UAVs

Alenia Aeronautica has unveiled a full size mock-up of its new Sky-Y medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned air vehicle (UAV) with the actual demonstrator to fly this week at Sweden’s Vidsel test range.

The new UAV has been purpose designed for the civil marketplace. It will also act as a half-scale flying risk reduction system for Alenia’s previously announced Molynx top-end MALE development effort.

The all composite Sky-Y prototype uses a modified 9.9m light sports aircraft wing with twin tail booms extending from the wing. Total length is 9.7m. The aircraft nose houses a 760mm steerable satellite antenna. Sky-Y is expected to cruise at 20,000ft with an endurance of 14hr and a cruising speed of 140kt. The UAV is currently powered by a 200hp Fiat automotive diesel engine fitted with a single-stage turbocharger.

The flying demonstrator is intended to undergo a follow on development phase which will see that engine replaced with a 250hp, 2.4-litre Fiat unit fitted with a two-stage turbocharger.

This is expected to raise the UAVs cruise ceiling to 35,000ft-40,000ft. Development of the new engine is being carried out in collaboration with the Italian Diesel Jet company.

Alenia’s existing Sky-X unmanned combat vehicle demonstrator is due to resume flight testing later this year in Italy