BAE Systems Australia Set for First Test Flight of Its STRIX Unmanned Aerial System

av AFFK 2024-09-26, 14:58

BAE Systems Australia (BAESA) is preparing to conduct the first test flight of its STRIX Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), scheduled for mid-October 2024. This innovative project promises to transform military aerial operations with its unique vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability, combined with impressive range and substantial payload capacity.

STRIX:tm: is a revolutionary UAS designed to deliver impactful battlefield projection through its runway independence, extended range typical of fixed-wing aircraft, and reliable autonomy. Developed by BAE Systems, STRIX:tm: incorporates disruptive technologies that ensure flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability in response to evolving threats.

With its VTOL capability, STRIX:tm: does not require a runway, allowing it to be quickly deployed, even in high-risk environments. Its compact footprint allows it to be transported in a standard 20-foot container, making it an easily deployable platform for various missions, whether they are long-range operations or autonomous strikes. It is capable of carrying a 160 kg payload over a distance of up to 800 km.

BAE Systems Australia Set for First Test Flight of Its STRIX Unmanned Aerial System Bae_sy10

STRIX:tm: is designed for multi-role missions, such as electronic warfare (EW) operations, support for rotary-wing aircraft units, as well as autonomous strike, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, targeting, anti-submarine warfare (ASW/ASUW), and collaboration with manned platforms.

With a maximum takeoff weight of 950 kg, STRIX:tm: cruises at a speed of 140 knots, with a maximum speed of 200 knots. Its range varies based on the payload: with a 50 kg payload, it can cover a distance of 1510 km with an endurance of 5.25 hours, while with a 160 kg payload, it reaches 800 km with a 3-hour endurance. At full capacity with a 200 kg payload, its range is 540 km. STRIX:tm: can operate at altitudes ranging from 2,000 to 15,000 feet, offering significant operational flexibility.

STRIX:tm: benefits from BAE Systems' expertise in autonomy, drawing from its work on vehicle management systems for platforms like the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, as well as the development of the optionally crewed M113 combat vehicle program. This experience allows STRIX:tm: to provide goal-based mission planning and a wide range of potential payloads, making it a versatile UAS capable of executing a full F2T2EA mission chain (Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, Assess).