Aurora Flight Sciences still expects to see “significant demand” for the long-endurance Orion unmanned air system, eight months after a record-breaking demonstration flight.
The Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) has confirmed that the Orion established a new record for duration of flight by an unmanned air vehicle. Its 80h, 2min, 52s flight from 5-8 December 2104 easily beat an unofficial mark set by Boeing’s Condor programme in 1989, which flew for more than 50h.
Aurora developed the Orion under contracts with the US Army and US Air Force at the height of combat operations in Afghanistan, when US military leaders pushed for ever-increasing levels of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support.
Though large-scale ground operations by US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq have faded, there is still demand for long-endurance surveillance aircraft, says Aurora founder and chief executive John Langford.
He cites a 10 June speech by House Defense Appropriations subcommittee chairman Rodney Frelinghusen, who noted that US military commanders keep testifying “only a fraction of [intelligence-gathering] requirements are being met”.
“The most important recognition for the Orion will come when the aircraft is put to work meeting exactly what the US warfighter is calling for – unmanned persistent surveillance of our enemies,” Langford says. “We stand ready to meet this growing demand.”
Source: FlightGlobal.com
