Northrop Grumman Flies Pilotless Helicopter

Northrop Grumman has successfully flown a remote-controlled helicopter designed for the U.S. Navy's shipborne targeting and reconnaissance mission.

A modified Schweizer 330SP helicopter, the Model 379 unmanned aerial vehicle was launched from the Navy's test center at China Lake, CA, and flew for 18 minutes as planned.

"The [helicopter] performed essentially as predicted, based on the 15,000 simulations conducted in collaboration with the NASA Ames Helicopter Directorate," said Tom Riley, chief engineer on the project.

The test flight began with the remote start of the aircraft's Rolls-Royce/Allison 250 engine, and proceeded with a multiple-waypoint route using differential GPS for precise navigation.

The Model 379 then returned to its start point, and completed an autonomous landing using its onboard radar altimeter system.

More extensive test flights, including envelope expansion and navigation missions, are planned to continue through March 1, when the Navy is expected to award the multi-million-dollar Vertical Takeoff and Landing UAV (VTUAV) contract.

The contract stipulates an aircraft that can take off vertically with a 200-lb payload, fly 110 nmi, loiter for three hours at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet and return to land vertically in a 25 kt wind from any direction.

The winning aircraft will feature electro-optical and infrared sensors, plus a laser designator to "paint" targets for laser-guided bombs launched by other platforms.

Northrop Grumman's partners on the VTUAV bid include Schweizer Aircraft and Lockheed Martin Federal Systems.

By Paul Richfield