long-endurance helicopter UAV

* The Boeing A160 Hummingbird (military designation: YMQ-18A) is an unmanned

aerial vehicle (UAV) helicopter.

* The air vehicle, with optimum-speed rotor, operates autonomously and flies at

260km/h at a maximum altitude of 9,150m, with a hover capability up to 4,570m for

up to 20 hours.

* The capabilities of such high-hover altitudes and payloads enable the A160 to detect

slow moving targets and provide high-end detection of potential threats.

* The A160T helicopter will take part in the US Marine Corps war fighting laboratory's

immediate cargo unmanned aerial system demonstration programme.

* The A160T Hummingbird is powered by a single Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D

turbo shaft engine. The engine can produce a continuous 426.7kW (572shp).

* The engine also features a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) facility to

reduce the workload of the pilot, including self-starting and fuel consumption.

* The autonomously-flown A160 is 35 feet long with a 36-foot rotor diameter, but it

only weighs about 2,500 pounds.

* To provide long-term surveillance, the foliage penetration reconnaissance,

surveillance, tracking and engagement radar (FORESTER) system was designed for A-

160T Hummingbird.

* The revolution rate (rpm) of the rotor can be reduced by more than half its

maximum, which contributes to an increase in the air vehicle's fuel efficiency in low-

speed and low-weight flight.

* The fuselage is of carbon-fibre construction and is of a smooth aerodynamic design

which also gives low radar and visual signatures.

* A160T’s OSRT rotor can operate between 150-350 rpm, with tip speeds as low as Mach

0.25, instead of regular heliblade tip speeds near Mach 1.

* The A160T/ MQ-18 features a unique hingeless, rigid, optimum-speed rotor

technology concept (OSRT).

* The helicopter flies autonomously with manual override. The UAV's flight control

system was designed by Frontier Systems.

* Navigation includes global positioning and GPS-based waypoint navigation.

* A large mission payload bay is installed in the nose of the vehicle and a sensor turret

can be installed under the nose section of the fuselage.

* Payload options include: day and night electro-optical and infrared imaging systems,

radar with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) / moving target indicator (MTI) modes and

with foliage penetration capability and a laser target designator.

General characteristics

* Length: 35 ft. 0 in (10.7 m)

* Main rotor diameter: 36 ft. 0 in (11 m)

* Empty weight: 2,500 lb. (1,134 kg)

* Gross weight: 6,500 lb. (2,948 kg)

* Power plant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW207D, 550 hp (410 kW) each

Performance

* Maximum speed: 160+ mph (258+ km/h)

* Endurance: 20+ hours

* Service ceiling: 20,000–30,000 ft. (6,100–9,150 m)

* Maximum glide ratio: 7

* http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hummingbird/

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_A160_Hummingbird

* http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/a160-hummingbird-boeings-variable-rotor-

vtuav-03989/

* http://www.boeing.com/news/frontiers/archive/2004/december/ts_sf04.html

* http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=796