Tuesday, December 02, 2008

A160 Hummingbird

Also Known As
A160T (turbine-powered version)

Origin
United States of America

Contractor/s
Boeing

Sensors & Communications:
AACER

Description: The A160 Hummingbird is a four-blade, vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) suitable for urban areas which flight development began in November 2002. The aircraft was designed and developed originally by Frontier Systems, Irvine, California. Frontier Systems Inc. was acquired by Boeing in May 2004. The Hummingbird program is being funded by DARPA.

The A160 Hummingbird unmanned helicopter will be capable of flying 2,500 nautical miles with endurance in excess of 24 hours and a payload of more than 300 pounds. US and international military forces will benefit from surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, communication relay and precision re-supply provided by this innovative aircraft.

On 10 August 2005, Frontier Systems Inc, a Boeing subsidiary, was awarded a $50 million contract for an Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) of the A-160 Hummingbird Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to assess the military utility and affordability of a long-range VTOL UAV employing a wide variety of adaptable payloads. The demonstration program was expected to be complete by August 2008.

A160T is a turbine-powered variant of A160 Hummingbird unmanned aircraft and planned for introduction Spring 2007.

Specifications
Accommodation: Unmanned

Dimensions: Length 10.7 m, Main Rotor Diameter 11 m

Weights: Payload 136 kg (300 lb)

Performance: Ceiling 9,000 m (29,528 ft), Endurance 24 hours, Max Range 4,630 km (2,500 nm), Top Speed 72 mps (259 kph)

Other: Main Rotor Blades 4

News
A160T Hummingbird Unmanned Rotorcraft Completes Phase I Flight Tests

Boeing Completes Eight-hour Flight of A160T Hummingbird

Boeing Completes First Flight of Turbine-Powered A160 Unmanned Helicopter

Advanced Autonomous Flight Control for UAVs

Advanced Radar for FCS Class IV UAV

Operators

United States of America

Image Gallery

Next >>

Notes
(*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)

Last Updated: Saturday, November 22, 2008

Leave Feedback >>