DTN News - UAVs ~ NEXT GENERATION WARFARE TECHNOLOGY: Korea Develops Unmanned Tiltrotor Aircraft
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - December 1, 2011: Last August, Sikorsky revealed the company’s new strategic move by joining in partnered with Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), which has been developing the Smart unmanned air vehicle (UAV) tiltrotor for about nine years.
KARI had originally partnered with Bell several years ago to develop a more capable version of the latter’s HV911 Eagle Eye. Bell dropped out of the partnership in 2005, then canceled the Eagle Eye following several mishaps in flight testing.
KARI, however, continued developing the Smart UAV and achieved first flight in 2008.
Sikorsky has experimented with various rotory-wing configurations over its history, including most notably the coaxial rotor of the X2 high-speed helicopter.
Korea on Wednesday unveiled its first unmanned tiltrotor aircraft, capable of vertical takeoff and landing as well as high-speed navigation.
The Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute disclosed the new “smart” aircraft at the aerospace center in Goheung, South Jeolla Province.
The state-funded aerospace think tank is negotiating with government agencies for commercial use of the vehicle.
“We have just completed the research and development program, and are in talks with the ministries of defense, land and knowledge economy about the next step,” said Park Kyun-je, chief of KARI’s smart aerial vehicle development center.
“Our UAV can now fly at about a speed of 400 kph, and our aim is to raise it to 500.”
Most helicopters’ maximum speed is between 200 and 300 kph.
In addition to military use by the Navy and the Marines, KARI expects the aircraft to be useful for reconnaissance of coasts and islands, prevention and control of forest fires, transportation monitoring and atmospheric and environmental observation.
No comments:
Post a Comment