The “world’s fastest” turbojet UAV is presented
WaveAerospace from Connecticut (USA) announced a “new class of aircraft” – quadcopters with a jet turbine in the center. Such a UAV is capable of accelerating to almost 500 km/h and is not affected by adverse weather conditions. The developers offer the Huntress II Turbojet to the military, rescuers, and anyone who values speed and range over stealth.
According to New Atlas, the Huntress II Turbojet drone is impressive in size – four meters diagonally, if measured from propeller to propeller. It weighs about 50 kg, depending on the fuel used, and has a maximum payload of 165 kg. Internal compartments and fasteners for external containers are provided for cargo.
According to the manufacturer, WaveAerospace, the Myslyvitsa can be prepared for departure in less than 90 seconds, and can be launched from land, water, and from an aircraft at an altitude of up to 6,000 meters. The fuel supply lasts for two hours, and remote control with video surveillance is supported at a distance of up to 30 km.
In the air, the Huntress II Turbojet can behave like a regular quadcopter, or it can start a jet engine and send it flying at Mach 0.4 (483 km/h). The maximum speed is limited by electronics, otherwise the drone could fly even faster. The turbine turns on and off in the air.
An important feature of the drone is its all-weather capability. It is able to withstand wind speeds of up to 117 km/h and temperatures from -34 to 54 °C. In fact, if a helicopter can take off, so can the Myslyvitsa, but it will consume 5% of fuel and take up half the space.
The American startup Valkyrie Systems Aerospace (VSA) has received a research grant from the US Air Force to implement the HoverJet Guardian and Eagle aircraft concepts. The company claims that the first vehicle will be able to combine vertical takeoff and landing with flight at speeds of up to 1127 km/h, and the second will combine the capabilities of an airplane, hovercraft, and amphibious vehicle.
