The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has released new details on Lockheed Martin's and Northrop Grumman's candidates for the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) programme. A downselect is expected by December.
The Lockheed Martin air vehicle is expected to have a combat endurance of 4.5h with a full weapons load, but would also be capable of extended endurance operations of 9.5h. The compound airframe design would have a cruise speed of 170kt (315km/h). Total payload capacity, with weapons and sensors, is 320kg (700lb).
DARPA programme director Don Woodbury says the Lockheed Martin air vehicle "is a derivative of a commercial aircraft, the Bell 407 [helicopter] with much greater capability, a cleaner shape". The wings are removable for storage. The removal of the tail rotor and its replacement by a thruster means the aircraft will achieve "dash speeds of over 180kt".
The Northrop Grumman design is derived from the Kaman K-Max helicopter airframe, retaining twin counter-rotating main rotors. The aircraft would have an empty weight of 2,125kg and an armed take-off weight, based on carriage of four AGM-114 Hellfire missiles in internal bays, of 2,900kg, with maximum take-off weight at 4,000kg. Maximum endurance, using an auxiliary fuel tank, is 10.6h with a flight range of 1,780km (960nm). The aircraft's total length, including rotor blades, would be 11m (35.8ft). Rotor diameter is 9.75m.
Both UCAR teams are offering a combined suite incorporating electro-optic and infrared imaging, laser radar, multimode radar with integrated moving target indication capability, electronic support measures, and nuclear, biological and chemical contaminant detection systems.
PETER LA FRANCHI / CHICAGO
Source: Flight International
