BAE Systems and Malloy Aeronautics have showcased the T-600 heavy-lift unmanned air system (UAS) capabilities as part of a significant NATO exercise in Portugal. This exercise aims to integrate the latest maritime technologies across allied forces.
The T-600 is an electric-powered prototype aircraft with vertical take-off and landing capabilities, capable of carrying a 200kg payload and reaching speeds of up to 140km/h. Depending on its payload, it can cover up to 80km. Approximately the size of a small car, it is designed for easy disassembly during transportation. During the multinational exercise, the demonstrator achieved a significant milestone by successfully releasing an inert Sting Ray training variant anti-submarine torpedo during a sea-based flight mission.
This exercise, named REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping with Maritime Uncrewed Systems), involved participation from 15 NATO partners, along with Ireland and Sweden. It served as a secure and controlled environment for testing concepts, requirements, and emerging technologies related to Maritime Uncrewed Systems.
The T-600 demonstrator aims to develop, validate, and showcase technologies that could be applied to the T-650, an entirely new design of an all-electric heavy-lift UAS. The T-650 is envisioned to offer rapid reconfiguration capabilities suitable for military, commercial, and humanitarian applications. It is expected to significantly enhance capabilities in areas like automated logistics and resupply, casualty evacuation, and anti-submarine warfare while also reducing the environmental footprint of armed forces.
The T-650 program is situated within FalconWorks, a newly established center dedicated to advanced and agile research and development within BAE Systems’ Air sector. FalconWorks aims to deliver a range of cutting-edge combat air capabilities to the United Kingdom and its allied nations.
The successful demonstration at REPMUS is a testament to the collaborative efforts of BAE Systems’ Air sector and Maritime Services, who leveraged their engineering expertise to explore innovative ways of integrating emerging technologies. This achievement was made possible through partnerships with Malloy Aeronautics, L3 Harris, and General Dynamics UK, all of whom played pivotal roles in the demonstration.
L3Harris and General Dynamics UK contributed to the demonstration as part of a multi-organizational partnership by providing the GnatHD carriage and release system and Distributed Stores Management control system, respectively. These technological advancements have expanded the potential for integrating weaponry into heavy-lift Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). (Press Release)
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Image Credit- BAE Systems
