Lockheed Martin Company has advanced to the next phase of Sikorsky’s DARPA project, a technology division that has developed a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system (VTOL/UAS), known for its “rotor-blown wing” configuration.
The “ANCILLARY” VTOL with rotor-blown wing
This design uses “twin protons” to allow the aircraft to take off and land vertically, with a helicopter-like action, and then transition to horizontal flight for long-duration missions, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
In addition, DARPA’s ancillary program, known as ANCILLARY, seeks to develop a Class 3 X-Plane VTOL X-Plane UAS capable of operating in most weather conditions, from ship decks and unprepared surfaces without infrastructure. Sikorsky is one of the competitors selected to take its UAS concept designs to the next phase of development.
The “rotor-driven wing” refers to the constant airflow from the proprotor wash across the wing, a design chosen by Sikorsky to reduce wing drag in hovering mode and during transition to forward flightThis increases cruising efficiency and endurance.
During current flight tests, Sikorsky is using a proof-of-concept prototype with a battery-powered battery-powered proof-of-concept prototype . If selected to produce an air vehicle for a future auxiliary phase, Sikorsky plans to build a 300-pound hybrid-electric version to include a 60-pound ISR payload.
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Source and photo: Lockheed Martin
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