Aerodynamic Framework for Surveillance and Reconnaissance UAVs: Application to the Angel Owl with JPAD–STAR-CCM+ Coupling

This work presents an automated aerodynamic analysis framework that couples the JPAD parametric aircraft design environment with the high-fidelity CFD capabilities of STARCCM+. The approach enables rapid generation, meshing, and simulation of complex UAV configurations directly froma parametric geometry definition, supporting early-stage exploration of aerodynamic performance and reducing the manual workload typically associated with high-fidelity CFD pipelines. The methodology is applied to the Angel Owl, a high-altitude longendurance unmanned aircraft designed for persistent ISR missions. Aerodynamic performance is evaluated across representative high- and low-speed flight conditions, including a detailed breakdown of lift, drag, and pitching-moment contributions from the airframe, nacelle, and empennage. Results demonstrate that the configuration achieves stable longitudinal behavior and favorable aerodynamic efficiency at cruise, while low-speed analyses highlight the onset of mild pre-stall behavior near �� = 14°. The integrated JPAD–STAR-CCM+ workflow establishes a scalable foundation for future multidisciplinary optimization studies, including propulsion–airframe integration and structurally informed shape adaptation.