DARPA/Northrop Grumman ‘Tail-Sitter’ UAS/UAV/Drone Aircraft for Airborne Recon (Reconnaissance) and other Missions: Can it be Gun/Laser-Weaponized for Combat? Why not?

By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com
Image(s) Credit: DARPA and Northrop Grumman

December 22, 2015
Last updated on 12/23/15.

Speaking of interesting new military aircraft designed and developed by Northrop Grumman (NG), as well as futuristic Terminator-like cyber-soldiers and Skynet-like supercomputers, AND DARPA, Northrop Grumman and DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) are apparently also developing a “radical ‘tail-sitter’ drone that that can land anywhere and carry as much weaponry as a Predator” for DARPA’s TERN (Tactically Exploited Reconnaissance Node) program. Reminiscent of the 1950’s-era Lockheed XFV-1 concept aircraft, the as-yet-unnamed tail-sitter unmanned aerial system/unmanned aerial vehicle/drone aircraft is designed to operate from DDG-class ships or even smaller vessels, and will be able to carry 600 lbs (272 kg) payload up to to 900 nautical miles, or 1,670 km.

While being touted as an airborne ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) platform, the tail-sitter drone can potentially be developed as a multi-mission aircraft, since due to its payload capabilities, it should be able to carry either a 500-lb bomb, a nice big gun/cannon system, a laser weapon, or 600 lbs worth of supplies to friendly forces.

The NG tail-sitter drone utilizes counter-rotating propellers on the wings. and looks like it utilizes a modified General Atomics (GA) MQ-9 Reaper/Predator B-type fuselage design from the concept art.

Hat Tip: The Daily Mail

Company Contact Info:

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems
One Space Park
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Phone: 310-812-4321
Website: http://www.northropgrumman.com/Capabilities/MilitaryAviation/Pages/default.aspx

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
675 North Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22203-2114
Phone: 703.526.6630
Website:http://www.darpa.mil

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