STRIX draws on proven technologies used in the MQ-28A Ghost Bat loyal wingman, another all-Australian system developed for the RAAF, and moved from concept to full-scale flight in under two years.
BAE Systems Australia last week revealed that it has flown and tested the prototype of a unique heavy-class “tilt-body” VTOL (Vertical Take-Off Landing) drone in late October 2024 in Western Australia. Called STRIX, the autonomous UAV fully developed within the country is said to offer credible military applications, including air-to-ground strikes and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance).
The drone was first unveiled on Feb. 28, 2023 at the Avalon Air Show. “Operating a spiral development model, a full-scale electric prototype was designed and built to fast-track flight testing and reduce program risk,” said BAE Systems.
The drone performed launch, manoeuver, sustained hover and recovery that validated its autonomous Vehicle Management System’s (VMS) capability to control a VTOL flight, according to a video of the flight and a statement by BAE Australia. In fact, the company mentioned that all actions were autonomous, with a remote pilot providing safety overwatch.
The drone’s unconventional design configuration has anhedral forward wings and dihedral rear wings, so they are canted downward and upward, respectively, for the correct spacing of the engines. STRIX is powered by a “full-scale electric” powerplant, with three-bladed propellers on each of the four engines.
To keep the spacing between the axes of the engines, the forward and rear engines were installed underwing and overwing, respectively. Perth-based Innovaero is the system’s co-developer that developed the carbon-fiber composite body.
The subsequent testing phase will see BAE Systems moving from airframe testing to a hybrid-electric propulsion system, which is being developed parallelly with the prototype. The drone is being marketed to international customers and will continue to be refined to potential users’ needs.
In fact, STRIX “draws on proven technologies” used in the MQ-28A Ghost Bat loyal wingman, another all-Australian system developed for the RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force), said the company. Although the MQ-28 is developed and built by Boeing Australia, BAE Systems provides an uncrewed flight vehicle management solution and simulation capability, flight control computers and navigation equipment.
STRIX’s introduction also comes amid Australia emerging as the center of unmanned systems development and testing under the aegis of the AUKUS (Australia-United Kingdom-United States) pact. The trilateral alliance’s Pillar 2 stage fosters the rapid development of both autonomous and remotely controlled aerial, surface and underwater unmanned systems.
STRIX first flight
The video showed the drone having a fixed conventional (or ‘tail-dragger’) landing gear, with the front wheels supported by long legs. The wings and landing gear design gives the drone the ‘tilted’ appearance compared to other VTOL drones that are symmetrical and straight off the center axis.
After the propellers start spinning, STRIX rotates backwards to a more upright position and lifts itself off the ground, hovering well over 11 feet above the ground, throwing a plume of sand and dust around it. It then descends down and lands on its short tail-affixed landing wheels and tilts forward to come to rest on the front landing gear.
The UAV has several air data probes sticking out of its front section used to gather measurements on aerodynamic and kinematic performance. “STRIX successfully achieved all goals while flying fully autonomous,” the video said. It also mentioned this was the first ever ‘tilt-body’ flight, which is a “completely new mode of VTOL.” A remote pilot was on standby, as seen in the video, with the development team in the control station, but did not have to intervene.
The new hybrid propulsion system under development will possibly make STRIX more attractive for exports, and it remains to be seen if the company will offer both the electric and hybrid variants in the production version to cast a wider net for different user needs.
Kinematics and other roles
The drone’s size and dimensions also suggest a tactical logistical capability. This will greatly interest both the Royal Navy and the U.S. Navy, given how they have experimented with such systems to ferry light and medium-weight cargo in a fleet.
BAE Systems Australia unveiled the Strix UAS on day 1 of Avalon Airshow. Capable of VTOL and conventional flight, it’s being marketed as a multi-domain/role UAS capable of a variety of missions from strike to ASW to ISTAREW. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Pq8MmcQb2j
— Roy Choo (@RXRoy) February 28, 2023
As for weapons capabilities, other reports said the STRIX can carry a wide array of payloads, including precision-guided munitions such as APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System), Hellfire, Brimstone, and the JAGM-MR (Joint Air-to-Ground Munition-Medium Range), along with loitering munitions, EO/IR (Electro-Optical/Infra-Red) sensors, LTD (Laser Target Designators) and electronic warfare equipment. The Sea Venom anti-ship missile and the Razer glide bomb were shown as a part of the STRIX’s payload at the Avalon exhibition in February 2023.
Defence Technology Review said that the drone has the ability to operate from ships with a maximum combat radius of 400 km, out of the reach of most anti-aircraft and air defense systems. The system can be folded down, partly disassembled and deployed from a home port inside a 20 feet ISO shipping container. At Avalon, BAE listed the STRIX’s maximum take-off weight at 900 kg, with a typical payload of 160 kg and flight endurance with full weight at 5 hours.
Our team and Innovaero behind the #STRIX uncrewed aerial system are making the impossible a reality. Visit us at #LandForces2024 to learn more.
STRIX UAS: https://t.co/umwv0rawNe#BAESystemsROAS #Autonomy #InnovationBeyondBoundaries pic.twitter.com/UaJzjXTYpE
— BAE Systems Australia (@BAESystemsAus) September 11, 2024
“This program milestone highlights the ingenuity and capability of world class Australian engineers and delivers on our proof of concept at rapid pace,” said Andrew Gresham, Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia’s Defence Delivery business unit. “Major flight test objectives were achieved, including safe and autonomous control of an all-new VTOL aircraft configuration never flown before in the history of flight.”
