Airbus has demonstrated a sub-scale prototype of its future multi-mission uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) during a recent exercise organised by the Portuguese Navy and Nato.
The Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems 2022 (REPMUS-22) was conducted from 12 to 23 September in Portugal’s Troia Peninsula region.
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It involved participation of several Nato allied and partner nations’ forces, industry partners and universities.
During this exercise, Airbus operated its UAV prototype, also called cargo copter, in a realistic, dense robotic environment, to prove UAV’s concepts and capabilities, including its modular design to support rapid swap-out of payloads and batteries.
This cargo copter demonstrator was developed by the company’s UAS New Programmes group and X-Works rapid prototyping team.
The objective of this effort is to address a variety of military mission requirements, including performing intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and cargo transportation.
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By GlobalDataThe UAV can also act as a combat force multiplier or as a communications relay.
X-Works rapid prototyping team lead Jens Federhen said: “Performing the demonstrations in such a demanding environment – surrounded by six research ships, 11 warships and 120 uncrewed systems – was extremely challenging, and at the same time very productive, as we have been able to learn and create useful collaboration links.”
The 35kg vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) multi-copter prototype is capable of accommodating several payloads.
It is fitted with an all-purpose landing system, called DeckFinder, to support automatic landings on the ship decks.
As part of the follow-on development, the company’s UAS New Programmes team is planning to develop a full-scale version, capable of carrying 250kg payload for more than 300km range.
The company said that the full-scale version can also be used for crisis management, humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions.
