Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, is conducting flight tests to refine the control laws and aerodynamics of a novel vertical take-off and landing un-crewed aerial system (VTOL/UAS). These tests aim to demonstrate the efficiency and scalability of a twin proprotor ‘rotor blown wing’ configuration that takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and transitions smoothly to horizontal flight for long-endurance missions such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting.
The ongoing flight tests are part of the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) ancillary initiative, which seeks to develop a Class 3 UAS VTOL X-Plane capable of operating in most weather conditions from ship decks and unprepared surfaces without infrastructure. Sikorsky is among several competitors advancing their UAS conceptual designs into the next development phase. The ‘rotor blown wing’ design utilises constant airflow from the proprotor wash across the wing to reduce drag in hover mode and during the transition to forward flight, thereby increasing cruise efficiency and endurance.
Igor Cherepinsky, Director of the rapid prototyping group Sikorsky Innovations, stated, “Flight tests are underway to verify our tail-sitting rotor blown wing UAS can launch and land vertically with high stability, and cruise efficiently on wing. Key enablers to flight manoeuvrability, and future vehicle scalability, are our MATRIX autonomy flight control system and an articulated rotor system similar to those in traditional helicopters.”
Currently, Sikorsky is flying a battery-powered proof-of-concept vehicle. If selected for future ANCILLARY phases, Sikorsky plans to develop a 300-pound hybrid-electric version with a 60-pound ISR payload.
Sikorsky Innovations, established in 2010, aims to tackle technological challenges in rotary wing speed, autonomy, and intelligence.
