VTOL Unmanned Cargo

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Northrop Studies Naval VTOL Unmanned Cargo Aircraft

 

 

Northrop Grumman is studying a vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) unmanned cargo aircraft concept called Wild Thing. The fan-in-wing vehicle is designed to operate from any aviation-capable U.S. Navy ship, carrying payloads up to 10,000 pounds.

 

The concept has been windtunnel-tested and briefed to the Navy, but there is no formal requirement yet for such an unmanned aerial aircraft (UAV), according to Gene Fraser, Northrop vice president and deputy, strike and surveillance systems.

 

An artist's concept shown during a briefing here reveals an aircraft with twin booms joined by a high-set horizontal tailplane. Cargo is carried in an under-fuselage pod, which could be replaced by other payloads, he says.

 

 

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