Dynetics X-61 Gremlins
| X-61 Gremlins | |
|---|---|
 X-61A in flight | |
| General information | |
| Type | Experimental unmanned aerial vehicle |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Dynetics |
| Primary user | DARPA |
| Number built | 5 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 2019–present |
| Introduction date | 2019 |
| First flight | November 2019 (captive) January 17, 2020 (free flight) |
The Dynetics X-61 Gremlins is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Dynetics.
Design and development
[edit]The X-61 stemmed from the DARPA Gremlins program to demonstrate a recoverable, low-cost UAV with digital flight controls and navigation systems. It is designed to be recovered in midair by a modified transport airplane following its mission.[1] Dynetics was one of four companies to be awarded a Phase I contract for the program in 2016, and was the winner of the Phase III contract in April 2018.[1]
The X-61A is powered by a Williams F107 turbofan engine and can carry a variety of payloads, including electro-optical sensors, infrared imagers, electronic warfare systems, and weapons.[1][2] It was designed to be compatible with existing launch and ground support equipment.[1] The UAV is semi-autonomous, allowing a controller either in the mothership or on the ground to control up to eight X-61As at one time.[1][2]
Operational history
[edit]As of January 2020, five X-61A Gremlins have been built.[3] On July 5, 2019, an earthquake near China Lake damaged some of the first X-61A's test equipment, delaying the program.[2] The first captive flight of the X-61A on board a Lockheed C-130A Hercules mother ship was in November 2019.[1]
The first free flight of the X-61A was conducted on January 17, 2020. The flight was successful, however, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery and the aircraft was lost.[4] The four remaining vehicles are still operational.[5]
In August 2020 the company announced they had completed a second test flight, this time successfully recovering the aircraft by parachute. The flight lasted over two hours and included rendezvous and formation flight with the C-130 mother ship.[6]
In October 2021 DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.[7]
Specifications
[edit]Data from Airforce Technology and Flight Global[1][2]
General characteristics
- Capacity: 65.7 kg
- Length: 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m)
- Wingspan: 11 ft 5 in (3.47 m)
- Width: 1 ft 10 in (0.57 m)
- Height: 1 ft 8 in (0.52 m)
- Gross weight: 1,499 lb (680 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Williams F107 turbofan engine, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust
Performance
- Maximum speed: Mach 0.6
- Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi)
See also
[edit]
- Ryan Firebee-- another unmanned aircraft intended to be both launched and recovered in flight
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g "X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle, United States of America". Airforce Technology. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ a b c d Reim, Garrett. "China Lake earthquake damage delays Gremlins UAV demo". Flight Global. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ "DARPA's Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight". Air Force Magazine. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ Reim, Garrett. "Dynetics X-61A Gremlins makes first flight, but destroyed after parachute fails". Flight Global. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ "Gremlins Program Completes First Flight Test for X-61A Vehicle". www.darpa.mil. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- ^ Cenciotti, David (27 August 2020). "Second Successful Flight of X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV) For DARPA's Swarming Program". The Aviationist. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "DARPA catches airborne X-61 Gremlins drone from C-130 cargo ramp". Flight Global. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
External links
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