Rheinmetall's Hybrid Take on VTOL UAVs) G# J( s1 b9 w7 ^/ z j2 [& l
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§ RheinmetallAirborne Systems (RAS) is unveiling a new tactical unmanned aircraft design atILA 2012 - the X1-Ocean, "a hybrid airborne system that combines thecapabilities of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft".
8 w2 Q( U# p7 uConcept: Rheinmetall
RAS is a joint venture betweenGermany's Rheinmetall Defence and EADS defense company Cassidian, and hasteamed up with Swiss UAV - a manufacturer of small rotary-wing unmannedaircraft - to produce the new design. Swiss UAV already cooperates with Saab onits Skeldar VTOL UAV.
RAS already produces KZOrocket-launched small tactical UAV. The X1-Ocean is a compound helicopter, withtwin rotors mounted at the tips of the wing and a pusher propeller. Such aconfiguration provides VTOL capability for shipborne operation with increasedspeed and range compared with a conventional unmanned helicopter.
