Fuji TACOM

Lore & Background

The Technical Research and Development Institute (TRDI) initiated the TACOM program in 1995 to study the feasibility of an air-launched multirole UAV system based on JASDF requirements. Fuji Heavy Industries was awarded the contract that same year. Between 1995 and 1998, FHI designed and manufactured six UAVs, a ground control station, ground support equipment, and conversion kits for the F-4EJ to carry and command the UAV, with assistance from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Ground and flight tests were conducted between 1997 and 2001 by TRDI and JASDF. Ground tests included mechanical and electrical checks, ground vibration, and recovery tests. Flight tests focused on the UAV's compatibility with the F-4EJ, captive flight tests, and evaluation of four key technologies: high-speed stealthy configuration, wing expansion, GPS/ADS hybrid navigation, and autonomous target tracking. On May 7, 1999, the TACOM UAV carried out its first fully autonomous flight. The program ended in 2001 with a total of 22 F-4EJ flights and five independent flights.

In 2004, a follow-on program called the 'Unmanned Aerial Research System' was initiated based on experience from the previous project, conducted between 2004 and 2011 with an investment of 10.3 billion yen. This program further emphasized autonomous flight, guidance technology for autonomous landing, data transmission, and video technology for high-resolution images and videos. The drone was enlarged and slightly modified, including compatibility with its new mothership, the F-15J. Captive flight tests were conducted from Gifu Air Field to designated areas off the coast of Japan, and autonomous flight tests were conducted from Iwo Jima.

The TACOM UAV is designed as a high-speed, low observable air-launched drone with a foldable delta wing, a single air intake above the fuselage, and a single turbofan engine. Due to its small folding wings, the UAV is controlled only by its stabilizers and features ventral fins for lateral and directional stability. Radar cross-section reduction features include a curved intake S-duct and a small number of edge orientations. Dimensions were designed for carriage by an F-4EJ. Avionics include a Mission Management Computer and IR sensor in the forward fuselage, and two data link antennas in the nose and rear. The drone uses airbags and a parachute for deceleration and safe landing. After the second program, modifications included a traffic collision avoidance system, an Air Traffic Control transponder, cameras and sensors housed underneath the fuselage, and compatibility with the F-15J.

Reader's Guide

The Fuji TACOM program served primarily as a technology demonstrator for air-launched UAV capabilities within the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Its significance lies in the development and validation of four key technologies: high-speed stealthy configuration, wing expansion, GPS/ADS hybrid navigation, and autonomous target tracking. These technologies were tested through captive and autonomous flights between 1997 and 2001, culminating in the first fully autonomous flight in 1999. The program's legacy continued with the follow-on 'Unmanned Aerial Research System' from 2004 to 2011, which built upon TACOM experience to advance autonomous flight, guidance for autonomous landing, data transmission, and high-resolution imaging. This second phase involved enlarging and modifying the drone, including compatibility with the F-15J mothership, and represented a significant investment of 10.3 billion yen. The TACOM thus established a foundation for Japanese air-launched UAV research, influencing subsequent unmanned systems development for the JASDF.

Did You Know?

• The TACOM UAV was conceived in 1995 as a technology test platform for an air-launched UAV for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
• It performed its first fully autonomous flight on May 7, 1999.
• A follow-on program from 2004 to 2011 invested 10.3 billion yen and made the drone compatible with the F-15J.