Helicopter would have endurance of 8-10h and be controlled with derivative of ground station developed for X-45
Boeing is preparing to fly an unmanned version of the MD Helicopter MD530F-based MH-6 Little Bird next month. Boeing is developing the unmanned version as an internally funded research and development effort with the intention of offering it to the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as an addition to its fleet of AH-6J light attack and MH-6J utility helicopters.
The Unmanned Mission Evolved Little Bird would have a 360kg (800lb) payload capability and an endurance of 8-10h. The UAV would be controlled using a derivative of Boeing's open-system unmanned mission control and autonomous flight architecture originally developed for its X-45 unmanned combat air vehicle demonstrator. Another derivative of that same architecture is being used in the joint Boeing-Insitu Scan Eagle endurance UAV programme.
Avionics and guidance hardware for the Mission Evolved Little Bird is undergoing laboratory-bench integration before aircraft installation.
Boeing says the unmanned helicopter programme is also drawing on systems developed for its A160 Hummingbird endurance vertical take-off and landing unmanned air vehicle. Boeing now supports an undisclosed number of Robinson R22 unmanned helicopters in SOCOM operational service. Those aircraft were based on the Maverick UAV version of the R22 developed by the former Frontier Systems as a testbed for A160 guidance and control technologies. Boeing acquired Frontier Systems this year.
PETER LA FRANCHI / ANAHEIM
Source: Flight International
