Northrop Grumman to design autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for DARPA

Northrop Grumman to design autonomous vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for DARPA
by Brad Bartz
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jul 14, 2023

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) recently received a contract from the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency's (DARPA) Tactical Technology Office to develop an autonomous vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft system. This innovative system is designed to be capable of operating from a moving Navy ship at sea, an ambitious feat that is a testament to Northrop Grumman's capabilities in aerospace technology.

Under this contract, the AdvaNced airCraft Infrastructure-Less Launch And RecoverY (ANCILLARY) demonstrator will be designed. The aim of the ANCILLARY demonstrator is to create a cost-effective, multiple-mission capable vehicle. Northrop Grumman plans to create an agile platform that can operate independently of runways, a significant stride forward in terms of operational flexibility.

The ANCILLARY demonstrator is expected to carry a large 60-pound sensor payload, capable of maintaining a 20-hour endurance period and a mission radius range of 100 nautical miles. This substantial increase in operational capacity is projected to be achievable without the need for significant additional infrastructure beyond what is already present on board the air vehicle. Furthermore, the aircraft will possess the capability to land on a ship in unfavorable weather conditions, further showcasing its resilience.

The ANCILLARY demonstrator is being designed to perform a variety of functions. These include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting missions. Moreover, it will also be equipped to support expeditionary missions for special operations forces and logistical missions. Such capabilities will significantly impact affordability, especially with regard to ship-to-shore transition of parts and supplies.

Tim Frei, vice president of research and advanced design at Northrop Grumman, discussed the partnership between DARPA and his company. "In collaboration with DARPA, Northrop Grumman will work to significantly enhance how future autonomous vertical lift aircraft will operate at sea and ashore," Frei said. "The ANCILLARY program enables us to combine our digital engineering expertise with extensive knowledge and insights from past successes in developing and operating uncrewed vertical lift aircraft for the U.S. Navy."

DARPA's ANCILLARY program has set forth ambitious aims, the primary one being to develop and flight demonstrate an X-plane equipped with critical technologies required for a leap-ahead in long endurance, VTOL unmanned air system (UAS) performance. The UAS should be capable of launching and recovering from ship flight decks and small austere land locations in adverse weather without the need for additional infrastructure equipment. This capability would enable expeditionary deployments and increase operational versatility. Contrary to large VTOL systems, the smaller UAS size would permit many aircraft to be stored and operated from a single ship, creating a tactical beyond-line-of-site, multi-intelligence sensor network capability.

This contract positions Northrop Grumman at the forefront of autonomous aircraft technology, further bolstering its reputation as an innovative leader in aerospace solutions. As this project unfolds, it will be interesting to watch the transformation of autonomous vertical lift aircraft operations at sea and on land.