Lockheed Martin has unveiled a concept for a new unmanned
aerial vehicle (UAV) that appears aimed at the emerging market for a
medium-altitude surveillance aircraft with several days of endurance.
A diagram on the exhibit booth yesterday identifies the aircraft by the acronym "MPLE", but does not elaborate. The photo shows the aircraft flying at what appears to be medium altitude over a desert landscape. The turreted sensor appears to be hanging from beneath the nose. The high-aspect ratio wings are bent upwards at the tips for a dihedral angle.
Lockheed's new MAPL design appears reminiscent of the twin-boomed P-38 Lightning, except with a high-aspect ratio for long-endurance flight at slow speed. The P-38 was designed by Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson several years before he founded the Skunk Works organization, which produced the MAPL concept.
Photos by Stephen Trimble
A diagram on the exhibit booth yesterday identifies the aircraft by the acronym "MPLE", but does not elaborate. The photo shows the aircraft flying at what appears to be medium altitude over a desert landscape. The turreted sensor appears to be hanging from beneath the nose. The high-aspect ratio wings are bent upwards at the tips for a dihedral angle.
Lockheed's new MAPL design appears reminiscent of the twin-boomed P-38 Lightning, except with a high-aspect ratio for long-endurance flight at slow speed. The P-38 was designed by Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson several years before he founded the Skunk Works organization, which produced the MAPL concept.
Photos by Stephen Trimble
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