Dynetics X-61 Gremlins
{{Redirect|X-61||X61 (disambiguation)}}
{{short description|American experimental UAV}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = X-61 Gremlins
|image = File:GremlinsFlightTestNovember2019.jpg
|image_caption = X-61A in flight
|aircraft_type = Experimental unmanned aerial vehicle
|national_origin = United States
|manufacturer = Dynetics
|first_flight = November 2019 (captive)
January 17, 2020 (free flight)
|introduction = 2019
|primary_user = DARPA
|more_users =
|produced = 2019–present
|number_built = 5
|program_cost =
|unit_cost =
}}
The Dynetics X-61 Gremlins is an experimental unmanned aerial vehicle designed by Dynetics.
Design and development
The X-61 stemmed from the DARPA Gremlins program to demonstrate a recoverable, low-cost UAV with digital flight controls and navigation systems. It is designed to be recovered in midair by a modified transport airplane following its mission.{{Cite web|title=X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle, United States of America|url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/x-61a-gremlins-air-vehicle/|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Airforce Technology|language=en-GB}} Dynetics was one of four companies to be awarded a Phase I contract for the program in 2016, and was the winner of the Phase III contract in April 2018.
The X-61A is powered by a Williams F107 turbofan engine and can carry a variety of payloads, including electro-optical sensors, infrared imagers, electronic warfare systems, and weapons.{{Cite web|last=Reim|first=Garrett|title=China Lake earthquake damage delays Gremlins UAV demo|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/china-lake-earthquake-damage-delays-gremlins-uav-demo/134357.article|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Flight Global|language=en}} It was designed to be compatible with existing launch and ground support equipment. The UAV is semi-autonomous, allowing a controller either in the mothership or on the ground to control up to eight X-61As at one time.
Operational history
As of January 2020, five X-61A Gremlins have been built.{{Cite web|date=2020-01-21|title=DARPA's Gremlins Program Accomplishes First Flight|url=https://www.airforcemag.com/darpas-gremlins-program-accomplishes-first-flight/|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Air Force Magazine|language=en-US}} On July 5, 2019, an earthquake near China Lake damaged some of the first X-61A's test equipment, delaying the program. The first captive flight of the X-61A on board a Lockheed C-130A Hercules mother ship was in November 2019.
The first free flight of the X-61A was conducted on January 17, 2020. The flight was successful, however, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery and the aircraft was lost.{{Cite web|last=Reim|first=Garrett|title=Dynetics X-61A Gremlins makes first flight, but destroyed after parachute fails|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/dynetics-x-61a-gremlins-makes-first-flight-but-destroyed-after-parachute-fails/136220.article|access-date=2020-06-20|website=Flight Global|language=en}} The four remaining vehicles are still operational.{{Cite web|title=Gremlins Program Completes First Flight Test for X-61A Vehicle|url=https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2020-01-17|access-date=2020-06-20|website=www.darpa.mil}}
In August 2020 the company announced they had completed a second test flight, this time successfully recovering the aircraft by parachute. The flight lasted over two hours and included rendezvous and formation flight with the C-130 mother ship.{{cite web |last1=Cenciotti |first1=David |title=Second Successful Flight of X-61A Gremlin Air Vehicle (GAV) For DARPA's Swarming Program |url=https://theaviationist.com/2020/08/27/second-successful-flight-of-x-61a-gremlin-air-vehicle-gav-for-darpas-swarming-program/ |website=The Aviationist |access-date=30 August 2020 |date=27 August 2020}}
In October 2021 DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.{{cite web|date=2021-11-05|title=DARPA catches airborne X-61 Gremlins drone from C-130 cargo ramp|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/darpa-catches-airborne-x-61-gremlins-drone-from-c-130-cargo-ramp/146268.article|access-date=2021-11-08|website=Flight Global|language=en-US}}
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Airforce Technology and Flight Global
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=
|capacity=65.7 kg
|length m=4.2
|length ft=
|length in=
|length note=
|span m=3.47
|span ft=
|span in=
|span note=
|width m=0.57
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m=0.52
|height ft=
|height in=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=680
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Williams F107
|eng1 type=turbofan engine
|eng1 shp=
|eng1 kn=3.11
|eng1 lbf=700
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=0.6
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=300
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|armament=
|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=
|avionics=
}}
See also
{{Aircontent
|lists=*List of X-planes
|similar aircraft=*Ryan Firebee - another unmanned aircraft intended to be both launched and recovered in flight}}
References
{{Reflist}}