Monthly Archives: January 2022

Navy

EPF Flight II

The keel for the future USNS Cody, Expeditionary Fast Transport Ship (EPF-14), the first of the Spearhead-class EPF Flight II configuration, was laid at Austal USA, January 26.

USNS Cody (T-EPF-14)
Keel authenticated for the future USNS Cody (T-EPF-14)

A keel laying is the recognition of the start of a ship’s construction. It is the joining together of a ship’s modular components and the authentication or etching of an honoree’s initials into a ceremonial keel plate.

«The new capabilities of this variant of EPFs fulfills a critical need for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps», said Tim Roberts, Strategic and Theater Sealift program manager, Program Executive Ships. «Ensuring that the fleet has fast access to the right medical care increases both the safety and readiness of our Sailors and Marines».

EPFs are operated by the Military Sealift Command and the USNS Cody (T-EPF-14) is the first ship in naval service named after Cody, Wyoming.

Beginning with EPF-14, the Flight II configuration will enhance current EPF capabilities by including a combined forward resuscitative care capability with a limited Intensive Care Unit and medical ward, while maintaining most of the original requirements of the ship. Flight II EPFs will be able to stabilize postsurgical cases for evacuation without the requirement to first route them through a higher facility.

EPF ships provide high speed, shallow draft transportation capabilities to support the intra-theater maneuver of personnel, supplies and equipment for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. The design of the EPF allows flexibility to support the fleet in maintaining a variety of roles, including humanitarian assistance, maritime security, disaster relief and more.

Austal USA is also in construction on the future USNS Point Loma (EPF-15) with production efforts commencing earlier this month.

As one of the Defense Department’s largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the development and procurement of all destroyers, amphibious ships, sealift ships, support ships, boats and craft.

Missile Defense

Polish Aegis Ashore

The Aegis Ashore capability planned for Poland is moving ahead to be operational by the end of next year, said the program executive officer for Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense.

Aegis Ashore
The Aegis Ashore «Deckhouse» command and control center is already in place at the Naval Support Facility Redzikowo, Poland. The Aegis Ashore capability there is expected to be complete by the end of 2022

The Aegis Combat System was originally designed as a shipboard system to track and destroy incoming enemy targets, but now the system has also been deployed for use on land, as «Aegis Ashore».

Already an Aegis Ashore capability is up and running in Deveselu, Romania, about 90 miles from Bucharest. The site, which is under the control of NATO, has been in operation for more than five years now.

A site similar to the one in Romania is also planned for Redzikowo, Poland, near the Baltic Sea. But that site has been delayed due to construction issues – though efforts are now underway to get the site operational by the end of next year.

«My part, which is to install the Aegis Weapon System, has been delayed as we work the military construction with our contractors», said Rear Admiral Tom Druggan during a discussion on Thursday at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. «We are behind, given the original schedule, no question about that. The good news is we’re getting the quality we want for a facility that’s going to be there 50 to 75 years, and we now have the right management in place in order to move ahead and complete this».

Over the summer, Druggan said, the Aegis system in Poland was pulled out of storage there and assembled to test its operations.

«We … put the whole weapon system together with the exception of the antennas», he said. «We energized it. And the equipment had been in the containers for a while. We found some issues – [but the] good news is we fixed them. And then we did an upgrade, which is saving time from a future availability. So that system is actually our most upgraded system today, ready to be installed».

In an unusual move, Druggan said, the Aegis Ashore capability in Poland is now being set up as the infrastructure on the ground to support it becomes available. He said antennas for the AN/SPY radar system have already been set up.

«We’re installing the backbone of the radar behind it», he said. «We’ve installed some command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems. And we’re going to keep installing our pieces in parallel to the commissioning of all the industrial equipment, power, cooling, ventilation, that’s going on, on the construction side».

Normally, he said, installing an Aegis system wouldn’t happen until all the supporting construction was complete.

«I made the decision long ago that we were not going to wait», he said. «We were going to do what we could, when we could, based on the conditions within the deckhouse. That has proved to be a successful strategy. And now we’ve got good momentum».

Druggan said he expects the Aegis Ashore site in Poland to be operational by the end of 2022, and at that point the transition of the system can happen first to the Navy, then to U.S. European Command, and finally to NATO.

Ground Forces

Hybrid-electric JLTV

Oshkosh Defense, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oshkosh Corporation, unveiled the first-ever silent drive hybrid-electric Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV), the eJLTV.

L-ATV
Oshkosh Defense unveils first-ever silent drive hybrid electric JLTV

The eJLTV offers the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps the same level of performance and protection as the base JLTV with the addition of silent drive, extended silent watch, enhanced fuel economy, and increased exportable power that enables it to be used in combat and reconnaissance scenarios.

The eJLTV charges the battery while in use, fully recharging the lithium-ion battery within 30 minutes. This eliminates the need for a charging infrastructure, which remains one of the most significant challenges to the widespread electrification of the tactical wheeled vehicle fleet.

«For many years, we’ve been developing, testing and evolving hybrid-electric variants of our heavy and medium-duty tactical wheeled vehicles», said John Bryant, Executive Vice President for Oshkosh Corporation and President of Oshkosh Defense. «Now, with the eJLTV, we’re offering our military customers an affordable way to electrify their light tactical wheeled vehicle fleet without compromising the off-road performance or superior protection necessary in combat operations».

This year, the U.S. Army plans to recompete the JLTV program and issue a follow-on production contract in September 2022. The follow-on contract, valued at $6.5 Billion, includes an additional 15,468 vehicles and five order years followed by five options years, extending production through FY32.

«While the U.S. Army has not requested a hybrid-electric JLTV as part of the JLTV recompete, the eJLTV proves that Oshkosh Defense has the team and technical capabilities to produce this highly capable vehicle today», Bryant concluded.

About the eJLTV:

  • Maintains the performance and protection of the proven Oshkosh Defense JLTV;
  • Improves fuel economy by more than 20%;
  • Provides battery capacity of 30 kWh with opportunity for growth;
  • Eliminates the need for a towed generator by providing export power capacity of up to 115 kW.

Oshkosh Defense and its parent company, Oshkosh Corporation, have a rich history in electrification and are pushing the boundaries of innovation for customers. One example is the Oshkosh Defense diesel electric Light Combat Tactical Vehicle (LCTV), from which the Oshkosh JLTV is derived. The LCTV was the world’s first military vehicle to finish the grueling SCORE Baja 1000 off-road race. In addition, Oshkosh Defense was awarded the contract to develop and manufacture the U.S. Postal Service’s Next Generation Delivery Vehicle (NGDV), which calls for the delivery of between 50,000 and 165,000 vehicles over a period of 10 years and will consist of both zero-emission Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) and fuel-efficient low-emission Internal Combustion Engine vehicles (ICE), upgrading the USPS fleet to be increasingly sustainable.

Navy

Deployment and Recovery

During industrial tests conducted in Toulon, the solution for rallying, recovering, maintaining and launching surface drones (LARS, Launch and recovery system) developed by Belgium Naval & Robotics, a Naval Group and ECA Group consortium, has demonstrated its relevance and reliability in real conditions.

rMCM (Replacement Mine Counter Measure)
Belgium Naval & Robotics (BNR) solution for lateral deployment and recovery of drones successfully tested

On Thursday, January, the 13th, 2022, a demonstration of the deployment and recovery operation of the fully remotely operated USV (Unmanned Surface Vehicle) and a presentation of the test results took place in the presence of the Royal Belgian and Dutch navies as part of the rMCM (Replacement Mine Counter Measure) program.

The cooperation between the two companies combines Naval Group’s ability to design a platform integrated system that enables the safe deployment and recovery of ECA Group’s USV INSPECTOR 125 surface drones.

Result of several years of engineering development, this innovative system deploys laterally on each side of the vessel. This innovation doubles the deployment and recovery capacity.

The industrial tests carried out off Toulon, mobilized up to thirty consortium employees and made it possible to test this innovative technical solution up to sea state 4/5, 40 knots/46 mph/74 km/h of wind and by day and by night. The analysis and processing of the information collected will enable the solution to be finalized and production of the system to be launched in the second semester of 2022.

Deploying and retrieving robotic drones provides the dual strategic advantage of extending the action capability of ships equipped with the solution, but also of protecting personnel and ships. Thanks to the stand-off solution proposed by Belgium Naval & Robotics (detection, identification and neutralization of mines without human intervention in situ), the Belgian and Dutch naval forces will be able to rely on these drones for mine clearance operations while remaining at a safe distance.

The tests brought together for the first time four subsystems designed by the consortium and allowed them to be tested in real conditions on the VN Rebel, a specially chartered vessel:

  • the LARS (Launch and Recovery System): equipped with automated arms that equip the two sides of the ships, it works like an elevator, allowing the launching and recovery of the floating dock that hosts the drones;
  • the floating dock: a «cradle» for hosting surface drones (USV). This particularly innovative system makes it possible to limit the swing phenomena by working in a combined and automated way with the kinematics of the gantry combining guide arms, winches and a synchronized system of absorption. The floating dock allows to limit the overall efforts while guaranteeing overall stability. Once lifted on board, the dock allows maintenance and reconfiguration of the USV without having to move it;
  • the security system: allows the drones to be locked in the floating dock. A real asset, securing the drones in their dock limits the need to move them for reconfiguration and maintenance, thus simplifying operations while protecting personnel from the risks inherent in handling.
  • the drone: ECA Group’s USV INSPECTOR 125 allows the deployment and recovery of:
    • an A-18 underwater drone, carrying the UMISAS synthetic interferometric side scan sonar for mine detection;
    • a T-18 towed sonar, carrying the UMISAS synthetic interferometric side scan sonar for mine detection;
    • a SEASCAN underwater drone for mine identification;
    • a K-STER C underwater drone for mine neutralization;
    • an influence mine sweep integrating magnetic, electric and acoustic modules.

Eric Perrot, Director of the rMCM program for Naval Group, said: «We are delighted with the success of these tests of the new surface drone deployment and recovery systems. This performance is the result of the collaboration between multiple partners in this project, first and foremost ECA Group. We have great faith in this technology and we thank the Belgian and Dutch navies for their confidence in us».

Dominique Giannoni, CEO of ECA Group said: «Today’s demonstration shows the relevance of ECA Group’s drone deployment and recovery solution. It is a constant dialogue between the Naval Group and ECA Group teams that has allowed this great result of integration of our systems. We are fully committed to the success of this highly innovative program».

The twelve ships (MCMPF) ordered by the Belgian and Dutch navies will be equipped with twenty-four of this innovative and now, proven solution. The first of class rMCM was laid down by Naval Group in Concarneau the 30th of November 2021.

These mine countermeasures vessels, capable of withstanding underwater explosions and equipped with low acoustic, electrical and magnetic signatures, will be delivered between 2024 and 2030 to Zeebrugge, Belgium. They will be the first dedicated drone carriers in naval history, equipped to operate a fully robotic drone system for mine detection, classification and neutralization.

Air, Navy

Manufacturing Milestone

Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully delivered the 51st U.S. Navy E-2D Advanced Hawkeye production aircraft, AA-52. The aircraft represents the last to be delivered under the Multi-Year Procurement (MYP) 1 contract. AA-52 is equipped with the Delta System/Software Configuration (DSSC) Build 3, which provides an additional leap in operational effectiveness and technology for the E-2D with the incorporation of aerial refueling and a dwell-based tracker. MYP 2 deliveries will begin this year, with increasing, game-changing capability enhancements for the U.S. Navy and joint force to outpace evolving threats.

E-2D Advanced Hawkeye
Northrop Grumman Reaches E-2D Manufacturing Milestone

The E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is a game changer in how the U.S. Navy will conduct battle management command and control. By serving as the «digital quarterback» to sweep ahead of strike, manage the mission, and keep our net-centric carrier battle groups out of harms way, the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye is the key to advancing the mission, no matter what it may be. The E-2D gives the warfighter expanded battlespace awareness, especially in the area of information operations delivering battle management, theater air and missile defense, and multiple sensor fusion capabilities in an airborne system.

With a two-generation leap in radar sensor capability and a robust network enabled capability, the Advanced Hawkeye will deliver critical, actionable data to joint forces and first responders. These advances provide warfighters with the necessary situational awareness to compress the time between initial awareness and active engagement.

Some of the many new features of the Advanced Hawkeye are:

  • A completely new radar featuring both mechanical and electronic scanning capabilities;
  • Fully Integrated «All Glass» Tactical Cockpit;
  • Advanced Identification Friend or Foe System;
  • New Mission Computer and Tactical Workstations;
  • Electronic Support Measures Enhancements;
  • Modernized Communications and Data Link Suite.

These and other new developments incorporated into the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye ensure:

  • True 360-degree radar coverage provides uncompromised all-weather tracking and situational awareness;
  • Open architecture compliant, Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS)-based hardware and software enables rapid, cost-wise technology refresh for consistent leading-edge mission tools;
  • A true FORCEnet enabler – A force multiplier through network enabled capability, Advanced Hawkeye is the gateway to Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael G. Mullen’s vision for a «1,000-ship navy»;
  • Multi-mission flexibility ranging from command and control through missile defense to border security.
Space

Space Force-8 Mission

Two Northrop Grumman Corporation Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) satellites were successfully launched into orbit on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket on January 21, 2022 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station as part of the U.S. Space Force (USSF)-8 mission. The two satellites, GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6, will enhance space situational awareness, a top priority for the U.S. Space Force. In addition to manufacturing and delivering both GSSAP payloads, Northrop Grumman also provided the sole strap-on solid rocket booster adding propulsion to the rocket launch, as well as essential aeronautical components in support of the USSF-8 launch.

GSSAP
Northrop Grumman-built GSSAP satellites collect space situational awareness data allowing for more accurate tracking and characterization of man-made orbiting objects

The GSSAP program delivers a space-based capability operating in a near-Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO), in support of the U.S. Space Command space surveillance operations. GSSAP satellites allow for more accurate tracking and characterization of orbiting objects and uniquely contribute to timely and precise orbital predictions, enhancing knowledge of the GEO environment and improving spaceflight safety. Northrop Grumman has manufactured all GSSAP satellites since the program’s inception in 2011.

«For over a decade, Northrop Grumman has delivered products that improve U.S. Space Command’s ability to monitor human-made orbiting objects in the geosynchronous environment», said Matt Verock, vice president, space security, Northrop Grumman. «As dedicated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensors, the capabilities our GSSAP satellites bring demonstrate our leadership in space domain awareness».

The company’s facilities in Dulles, Virginia along with Goleta and San Diego, California, and Beltsville, Maryland provided numerous subsystems, including the satellite’s solar arrays, primary structure, thermal control, avionic boxes, flight computer, shunt regulator assembly, composite components and deployable structures.

This was the third ULA Atlas V rocket launch supported by Northrop Grumman’s 63-inch-diameter Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM 63). The GEM 63 solid rocket booster, manufactured at the company’s Magna, Utah facility, provided nearly a third of the total thrust at liftoff. The GEM family of solid rocket motors recently expanded with the development of the GEM 63XL variation to support ULA’s Vulcan Centaur launch vehicle, scheduled for its first flight later this year.

The company manufactured the Atlas V rocket’s reaction control system propellant tanks at its Commerce, California, facility, and eight retro motors at its Elkton, Maryland, facility that assist first and second stage separation. Using advanced fiber placement manufacturing and automated inspection techniques, Northrop Grumman produced the composite heat shield that provides essential protection to the Atlas V first-stage engine, the Centaur Interstage Adapter that houses the second-stage engine, and the broadtail that adapts from the core vehicle to the five-meter diameter fairing. Northrop Grumman fabricated these structures at its Iuka, Mississippi, facility.

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.

Air, Air Force, Unmanned Systems

Ukrainian Bayraktar

A Turkish-made Bayraktar drone belonging to the Ukrainian Army is patrolling the Black Sea, Ukraine’s Dumskaya web portal reported on Thursday, 20 January.

Bayraktar TB2
Ukrainian army’s Bayraktar drone patrolling Black Sea waters

«At about 8 hours in the morning, the drone took off from Kulbakino Air Force base a large military aerodrome on the southeastern outskirts of the city of Nikolayev where the 10th (Sakskaya) Ukrainian naval aviation brigade is stationed», the statement says.

According to the media outlet, the Bayraktar drone flew over Ochakovo in the Nikolayev Region to reach almost Zmeiniy Island in the Black Sea and is now patrolling Ukraine’s maritime border.

«The flight is proceeding at an altitude of over 16,404 feet/5 km», the web portal specified.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces confirmed on October 26 that the military had employed a Turkish Bayraktar combat drone in the Donbass area for the first time. Ukrainian Joint Force Commander Lieutenant-General Sergey Nayev claimed that Bayraktar strike drones always took to the skies with an ammunition load for their employment «where a reinforcement is necessary».

The Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish-made strike drone with a 93 miles/150 km-range capability, an operating speed of 81 mph/130 km/h and a 110 lbs./50 kg payload. It is furnished with an automatic take-off and landing system.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced on December 14, 2020 that it had signed a deal with Turkey on the production of corvettes and strike drones for the Ukrainian army. In 2019, Kiev purchased and tested Bayraktar drones that are intended to be furnished with MAM-L (Mini Akıllı Mühimmat – Smart Micro Munition) precision air bombs produced by the Turkish company Roketsan.

Navy

PROTEUS project

The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) launched its PROTEUS pilot project in early June and invited multiple government and private agencies to try the integrated system of maritime domain awareness capabilities. The pilot is scheduled for multiple months.

PROTEUS
PROTEUS Provides Global Maritime Domain Awareness

This is accomplished by supplying multi-source data ingestion and fusion services and automatically generating and maintaining worldwide vessel tracks. The PROTEUS system comprises a data collector and aggregator, a multi-source data fusion engine, a complex event processor, a maritime domain awareness services layer, a web-based common operating picture and analytic tools.

«Understanding the global maritime domain is a complex and challenging undertaking», said Alan Hope, PROTEUS program manager at NRL. «PROTEUS is need to protect our vulnerable maritime borders from illicit activity as well as support international efforts against illegal fishing and human trafficking».

Currently, Customs & Border Protection’s Homeland Security Investigations, US Coast Guard, Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Offices of Law Enforcement and Marine Sanctuaries utilize the PROTEUS pilot program. State and local law enforcement agencies such as the Delaware Information & Analysis Center and Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (CA) are also using PROTEUS in support of their work in the maritime domain.

«PROTEUS is an exciting new U.S. government Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) system providing a powerful array of MDA information and analysis tools», said Cameron Naron, Director of Maritime Security, US Maritime Administration. «This system enables MDA stakeholders to collaboratively discover and investigate suspicious and illegal maritime activity throughout the world in ways never before possible».

Additional actions supported by PROTEUS include:

  • Counter Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUUF);
  • Maritime Protected Areas (MPAs);
  • Search and Rescue (SAR);
  • Critical Infrastructure Protection;
  • Environmental Protection & Response;
  • Maritime Law Enforcement;
  • Counter smuggling (drugs, weapons, money, people).

«NRL is pleased to have multiple agencies from the maritime domain using PROTEUS to assist them in their operational mission areas», Hope said. «Moreover, I think there are even more federal, state and local government agencies that can benefit from integrating PROTEUS into their operations».

Navy

Dakar-class submarines

ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems has reached an agreement with the Israeli Ministry of Defence on the framework conditions for the purchase of three Dakar-class submarines. After extensive negotiations, all parties involved agreed to the technical content and contractual provisions on Thursday.

Dakar-class
Israel orders three new submarines from ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems

Doctor Rolf Wirtz, CEO ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems: «We, as ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and Germans, are honoured and proud to continue the long cooperation – spanning decades – with the Israeli Ministry of Defence and the Israeli Navy. The new class of submarine will provide Israel with the most advanced capabilities, based on an innovative, cutting-edge technology. This agreement demonstrates the deep commitment of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems to guarantee Israel’s long-term security. It was signed after a thorough and extensive groundwork process, and I would like to thank our partners in the Ministry of Defence and the Israeli Navy for their commitment and professionalism».

The Dakar class will be of a completely new design, which is to be specifically engineered to fulfil the operational requirements of the Israeli Navy. The three submarines will replace the first batch of Dolphin-class submarines.

Doctor Rolf Wirtz: «In the last joint project with the Israeli Navy, the SA’AR-6 project, we delivered four corvettes on time and within budget. In this respect, we are very much looking forward to working with our longstanding partner again».

Before the contract comes into effect, ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems will have to hold intensive talks with its suppliers.

In preparation for the expected order, ThyssenKrupp had already agreed to investments of about 250 million euro for ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems in 2019. Kiel is thus securing its location as an international centre of competence for conventional submarine construction. Construction of a new shipbuilding hall and a fuel-cell production facility is already visible on the shipyard site.

Air

FLRAA Mission Profile

The Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Boeing SB>1 DEFIANT successfully completed FLRAA mission profile test flights, including confined area landings and low-level flight operations. These flights validate DEFIANT’s relevancy to the Army’s mission, providing agility at the objective (also known as the «X»), and increased survivability, all while reducing pilot workload. View the video of the latest flight testing.

DEFIANT
The SB>1 DEFIANT Technology Demonstrator recently executed a confined area landing among the trees in south Florida as part of the Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Boeing team’s effort to validate aircraft design and relevance to the Army’s Future Long Range Assault Aircraft mission profile. (Lockheed Martin Sikorsky-Boeing photo)

«We fully demonstrated DEFIANT’s ability to execute the FLRAA mission profile by flying 236 knots in level flight, then reducing thrust on the propulsor to rapidly decelerate as we approached the confined, and unimproved, landing zone», said Bill Fell, DEFIANT chief flight test pilot at Sikorsky and a retired U.S. Army Master aviator. «This type of level body deceleration allowed us to maintain situational awareness and view the landing zone throughout the approach and landing without the typical nose-up helicopter deceleration. This confined area was extremely tight, requiring us to delay descent until nearly over the landing spot, followed by a near-vertical drop. We landed DEFIANT precisely on the objective with little effort as we descended into this narrow hole while maintaining clearance on all sides».

SB>1 DEFIANT is the technology demonstrator proving out transformational capabilities for the DEFIANT X weapon system, the Sikorsky-Boeing team offering for the U.S. Army’s Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) competition as part of the Army’s Future Vertical Lift program. DEFIANT X will enable crews to fly low and fast through complex terrain, where Army aviators spend most of their time. It will extend capabilities of Army Aviation on the modern battlefield – and is designed to fit in the same footprint as a BLACK HAWK. With DEFIANT X, the U.S. Army will deliver troops and cargo in future combat at twice the range of the current fleet.

«It’s what we call building combat power rapidly, and aircraft like the DEFIANT X can do that», said Tony Crutchfield, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General and now vice president of Army Systems at Boeing. «In the Pacific, it’s even more important because your lines of operation are going to be dispersed over a wide area; you’re going to have these small bases and supply lines that’ll be positioned either on ships or on islands. You’re going to want to move more assets, maneuver in confined terrain and survive to build that combat power faster than your adversary can – so you can win».

DEFIANT X incorporates Sikorsky X2 Technology to operate at high speeds while maintaining low-speed handling qualities. This critical capability provides pilots with increased maneuverability and survivability in high-threat environments, allowing them to penetrate enemy defenses while reducing exposure to enemy fire. DEFIANT X’s X2 coaxial rotor system and pusher prop allows for a high degree of maneuverability in and around the objective which is also directly linked to survivability.

DEFIANT achievements include:

  • Greater than 60-degree banked turns.
  • Demonstrating mission-relevant cargo capacity by lifting a 5,300-pound/2,404-kg Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System external load.
  • Exceeding 245 knots/282 mph/454 km/h in level flight.
  • Demonstrated Level 1 low-speed agility with fly-by-wire controls.
  • Integration of U.S. Army test pilots into the Defiant program.
  • Based on the Collier Award-winning X2 Technology.

DEFIANT X Tech Demonstrator Shows Low-Level Flight and Confined Area Landing Capabilities