General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) reported the flight of the XQ-67A drone, which was built for the secret US Air Force Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS) program, on February 28.
OBSS is a program of the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and GA-ASI was selected in 2021 to design, build and operate the new aircraft, the company said. The XQ-67A is a stealthy drone designed for long-range and high-altitude missions. It has a triangular wing design, a single engine and internal compartments to accommodate equipment or weapons. The drone is also equipped with various means of detecting targets, including radar, electro-optical/infrared and radio-electronic systems. The OBSS program is classified, so limited information is available on the specific capabilities or intended use of the XQ-67A.
The flight of the AFRL-supported XQ-67A represents a significant advance in aircraft development, validating the genus/species concept originally conceived in collaboration with AFRL as part of the Low-Cost Attritable Aircraft Platform Sharing (LCAAPS) program. This innovative concept focuses on creating multiple aircraft variants based on a common basic chassis.
The LCAAPS initiative, a joint effort between AFRL and GA-ASI, aimed to create a universal chassis, the so-called genus, that would serve as the fundamental architectural basis from which different aircraft species could be derived.
Trenton White, OBSS program manager and aerospace engineer in AFRL’s Aerospace Systems Office emphasized the strategic importance of this approach: “This is an alternative approach to military aircraft acquisition that provides faster development, lower costs and more opportunities for frequent technology upgrades. The XQ-67A is the first genus to be designed and built on this common platform. The flight demonstration of this system is an important first step towards demonstrating the ability to produce an affordable warhead.”
The XQ-67A UAV features a retractable tricycle landing gear, a wide V-shaped tail, and a low-sweep main wing. It also has an upper rear engine intake and an inconspicuous sweep line that wraps around the fuselage. The design is largely similar in basic configuration to General Atomics’ Avenger drone, as well as Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray and Kratos’ XQ-58 Valkyrie. The XQ-67A has a pair of air parameter sensors mounted on the nose. The general markings of the XQ-67A are very similar to those applied to the XQ-58A, as well as those currently in use by the US Marine Corps.
Michael Atwood, vice president of advanced programs at GA-ASI, emphasized the innovative nature of the OBSS project: “The OBSS is the first type of aircraft built and tested using a common core landing gear developed by GA-ASI, which promotes commonality between different types of transport means”.
General Atomics is one of five companies currently under contract to design the CCA. Earlier this month, Air Force executives said they would trim their suppliers to two or three companies over the next few months.
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