Normal Atomics Aeronautical Techniques, Inc. (GA-ASI) flew the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) for the primary time on Feb. 28, 2024. OBSS is an Air Pressure Analysis Laboratory (AFRL) program and GA-ASI was chosen in 2021 to design, construct and fly the brand new plane.
With flight of the AFRL-funded XQ-67A, GA-ASI has validated the “genus/species” idea first developed with AFRL as a part of the Low-Price Attritable Plane Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program centered on constructing a number of plane variants from a standard core chassis.
Beneath LCAAPS, AFRL and GA-ASI explored the event of a chassis, termed a “genus”, because the foundational core structure from which a number of “species” of plane might be constructed.
“This offers another acquisition method for navy plane that allows sooner improvement, decrease prices and extra alternatives for frequent know-how refresh,” mentioned Trenton White, OBSS Program Supervisor and aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Aerospace Techniques Directorate. “XQ-67A is the primary “species” to be designed and constructed from this shared platform. Flight demonstration of this method is a significant first step towards displaying the power to supply reasonably priced fight mass.”
“OBSS is the primary plane kind constructed and flown utilizing a standard core chassis developed by GA-ASI that promotes commonality throughout a number of automobile varieties,” mentioned GA-ASI Vice President of Superior Packages Michael Atwood.
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