What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
FT-100FH continues flight testing
FT Sistemas has moved ahead in the flight test campaign of its newly designed Flettner Helicopter FT-100FH unmanned rotorcraft, the company announced on 15 August.
FT Sistemas is set to conclude the visual-line-of-sight (VLOS) flight testing necessary to move ahead to RBAC-E94 beyond-line-of-sight flight authorisation from ANAC, the Brazilian civil aviation authority.
The current phase of flight testing will test the maturity of basic FT-100FH designs, including the C2, avionics, flight controls, powerplant and power transmission systems. The envelope expansion of the rotorcraft will take place during the second half 2018, aiming for a full project qualification and first deliveries for launch customers.
The company intends to request ANAC project approval for beyond-line-of-sight operations respecting RBAC-E94 requirements, issued by the Brazilian aviation authority in May 2017.
The rotorcraft has transport capacity, autonomy and endurance for greater versatility and long range missions. The new product can be used for homeland security and monitoring, utilities, cargo delivery, crop protection and communication relay applications. An alternate version of the rotorcraft will be available for applications that require VLOS operations only.
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