Honeywell has unveiled its redesigned Organic Air Vehicle (OAV) II, with flight tests planned for the first quarter of next year. The ducted-fan vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle is being developed for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), but is also a candidate for the US Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) Class II UAV requirement.
Compared with an earlier ducted-fan vehicle developed by Allied Aerospace under a DARPA technology demonstration effort, the OAV II has been completely redesigned by Honeywell. The vehicle is larger, to carry a heavier, 9kg (20lb), payload, and has a redesigned engine and payload section.
The OAV II has a 40hp (30kW) heavy-fuel engine driving the ducted fan, and will provide 2h on station at a range of 16km (8.6nm). The payload now includes a laser-radar obstacle-avoidance system, in addition to a gimballed electro-optical/infrared sensor with laser rangefinder/designator.
A choice between the OAV II and Class II vehicles developed under the FCS programme is now planned for early next year. Honeywell says the OAV II uses the same flight-control system as its smaller ducted-fan Micro Air Vehicle design, which has already been selected as the FCS Class I UAV.
Source: Flight International
