Scientists Develop Flapless Sealth Drones For the Military

A team of NATO experts is developing new technology that will make military aircraft less detectable. Most forms of aircraft need actuators (vertical and horizontal flaps) to enable flight and control. The technology being developed leaves these flaps redundant in certain phases of flight, replacing them with an active flow control system using air to help manoeuvre the aircraft. The research into innovative control effectors, or ICE, is being carried out by a NATO task group under NATO’s Science and Technology Organization, which includes representatives from the US Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the US Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Illinois Institute of Technology and Lockheed Martin. The first model of the ICE aircraft was made in 2015, measuring just 28 centimetres in wingspan. It has since undergone numerous rounds of testing in a wind tunnel at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado. Footage includes various shots of NATO experts working on, and testing, a prototype unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

[@zaldronthesage]

Man, "Sealth" drones are so amazing.

[@acegibson9533]

If you launched this from Florida, could it make it to Columbia? How much payload can it hold? asking for a friend.

[@MrStreaty122]

So it looks like they’re using the compressed air coming into the engine for their directed flow control surfaces. All they really need is good valves and digital controls. Looks like they still have two elevons for low speed maneuvering (plus as failsafe) that get switched off at high speeds (nearing top speed for this model whatever that is) in favor of the directed flow controls. That honestly makes a ton of sense when you’re traveling at high speeds. Even the slightest slop in the elevon mechanism at high speed could cause the craft to shake, which could create a feedback loop and result in complete loss of control, it could make adjusting trim difficult, or, if we’re talking supersonic speeds on a full scale model, if they’re not designed properly could rip the elevons right off and destroy the craft. Having a completely internalized method to control the craft like this is a great idea. It also looks like they were just testing the directed flow surfaces as ailerons.I’m sure they’ve already figured out that they need at least one more flow surface to make the craft fully capable on just flow controls

[@idkname]

hey have a nice time. i am trying on ideas of drones. Knowledge makes sense. could you share your another studies? glad to see your comment.

[@sgtpom]

Sure as heck looks like it has flaps....2 of them at the back 🤔

[@Jeralddoerr]

Call me stupid but I was just logging on to say the same thing!

[@francismallard5892]

“Those aren’t flaps.” (Signed) The Military.

[@commercio3564]

They're called elevators. Not flaps.

[@sgtpom]

@@commercio3564 elevators?.....are you sure about that? 🤣🙈

[@sgtpom]

@@francismallard5892 what are they then....signed "ex military" 🤣🙈

[@MrEricdraco]

That's just a scale sized production,
Im 100% this is going to be America's replacement for the B2 spirit

[@krazykillar4794]

It looks menacing !
It's like a model version of B52 stealth bomber .

[@Navoii.]

ah yes, my favorite type of plane: sealth bombers

[@jordabox]

Lmao it has 2 huge flaps there

[@dungeonsfurries4814]

The flaps were still functional on it though. So it technically wasn’t a flapless drone. But. You stayed on subject so it’s not technically click bait either

[@srs6461]

You could probably achieve it through variable thrust. Very much like rockets.

[@chrissteiger4199]

I seen one of these where I live... Flying kinda low at night.

[@K-ft8nf]

What is the function of those two white parts at the drone?

[@AIMI4U]

If you are talking about vertical stabilizers, the vertical fin like ones help keep the drone fly straight in it's path.

[@guruxara7994]

Probably Engineers and not "Scientists".

[@srs6461]

I know right, engineers need more credit.

[@STAxTartaglia]

Sealth r yu sure

[@Jeralddoerr]

Hmmm did he mean make something less complex more??? And oh yeah... That's barely controlle in flight... 🤔

[@jaysonmokhwanatsi7365]

Develop my friend. I wonder we're they are now

[@TheFreshCookies0]

Imagine how much cool shit we would have if we didn't dedicate billions of dollars to developing army tech like this.......

[@valac4199]

America, Russia, and China are humanity’s biggest enemy

[@venthril7745]

But instead it goes to gender studies

[@srs6461]

@@venthril7745 what?