DELAER RX-3

The development on the DELAER RX-3 started in 2018 and involved a consortium consisting of three research institutes of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki of which the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery acts as the project coordinator and two private companies, Intracom Defense Electronics (IDE) and Carbon Fiber Technologies (CFT). The project is co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds.{{cite web |title=LFMT - DELAER RX-3 |url=https://lfmt.gr/delaer-rx3/ |website=Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en}}

In September 2018 at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair, the first true to size mockup of the DELAER RX-3 was presented to the public.{{cite web|title=Με έξι καινοτόμα και βραβευμένα εκθέματα συμμετέχει το ΑΠΘ στην 83η ΔΕΘ |url=https://www.auth.gr/news/press/25741 |website=Aristotle University of Thessaloniki|access-date=23 February 2021 |language=el}}{{cite web|title=Video of the unveiling ceremony of the mockup |url=https://twitter.com/meng_auth/status/1038777522446651392 |website=Twitter |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=el}} During the fair the DEALER RX-3 caught the attention of military officials, paving the way for a national military UAV program.{{cite web |title=GDDIA participation in 83rd TIF |url=http://www.gdaee.mil.gr/en/gddiaannouncements-gddia/gddia-participation-83rd-tif |website=GDDIA |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=en |archive-date=3 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203055620/http://www.gdaee.mil.gr/en/gddiaannouncements-gddia/gddia-participation-83rd-tif |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|title=Greece to start production of own UAVs, to acquire 5 from US, Israel |url=https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2019/12/13/greece-uav-own-production-usa-israel/ |website=Keep Talking Greece |date=13 December 2019 |access-date=23 February 2021 |language=en}}

In November 2020 during a televised interview on the Greek television broadcaster ERT with the coordinator of the DELAER RX-3 project prof. Dr. Kyros Yakinthos, it was announced that the construction of the RX-3 is scheduled to be completed by March 2021.{{cite web|date=November 11, 2020 |title=Εταιρεία στο Κιλκίς κατασκευάζει drone |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTtEUKyLp4g |website=YouTube |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=el}}

In June 2020 Intracom Defense Electronics (IDE) announced that its proposal for a tactical UAV system has been approved to be funded through the European Defense Industrial Development Program (EDIDP).{{cite web |title=IDE leader in European Defense programs |url=https://www.intracomdefense.com/ide-leader-in-european-defense-programs/ |website=Intracom Defense Electronics |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en}} In November of the same year IDE signed a €9.7 million grant agreement with the European Commission for the funding of the now named LOTUS(Low Observable Tactical Unmanned System) project.{{cite web |title=LOTUS: Next Generation Tactical UAV from INTRACOM DEFENSE for ISR missions |url=https://www.intracomdefense.com/lotus-next-generation-tactical-uav-from-intracom-defensefor-isr-missions/ |website=Intracom Defense Electronics |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en}}

IDE notes, that the LOTUS will utilize knowledge acquired through the development of both the HCUAV RX-1 and the DELAER RX-3. Furthermore, the consisting tripartite consortium will be expanded with additional companies and universities from Greece and European companies from Cyprus, Spain and the Netherlands.

The DELAER RX-3 is a novel unmanned aerial platform, emerging from the HCUAV RX-1, that introduced an improved design and more advanced fuselage characteristics. The aim was to improve aerodynamics, increase the payload, range, and the operational profile of the UAV in comparison to the previous generation. It was built with the extensive use of composite materials and a fixed wing design that incorporates a Blended Wing Body (BWB) architecture. Furthermore, it features an insulated payload-bay for the aerial delivery of supplies, advanced electronics and a one-man portable ground control station (GCS) that uses a double encrypted data-link to communicate and control the UAV.

The aerial vehicle was designed for complete autonomous flight and interconnection with the Greek civic protection network, since its initial and primary mission is provision of humanitarian aid and ground patrol of isolated forest, mountainous and island regions of Greece.{{cite web |title=LFMT - DELAER RX-3 |url=https://lfmt.gr/delaer-rx3/ |website=Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en}}

Data from LFMT, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Ptisi Magazine.{{cite web |title=LFMT - DELAER RX-3 |url=https://lfmt.gr/delaer-rx3/ |website=Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery |access-date=28 January 2021 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=DELAER RX-3: Όλα όσα πρέπει να ξέρετε για το UAS του ΑΠΘ |url=https://www.ptisidiastima.com/delaer-rx-3-uas/ |website=ptisidiastima.com |date=14 September 2018 |access-date=29 January 2021 |language=el}}

• Crew: 0 onboard, 1 in ground station
• Length: {{convert|4.15|m|ft}}
• Wingspan: {{convert|7.2|m|ft}}
• MTOW: {{convert|190|kg|lbs}}
• Payload: {{convert|50|kg|lbs}}
• Powerplant: 1x 54 hp engine

• Maximum Speed: {{convert|250|km/h|kn}}
• Cruise Speed: {{convert|180|km/h|kn}}
• Range: {{convert|130|km|nmi}}
• Endurance: 10 hours
• Take-off runway: <{{convert|140|m|ft}}

• Real-time 720p image quality cameras
• Autonomous flight planner
• Interconnection with the Hellenic Rescue Team Network (HRTN)
• SDR data-link
• Payload insulation
• Aerial-drop payload delivery system
• Data collection and management system

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Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of Greece