Engineering:Dynetics X-61 Gremlins
| X-61 Gremlins | |
|---|---|
| |
| X-61A in flight | |
| Role | Experimental unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Dynetics |
| First flight | November 2019 (captive) January 17, 2020 (free flight) |
| Introduction | 2019 |
| Primary user | DARPA |
| Produced | 2019–present |
| Number built | 5 |
The Dynetics X-61 Gremlins is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Dynetics.
Design and development
The X-61 stemmed from the DARPA Gremlins program to demonstrate a recoverable, low-cost UAV with digital flight controls and navigation systems. It is designed to be recovered in midair by a modified transport airplane following its mission.[1] Dynetics was one of four companies to be awarded a Phase I contract for the program in 2016, and was the winner of the Phase III contract in April 2018.[1]
The X-61A is powered by a Williams F107 turbofan engine and can carry a variety of payloads, including electro-optical sensors, infrared imagers, electronic warfare systems, and weapons.[1][2] It was designed to be compatible with existing launch and ground support equipment.[1] The UAV is semi-autonomous, allowing a controller either in the mothership or on the ground to control up to eight X-61As at one time.[1][2]
Operational history
As of January 2020, five X-61A Gremlins have been built.[3] On July 5, 2019, an earthquake near China Lake damaged some of the first X-61A's test equipment, delaying the program.[2] The first captive flight of the X-61A on board a Lockheed C-130A Hercules mother ship was in November 2019.[1]
The first free flight of the X-61A was conducted on January 17, 2020. The flight was successful, however, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery and the aircraft was lost.[4] The four remaining vehicles are still operational.[5]
In August 2020 the company announced they had completed a second test flight, this time successfully recovering the aircraft by parachute. The flight lasted over two hours and included rendezvous and formation flight with the C-130 mother ship.[6]
In October 2021 DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.[7]
Specifications
Data from Airforce Technology and Flight Global[1][2]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 65.7 kg
- Length: 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m)
- Wingspan: 11 ft 5 in (3.47 m)
- Width: 1 ft 10 in (0.57 m)
- Height: 1 ft 8 in (0.52 m)
- Gross weight: 1,499 lb (680 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Williams F107 turbofan engine, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.6
- Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi)
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle, United States of America" (in en-GB). https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-61a-gremlins-air-vehicle/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Reim, Garrett. "China Lake earthquake damage delays Gremlins UAV demo" (in en). https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/china-lake-earthquake-damage-delays-gremlins-uav-demo/134357.article.
- ↑ "DARPA's Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight" (in en-US). 2020-01-21. https://www.airforcemag.com/darpas-gremlins-program-accomplishes-first-flight/.
- ↑ Reim, Garrett. "Dynetics X-61A Gremlins makes first flight, but destroyed after parachute fails" (in en). https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/dynetics-x-61a-gremlins-makes-first-flight-but-destroyed-after-parachute-fails/136220.article.
- ↑ "Gremlins Program Completes First Flight Test for X-61A Vehicle". https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2020-01-17.
- ↑ Cenciotti, David (27 August 2020). "Second Successful Flight of X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV) For DARPA's Swarming Program". https://theaviationist.com/2020/08/27/second-successful-flight-of-x-61a-gremlin-air-vehicle-gav-for-darpas-swarming-program/.
- ↑ "DARPA catches airborne X-61 Gremlins drone from C-130 cargo ramp" (in en-US). 2021-11-05. https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/darpa-catches-airborne-x-61-gremlins-drone-from-c-130-cargo-ramp/146268.article.
External links
 |  |
