![]() The XFC UAS uses an electrically assisted take off system which lifts the plane vertically out of its container and therefore, enables a very small footprint launch such as from a pickup truck or small surface vessel.įrom concept to fleet demonstration, this idea took less than six years to produce results at significant cost savings when compared to traditional programs often taking decades to produce results. The U.S. The non-hybridized power plant supports the propulsion system and payload for a flight endurance that enables relatively low cost, low altitude, ISR missions. The NRL developed XFC UAS – eXperimental Fuel Cell Unmanned Aerial System – is a fully autonomous, all electric fuel cell powered folding wing UAS with an endurance of greater than six hours. “This demonstration really underpins ONR’s dedication and ability to address emerging fleet priorities.” The successful submerged launch of a remotely deployed UAS offers a pathway to providing mission critical intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the U.S. Hughes, Acting Director of Innovation at ONR. “Developing disruptive technologies and quickly getting them into the hands of our sailors is what our SwampWorks program is all about,” said Craig A. The drone is powered by a Protonex fuel cell. The XFC drone is designed with X-wing configuration, enabling effecting deployment from launch tubes. Upon command of Providence Commanding Officer, the XFC then vertically launched from Sea Robin and flew a successful several hour mission demonstrating live video capabilities streamed back to Providence, surface support vessels and Norfolk before landing at the Naval Sea Systems Command Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center (AUTEC), Andros, Bahamas. ![]() Once deployed from the TLC, the Sea Robin launch vehicle with integrated XFC rose to the ocean surface where it appeared as a spar buoy. ![]() For the test, an electrically powered mini drone was launched from the submarine’s torpedo tube using a ‘Sea Robin’ launch vehicle system. The Sea Robin is designed to fit within an empty Tomahawk Launching Canister (TLC), which is already familiar to submarine sailors. The US Navy has recently demonstrated the launch of an all-electric, fuel cell-powered, unmanned aerial system (UAS) from a submerged submarine. ![]() The fuel-cell powered XFC drone is launched vertically into the air, after being fired from the torpedo launch tube of the submerged USS 971 Providence. ![]()
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