P.1HH HammerHead UAV flight modes validated

The P.1HH HammerHead unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in development with Piaggio Aero and Selex ES has reached a significant milestone, with the validation of its autonomous flight modes and control laws, including augmented modes, flight envelope protection and automatic flight, and the automatic management of the ground run both in takeoff and landing.

The P.1HH HammerHead demonstration aircraft has undergone extensive flight tests in Trapani-Birgi, Sicily, throughout 2014. Safety critical phases, such as take-off and landing when using the GCS and datalink systems in manual flight have also been validated by engineering and flight teams from both companies.

The system’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities are provided by an EO/IR sensor that is managed autonomously by the Mission Management System based on the Selex ES skyISTAR.

The P.1HH will undergo further testing by Piaggio Aero following integration of the Selex ES radar Seaspray 7300E, which will be managed by an enhanced version of the skyISTAR Mission Management System.

The P.1HH HammerHead is a derivative of the Piaggio Aero P.180 Avanti II aircraft, designed to meet the need for a high-tech solution for ISR. The aircraft features automatic take-off and landing capabilities, and can fly at up to 45,000ft with an endurance of 16 hours. The UAV systems will be fully compliant with the STANAG USAR 4671 standards that enable the aircraft to fly in both restricted and unrestricted flight areas.

The vehicle management and control system, air data terminal and the ground control segment for the P.1HH HammerHead have all been developed and supplied by Selex ES.