BAE Fighter Drone Can Take Off Vertically

"AVALON, Australia -- BAE Systems PLC unveiled a design for a large drone that can take off vertically and fly alongside manned helicopters, the latest bet on autonomous warfare as countries seek to upgrade their militaries.

The new system, called Strix, aims to be affordable and easy to deploy, while still offering substantial range and firepower. A video animation played by BAE at the Avalon Airshow in Australia, where it announced the new aircraft and displayed a model, showed Strix taking off from the back of boats. Another video showed the drone, with wings folded, being stored in a shipping container and then driven away on a truck.

Unmanned aerial systems have become a key focus for militaries worldwide, as a force multiplier and a way to project power over long ranges while minimizing human losses. But many of those drones, such as Turkey's Bayraktar TB2 drone that has been used effectively by Ukraine, and the longer-range MQ-9 Reaper operated by the U.S., require runways to take off and land.

"The unique capability of Strix is that it combines all the benefits of helicopters in terms of vertical takeoff and landing, but with the speed, range and payload characteristics of conventional aircraft," said Ben Hudson, the chief executive of BAE Systems Australia, the BAE unit that designed the drone.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has illustrated how lightweight and precise weaponry can lead to successes on the battlefield. At the center of this shift are weapons that are highly mobile, meaning that they can be loaded and launched from vehicles that are able to move before an enemy can fix upon their location. Such weapons offer an alternative to traditional artillery, which can be cumbersome to move and requires significant logistical support.

BAE said the drone, which has a range of nearly 500 miles with a 350-pound payload, could be used for a variety of missions, including an air-to-ground strike against a hostile target, surveillance and reconnaissance, and as a wingman for manned helicopters.

Mr. Hudson said the drone could fly alongside manned helicopters but then accelerate as it enters an area of operations -- thus drawing fire away from the helicopters. He said the target customer for the system would be armies and navies, rather than air forces.

Many drones of this caliber require large runways and lots of support infrastructure, Mr. Hudson said. "With our vertical takeoff and landing, none of that's required anymore, so we can get close to the front line and provide intimate support to troops on the battlefield," he said.

Australia, a key ally for the U.S., has been interested in other long-range unmanned platforms, and Australian officials have stressed the need for its military to be able to hold potential adversaries far from its shores as strategic competition between the U.S. and China increases. BAE has also worked with Boeing Co. on the fixed-wing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, which was designed and built in Australia and is aimed at flying autonomously and operating alongside jet fighters.

Whether BAE's Strix will ever enter military service remains uncertain. BAE said it is still working on a prototype of the drone, though it could be operational by 2026. Mr. Hudson said two international customers had expressed interest in the system so far, though the company didn't say if there had been any firm commitments from Australia or other countries. The drone, co-developed with Perth-based Innovaero, would be manufactured in Australia.

With air defenses more able to take out conventional aircraft, Mr. Hudson said militaries are more interested in affordable, unmanned systems that won't stretch the budget if they are shot down." [1]

 

The question arises, can Lithuanian nationalists, who manufacture drones for Zelensky, provide "intimate support" to Lviv nationalists?

 

1. Media: BAE Fighter Drone Can Take Off Vertically
Cherney, Mike.  Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 01 Mar 2023: B.5.