Aerospace giant aims to provide unmanned support for Apache helicopters and Chinook transport aircraft.
Boeing is currently in the „conceptual stages” of developing a new tiltrotor drone wingman designed to support platforms like the U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters or Chinook transport aircraft in combat situations, according to a company executive.
Tiltrotor Design for Rapid Deployment
Chris Speights, chief engineer of Boeing’s vertical lift portfolio for its defense division, revealed during a briefing on Oct. 7, ahead of the AUSA conference in Washington, that the unmanned system, featuring two proprotors and a gas turbine engine, is intended to provide a mature and rapidly deployable capability. He stated, „We believe that that’s going to provide the most mature, rapid ability to field.”
Modular and Collaborative
The modular, unmanned wingman, currently a conceptual design, is being developed with feedback from the Army. According to Speights, Boeing’s analysis indicates that it effectively meets the needs for a „family of systems” setup, enabling various platforms to connect and work in tandem.
CxR and ClR Variants
The drone, known as CxR, is being designed to carry payloads relevant for Apache-type missions, while a potential variant, ClR, would provide logistics support for aircraft like the Chinook. The drone is expected to fall into the Group 4 or 5 category, representing the upper end of drone sizes as defined by the Pentagon. Specifics about its development timeline were not disclosed.
Army’s Shift to Unmanned Systems
Last year, the Army canceled its next-generation reconnaissance aircraft, FARA, and redirected funding toward unmanned systems, while still committing to the futuristic assault aircraft, MV-75. Other military services, such as the Air Force and Navy, are also pursuing unmanned wingman designs.
Performance Specifications
Speights estimated the drone’s max gross weight to be between 5,000 to 7,000 lbs, with a payload capacity of 1,000 to 2,000 lbs. Boeing engineers are targeting a speed of 200 to 250 knots for the platform, potentially enabling it to serve as a wingman for the MV-75.
Leveraging V-22 Osprey Experience
Boeing aims to leverage its experience with the V-22 Osprey, despite its current flight restrictions expected to last until next year. Speights emphasized the valuable lessons learned from the V-22, particularly concerning tiltrotor control mode transitions, which involve the systems and flight controls needed for an aircraft to take off like a helicopter and then transition its rotors in flight to fly like a plane.
According to Speights, „We really want to leverage and lean on that, because there’s a lot of maturity and capability there, and that’s what we see adding value to this collaborative requirement.”
