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 historyedit
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]
Specificationsedit
Data from Airforce Technology and Flight Global[1][2]
^"DARPA's Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight". Air Force Magazine. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
^Reim, Garrett. "Dynetics X-61A Gremlins makes first flight, but destroyed after parachute fails". Flight Global. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
^"Gremlins Program Completes First Flight Test for X-61A Vehicle". www.darpa.mil. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
^Cenciotti, David (27 August 2020). "Second Successful Flight of X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV) For DARPA's Swarming Program". The Aviationist. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dynetics X-61 Gremlins.
October 27, 2023
dynetics, gremlins, redirects, here, other, uses, disambiguation, experimental, unmanned, aerial, vehicle, designed, dynetics, gremlinsx, flightrole, experimental, unmanned, aerial, vehiclenational, origin, united, statesmanufacturer, dyneticsfirst, flight, no. X 61 redirects here For other uses see X61 disambiguation The Dynetics X 61 Gremlins is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Dynetics X 61 GremlinsX 61A in flightRole Experimental unmanned aerial vehicleNational origin United StatesManufacturer DyneticsFirst flight November 2019 captive January 17 2020 free flight Introduction 2019Primary user DARPAProduced 2019 presentNumber built 5 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Specifications 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editThe 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 F107 turbofan 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 editAs 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 editData from Airforce Technology and Flight Global 1 2 General characteristicsCapacity 65 7 kg Length 13 ft 9 in 4 2 m Wingspan 11 ft 5 in 3 47 m Width 1 ft 10 in 0 57 m Height 1 ft 8 in 0 52 m Gross weight 1 499 lb 680 kg Powerplant 1 Williams F107 turbofan engine 700 lbf 3 1 kN thrustPerformance Maximum speed Mach 0 6 Range 350 mi 560 km 300 nmi See also editList of X planesReferences edit a b c d e f g X 61A Gremlins Air Vehicle United States of America Airforce Technology Retrieved 2020 06 20 a b c d Reim Garrett China Lake earthquake damage delays Gremlins UAV demo Flight Global Retrieved 2020 06 20 DARPA s Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight Air Force Magazine 2020 01 21 Retrieved 2020 06 20 Reim Garrett Dynetics X 61A Gremlins makes first flight but destroyed after parachute fails Flight Global Retrieved 2020 06 20 Gremlins Program Completes First Flight Test for X 61A Vehicle www darpa mil Retrieved 2020 06 20 Cenciotti David 27 August 2020 Second Successful Flight of X 61A Gremlin Air Vehicle GAV For DARPA s Swarming Program The Aviationist Retrieved 30 August 2020 DARPA catches airborne X 61 Gremlins drone from C 130 cargo ramp Flight Global 2021 11 05 Retrieved 2021 11 08 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dynetics X 61 Gremlins Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dynetics X 61 Gremlins amp oldid 1143835314, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
