The Israeli military is due to commence flight testing next month in a bid to complete the development of an unmannedcargo deliverysystem dubbed the “Flying Elephant”.
Aimed to meet a need to conduct resupply missions in support of combat personnel on the frontline, which becameacute during the second Lebanon war, the original plan was to develop a wheeled cargo pallet that can be loaded with 1t of ammunition, food or water. A parafoil with servo systems to ensure its aerodynamic shape should transport this payload over a distance of several kilometres, with a GPS navigation system to ensure that it reaches its intended delivery point.
An Elbit Systems proposal was selected last year, with sources at that time attributing the choice to the concept’s simplicity and the projected time needed to deploy such a capability. However, technical problems slowed the process, and led to Elbit contracting another Israeli UAS company – BlueBird Aero Systems – to help accelerate the process.
Israeli defence ministry sources say BlueBird was selected as a subcontractor to design, manufacture and test the new platform, based on its experience in the development of the Blueye powered parachute that was sold to the US Marine Corps in 2005.
A first prototype of the Flying Elephant, designed to carry a cargo of up to 150kg (330lb) is in final assembly and should enter testing during June. BlueBird has adopted advanced parawing technology to enable the air system to achieve a speed of up to 45kt (83km/h), with the design also to be capable of being flown in harsh weather conditions.
If this design proves successful, the next full-sized prototype will be ready in few months, and be capable of carrying a load of up to 600kg.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
