The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has announced the selection of six companies to advance the development of an innovative low-weight drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) from ships, part of its Advanced Aircraft Infrastructure-Less Launch and Recovery (ANCILLARY) program. This program aims to significantly enhance the capabilities of small VTOL unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for military applications.
The companies chosen for this phase of the ANCILLARY program include major defense contractors and smaller aeronautics firms: AeroVironment, Griffon Aerospace, Karem Aircraft, Method Aeronautics, Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky. These companies will now focus on refining their designs and conducting risk reduction activities for their proposed VTOL UAS.
Program Goals and Technologies
“The goal of ANCILLARY is to increase small vertical take-off and landing UAS capabilities by a factor of three over the current state-of-the-art flying today,” said Steve Komadina, DARPA program manager for ANCILLARY. The selected companies are tasked with innovating configurations, propulsion systems, and controls to boost payload weight and range/endurance while eliminating the need for special infrastructure.
The UAS developed under this program will need to take off and land vertically like a helicopter from ship flight decks and other austere locations, even in adverse weather conditions. Once airborne, these drones should perform like highly efficient winged aircraft, capable of carrying significant payloads over long distances.
Phase Ib and Future Plans
During Phase Ib, the six selected companies will engage in risk reduction design, analyses, and tests for an X-plane demonstrator. This phase involves refining designs with higher fidelity and conducting hover tests to validate components and configurations. At the end of this 10-month phase, the companies will submit proposals for Phase II, which will involve detailed design, fabrication, and flight testing.
The project aims to culminate in X-plane flight tests starting in early 2026. The end goal is to develop a UAS that can be deployed and retrieved from Navy ships without large mechanical launchers or landing/recovery equipment. These drones could be used for a variety of missions, including logistics, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and strike operations.
Broader Military Applications
While the ANCILLARY program is primarily aimed at supporting Navy and Marine Corps missions, other military services, including the Army, Air Force, Special Operations Command, and Coast Guard, have shown interest in the technology. These drones could provide beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) capabilities for tasks such as finding, fixing, tracking, and targeting surface vessels.
“We expect the operational capabilities provided by ANCILLARY will be augmented by other technologies being developed within the Department of Defense’s various research and engineering organizations, such as advances in sensors, electronic warfare, and especially autonomy and artificial intelligence,” Komadina added.
Company Contributions and Innovations
- Northrop Grumman: Leveraging its expertise in autonomous vertical lift aircraft, Northrop Grumman is designing a VTOL UAS capable of carrying 60-pound payloads over 100 nautical miles for up to 20 hours. Their design incorporates a pair of rotors for takeoff and landing and another rotor for forward flight.
- Sikorsky: Conducting flight tests on a “rotor blown wing” design that takes off vertically and transitions to horizontal flight. This design aims to reduce drag and improve efficiency and endurance during cruise. Sikorsky’s aircraft uses Lockheed Martin’s autonomous MATRIX technology in its flight controls.
- Method Aeronautics: Partnering with Sierra Nevada Corp. and Bechamo, Method Aeronautics is developing a robust VTOL capability for Group 3 UAS, which are drones under 1,320 pounds that can fly up to 250 knots. Their design aims to accelerate VTOL UAS deployment for U.S. forces abroad.
The ANCILLARY program is poised to revolutionize small, ship-launched drones, enhancing the capabilities of the U.S. military across various branches and operational scenarios. The focus on innovative propulsion, control systems, and autonomy aims to deliver a significant leap forward in VTOL UAS technology.
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