Tube-Launched Rotary Wing UAV for Remote Surveillance Operations

The Navy desires to equip P-3s and similar future aircraft with UAVs that can be launched from a standard A-size sonobouy tube and return real-time information including video images from remote locations for further analysis and action. Lite Machines has developed an electric-powered rotary-wing UAV having a cylindrical body and a counter-rotating, coaxial, rotor system, that fits within these tight size constraints, and that could be reconfigured for use in the Navy program. The focus of this Phase II work plan is to further develop the current UAV prototype in a vertical flight configuration, to flight test prototypes from the ground with a ground control station and autonomous guidance system, and to air-launch full test vehicles using the sonobouy launch tubes onboard an air launch platform such as the P-3.