DARPA awards contracts for air-launched drone that fires missiles

DARPA LongShot programme
DARPA LongShot programme

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in the US is developing an air-launched drone that can fire multiple air-to-air missiles.

The agency has awarded contracts to General Atomics, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman for preliminary Phase I design work for the 'LongShot' programme.

The objective is to develop a drone that can significantly extend engagement ranges, increase mission effectiveness, and reduce the risk to manned aircraft.

Current air superiority concepts rely on advanced manned fighter aircraft to provide a penetrating counter air capability to effectively deliver weapons. It is envisioned that LongShot will increase the survivability of manned platforms by allowing them to be at standoff ranges far away from enemy threats, while an air-launched LongShot UAV efficiently closes the gap to take more effective missile shots.

“The LongShot programme changes the paradigm of air combat operations by demonstrating an unmanned, air-launched vehicle capable of employing current and advanced air-to-air weapons,” said DARPA programme manager Paul Calhoun. “LongShot will disrupt traditional incremental weapon improvements by providing an alternative means of generating combat capability.”

In later phases of the program, LongShot will construct and fly a full-scale air-launched demonstration system capable of controlled flight, before, during, and after weapon ejection under operational conditions.

www.darpa.mil

Tags
Related Articles

Peli unveils high-impact Drone and UAV protection cases

Peli Products says professionals and drone enthusiasts can count on the design and manufacture of its high-performance protective case solutions as the reliable partner for protecting fragile drones, multirotor systems and unmanned aircraft systems.
6 years ago Products

CATEC pioneers aerial contact technology using drones

Seville’s Centre for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (CATEC), says it has developed a new worldwide pioneering technology that allows the use of airborne robots and small unmanned aircraft, popularly known as drones, for industrial contact inspection.
6 years ago News

CATEC wins innovation radar prize for advanced aerial contact drones

The Center for Advanced Aerospace Technologies (CATEC), located in Seville has won the prestigious 2017 Innovation Radar Prize, an initiative promoted by the European Commission through the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content & Technology (DG CONNECT), with the aim of promoting innovations from all over Europe that present a high potential for its later application in the market.
6 years ago News
Most recent Articles

Carter enjoys success at HAI HELI-EXPO event

Acknowledged as the World’s largest vertical aviation conference and trade show, HAI HELI-EXPO 2024 provided precision bearing specialists Carter Manufacturing a perfect opportunity to exhibit its extensive range of aerospace bearing installation, removal and testing tools, along with PMA bearing options.
2 days ago News

Login / Sign up