Executive Summary - NASA

4.1.3 Cost ControlUAV Roadmap 2002 – Section 4TechnologiesEmpty weight cost is a commonly used metric in the aviation industry because ittends to remain constant across a variety of aircraft types. That number today is roughly$1500 per pound. Table 4.1-1 provides the empty weight and cost data for DoD UAVsdepicted in Figure 4.1-4. It shows current DoD UAV platforms cost approximately$1500 per pound of empty weight and $8000 per pound of payload capacity as one “costper capability” metric. Figure 4.1-5 takes this metric further by factoring in UAVendurance (from Section 2) to also provide a link between performance and cost in termsof dollars per pound-hour. OSD, Joint Staff, and the Services should developcapability and/or capability-performance metrics (such as those in Section 4.1)against which to evaluate UAV program costs. Program managers should provideJoint Staff and OSD written justification at Milestone B and C reviews when thesemetrics are exceeded, and provide appropriate management organizations withoptions for reducing costs to align costs with these metrics when this occurs. 2 OPR:OSD. Due: FY03.TABLE 4.1-1. UAV SYSTEM AND AIRCRAFT COSTS AND WEIGHTS.Aircraft Cost Aircraft Payload System Cost Number ofSystemFY02 $* Weight, lb* Weight, lb FY02 $ Acft/SystemPredator $ 1,700,000 1135 450 $ 30,000,000 4Pioneer $ 650,000 307 75 $ 7,000,000 4Hunter $ 1,200,000 1170 200 $ 20,000,000 8Global Hawk $ 20,000,000 9200 1950 $ 57,000,000 1Shadow 200 $ 325,000 216 60 $ 6,200,000 4Fire Scout $ 1,800,000 1502 200 $ 14,200,000 3Dragon Eye $ 35,000 3.5 1 $ 120,000 3* Aircraft costs are minus sensor costs, and aircraft weights are minus fuel and payload capacities.Hardware costs, including GFE, are used.2 Bolded text refers to OSD’s priority goals for unmanned aviation discussed in section 6.4.32