The X-61 stemmed from the DARPA Gremlins program to demonstrate a recoverable, low-cost UAV with digital flight controls and navigation systems. It is designed to be recovered in midair by a modified transport airplane following its mission.[1] Dynetics was one of four companies to be awarded a Phase I contract for the program in 2016, and was the winner of the Phase III contract in April 2018.[1]
The X-61A is powered by a Williams F107turbofan engine and can carry a variety of payloads, including electro-optical sensors, infrared imagers, electronic warfare systems, and weapons.[1][2] It was designed to be compatible with existing launch and ground support equipment.[1] The UAV is semi-autonomous, allowing a controller either in the mothership or on the ground to control up to eight X-61As at one time.[1][2]
Operational history
As of January 2020, five X-61A Gremlins have been built.[3] On July 5, 2019, an earthquake near China Lake damaged some of the first X-61A's test equipment, delaying the program.[2] The first captive flight of the X-61A on board a Lockheed C-130A Hercules mother ship was in November 2019.[1]
The first free flight of the X-61A was conducted on January 17, 2020. The flight was successful, however, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery and the aircraft was lost.[4] The four remaining vehicles are still operational.[5]
In August 2020 the company announced they had completed a second test flight, this time successfully recovering the aircraft by parachute. The flight lasted over two hours and included rendezvous and formation flight with the C-130 mother ship.[6]
In October 2021 DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.[7]
Specifications
Data from Airforce Technology and Flight Global[1][2]
