Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES)
Abstract
Current and future land and ship-to-shore operations will require rapid and distributed employment of U.S. forces on the battlefield. The Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System (ARES) program will develop a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), modular unmanned air vehicle that can carry a 3,000 lb useful load at a range of 250 nautical miles on a single tank of fuel. ARES will enable distributed operations and access to compact, high altitude landing zones to reduce warfighter exposure to hostile threats and bypass ground obstructions. ARES modular capability allows for different mission modules to be quickly deployed at the company level. This enables the flexible employment of the following capabilities: cargo resupply, casualty evacuation, reconnaissance, weapons platforms, and other types of operations. The enabling technologies of interest include adaptive wing structures, ducted fan propulsion system, lightweight materials, and advanced flight controls for stable transition from vertical to horizontal flight. Additionally, the program will explore new adaptable landing gear concepts to enable operations from irregular landing zones and moving launch/recovery platforms. ARES vehicles could be dispatched for downed airman recovery, for evacuating injured personnel from difficult-to-access locations, or to resupply isolated small units. ARES is well suited for enhanced company operations concepts which would provide the warfighter/team increased situational awareness for operations in an urban environment. In FY13, this program was funded from PE 0602702E, Project TT-07. The anticipated transition partners for this effort are the Army, Marine Corps, and Special Operations Forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2015
- Source ID
- 502668800af39dacd24c4803000f0dc9