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Dynetics X-61 Gremlins

American experimental UAV From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dynetics X-61 Gremlins
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The Dynetics X-61 Gremlins is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Dynetics.

Quick Facts X-61 Gremlins, General information ...
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Design and development

The X-61 stemmed from the DARPA Gremlins program to demonstrate a recoverable, low-cost UAV with digital flight controls and navigation systems. It is designed to be recovered in midair by a modified transport airplane following its mission.[1] Dynetics was one of four companies to be awarded a Phase I contract for the program in 2016, and was the winner of the Phase III contract in April 2018.[1]

The X-61A is powered by a Williams F107 turbofan engine and can carry a variety of payloads, including electro-optical sensors, infrared imagers, electronic warfare systems, and weapons.[1][2] It was designed to be compatible with existing launch and ground support equipment.[1] The UAV is semi-autonomous, allowing a controller either in the mothership or on the ground to control up to eight X-61As at one time.[1][2]

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Operational history

As of January 2020, five X-61A Gremlins have been built.[3] On July 5, 2019, an earthquake near China Lake damaged some of the first X-61A's test equipment, delaying the program.[2] The first captive flight of the X-61A on board a Lockheed C-130A Hercules mother ship was in November 2019.[1]

The first free flight of the X-61A was conducted on January 17, 2020. The flight was successful, however, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery and the aircraft was lost.[4] The four remaining vehicles are still operational.[5]

In August 2020 the company announced they had completed a second test flight, this time successfully recovering the aircraft by parachute. The flight lasted over two hours and included rendezvous and formation flight with the C-130 mother ship.[6]

In October 2021 DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.[7]

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Specifications

Data from Airforce Technology and Flight Global[1][2]

General characteristics

  • Capacity: 65.7 kg
  • Length: 13 ft 9 in (4.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 11 ft 5 in (3.47 m)
  • Width: 1 ft 10 in (0.57 m)
  • Height: 1 ft 8 in (0.52 m)
  • Gross weight: 1,499 lb (680 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Williams F107 turbofan engine, 700 lbf (3.1 kN) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.6
  • Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

  • Ryan Firebee - another unmanned aircraft intended to be both launched and recovered in flight

Related lists

References

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