Page 41 - World Airnews Magazine January 2020 Edition

UNMANNED HELICOPTERS

SUCCESSFUL TEST FLIGHT VERSATILE LETHAL

FOR TELLUMAT ASTUS SUSTAINABLE

of 200 knots true air speed (KTAS). By grate air-launched effects, and future
incorporating proven designs and the best weapons, as well as current inventory

he Bell 360 Invictus is the compa- available technologies from commercial of munitions

Tny’s entrant for the US Army’s Fu- and military programs, Bell delivers a low- • Provisioned for enhanced situational
awareness and sensor technologies
risk path to a FARA programme of record.

outh African provider of defence and ture Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) This advanced aircraft will have a trans- • Modular Open Systems Approach

Ssecurity technology provider Tellumat Competitive Prototype programme. formative impact through next-generation (MOSA) enabled by a Digital Backbone

recently successfully completed flight trials Bell’s approach to designing the Bell flight performance, increased safety and from Collins Aerospace

with its ASTUS unmanned aerial system (UAS). 360 Invictus combines proven low-risk greater operational readiness - all to deliver • Robust design integrating lifecycle sup-

technologies with advanced processes

Willie Malan, support and services to deliver soldiers an affordable, agile decisive capabilities. portability processes early to ensure

manager for Tellumat defence and security, and lethal solution to win on the modern Some of the key 360 Invictus features high OPTEMPO availability in multi-do-

said the ASTUS unmanned aerial system battlefield. The Bell 360 Invictus meets or include: main operations

flight team is back home after a number of exceeds all requirements as laid out under • Lift-sharing wing to reduce rotor lift • Design-as-built manufacturing model and

successful test flights in the Overberg re- the FARA contract. demand in forward flight, enabling digital thread enabled tools to enhance

gion of South Africa under SA Civil Aviation high-speed manoeuvrability affordability, reliability, and training

Authority (SACAA) regulations. “The Bell 360 will deliver advanced • Supplemental Power Unit increas- throughout the lifecycle of the aircraft

“Flying under SACAA’s RPAS (Remotely battlefield situational awareness, as well as es performance during high power “Bell is committed to providing the US

lethal options, in support of the manoeu-

Piloted Aircraft System) regulations for the vre force at an affordable cost” said Vince demands Army with the most affordable, most

first time, all flight operations were done Tobin, executive vice president of Military • Robust articulated main rotor with sustainable, least complex, and lowest risk

with assistance from and under cover of Business at Bell. high flapping capability enabling high solution among the potential FARA config-

UAV Industries’ RPAS Operators Certifi- “The flight test campaign to date proves tion and peacekeeping. The ASTUS can also speed flight urations, while meeting all requirements,"

cate,” Malan said. the ASTUS UAS to be a stable platform for be used to train UAS pilots for beyond line of “The multi-domain fight will be complex, • Fly-by-wire flight control system- said Keith Flail, vice president of Advanced

sensor deployment.” sight operations of larger UASs. and our team is delivering a highly capable, Vertical Lift Systems at Bell.

CHALLENGING CONDITIONS Unveiled at Africa Aerospace and De- The system integrates an aircraft, ground low-risk solution to confidently meet opera- synthesizes technologies, reduces “360 Invictus is an exciting opportunity

Poor weather conditions saw any number fence (AAD) Exhibition at AFB Waterkloof control system and camera payload capa- tional requirements with a sustainable fleet.” pilot workload and provides a path to for us to continue our support of Army

autonomous flight

of test flights done in strong winds, freezing last September, ASTUS is Tellumat’s first bility in a robust, durable, easily transport- The Bell 360 Invictus’ design emphasises modernisation. This is the next solution to

temperatures and various layers of cloud foray into full-scale UAS systems provision. ed, quick to deploy and easy to operate exceptional performance using proven tech- • Speed: >185 KTAS ensure soldiers have the best equipment

cover. This did not deter the flight team “Before that, Tellumat developed, man- high-performance surveillance package. nologies to fulfil the Army’s FARA require- • Combat radius: 135nm with >90 min- available for the multi-domain fight.”

and the UAS coped – admirably - with all ufactured and supported market-leading “The significance of our first full SA- ments at an affordable cost and on schedule. utes of time on station Bell has decades of experience providing

conditions, he said. UAS sub-systems for more than 30 years,” CAA-vetted flight cannot be overstated,” One example is the Invictus’ rotor • Achieves 4k/95F Hover Out of Ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft to the

Among flight milestones achieved were Tellumat Defence and Security managing Tellumat Group chief executive Andrew system. This design is based on Bell’s 525 Effect (HOGE) warfighter, such as the Kiowa Warrior which

successful climbs to 16 000 feet above sea executive Shirley McLean said. Connold said. relentless rotor system which has been • Armed with 20 mm cannon, integrated delivered high reliability and availability

level and maintaining cruise speeds varying “With UAS demand taking off worldwide, “Design, development, completion and tested and proven at speeds in excess munitions launcher with ability to inte- through more than 850,000 flight hours. Q

from 50 up to 90 knots. ASTUS has allowed Tellumat to step up with now proven success of the ASTUS UAS have
At all times, two live video channels high-end UAS performance in a medium taken more than four years, after many

transmitted feeds to the ground station. sized, cost-effective package.” more building up technical expertise and

The Tellumat XTP30 optical training pay- ASTUS is a medium-sized, medium-range market credentials.”
load provides one video channel. tactical surveillance UAS system. It is suit- “We are delighted and believe it will help

Malan said take-off performance was able for lengthy missions requiring real-time further entrench South Africa and Tellumat’s

excellent, using less than 150 metres of surveillance data collection and delivery for position in the global UAS/UAV industry. Q

runway and the efficient braking system a variety of missions. These include border Article courtesy: https://www.defenceweb.

allowed landings in the same distance. and coastal security, environmental protec- co.za/
THE SUPER DUPER
The Super Tucano landed at
the Malta airport whilst on a
long journey to Dubai to be
showcased there as a light

attack platform ideal against

insurgents. The aircraft is known
to have excellent qualities being

highly manoeuvrable and with
the ability to operate in high
temperatures and rugged terrain.
Photo by Rowen Aquilina.
World Airnews | January 2020 World Airnews | January 2020
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