The United States Air Force placed the order Phase II on The Phenix solutionspecializing in the design and manufacture of unmanned helicopters with coaxial rotors, for agile manufacturing of heavy drones Ultra 2XL. The company will cooperate with Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directorate of Production and Materials (RX) accelerate the development and deployment of this aircraft with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities.
The contract focuses on the implementation of simplified purchasing, accounting and development processes and procedures. It also involves setting up a new production facility to ensure that expected demand can be met on a large scale.
High Performance Heavy Lift UAS
The Ultra 2XL is powered by a turboshaft internal combustion engine Rolls-Royce RR300, which was chosen based on its reputation, ease of maintenance, safety and overall performance. Taking into account the fuel consumption of 95 liters per hour, the drone can travel 555 kilometers with a tank on board. It also offers the option of installing an external additional tank with a volume of 470 liters, which increases the range to approximately 1,670 kilometers. In both configurations, the maximum take-off weight of this heavy lifting platform is (MTOW) is 1360 kilograms.
The coaxial rotor system offers various advantages over traditional quadcopters and helicopters, both in terms of safety and performance. The optimized 24-inch blades produce a 30% increase in lift because they avoid the effects of asymmetry. Additionally, this system eliminates the need for a tail rotor, which can contribute to various types of accidents. Compared to other similar designs, the Ultra 2XL has a better power-to-weight ratio, more pronounced lift and greater efficiency.
Faster delivery times and high quality
For Phenix, this is a comprehensive, enterprise-level plan aimed at sustainably producing the Ultra 2XL for many years. According to its president and CEO Brian laughthe company has “developed manufacturing capacity from scratch, so this collaboration will enable the scaling of the manufacturing process, resulting in lower costs and faster delivery times, while ensuring that a high level of quality is incorporated into every drone that leaves the production line. enters the market.