements and even some commercial and non-military uses all are viable end uses. 

The five year forecast: 

($ millions) 

RDT&E 

PROCUREMENT 

FY74 

$ 2.0 

$ 0.5 

FY75 

1.0 

1.0 

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FY76 

o 

2.5 

FY77 

o 

3.0 

FY78 

o 

3.0 

,