Robot Plane Can Transport Troops - Firm Building Man-carrying VTOL Drone

Robot Plane Can Transport Troops - Firm Building Man-carrying VTOL Drone
A Virginia-based company is hoping to test-fly a vertical take-off and landing drone before the end of this year that, ultimately, could do triple duty as strike vehicle, medevac or special ops insertion/extraction plane. The Excalibur is currently being developed as an armed, tactical unmanned aerial vehicle, capable of carrying Hellfire anti-tank missiles and Viper Strike missiles. The Hellfire is currently mounted on Predator UAVs, while Viper Strike missiles are used for strikes on the Army's RQ-5B Hunter UAV, both fixed wing aircraft requiring traditional runway take-offs and landings.The plane uses a turbine-electric hybrid propulsion system for VTOL capability and a turbine engine for horizontal flight, according to Excalibur's specs. Because the plane's flight control system would operate with a high level of autonomy, it would not be remotely controlled. The focus of the operators would be on mission planning, locating and engaging targets, the company says. But with modifications, the aircraft could carry a man. Ground forces could use such a UAV to move an injured or wounded soldier, while special operators could be dropped into our extracted from a location without the need of a pilot or even flying the vehicle themselves, he said. According to the specs, the plane is also capable of traditional short take-offs and landings. The Excalibur would be heavier than the Predator -- 2,900 lbs empty versus 1,130 -- but would be smaller.