Five cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UASs) are slated to begin flight testing later to highlight the versatility of vertical take-off and landing for UASs weighing less than 330 pounds.
The vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft for the demonstration, known as EVADE – Early VTOL Aircraft Demonstration – will boast significantly enhanced range, endurance, and control compared to existing VTOL UASs of similar size. The primary objective for EVADE is to demonstrate rapid deployment of advanced UAS capabilities to the Warfighter.
“With EVADE, our focus is on speed of development, not on first flight perfection,” says Program Manager Phillip Smith, who is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and was previously deployed as an AV-8B Harrier pilot. “The faster we can get these demonstration aircraft airborne, the quicker we can identify and resolve any issues, and ultimately, deliver game-changing capabilities to our Warfighters in the field.”