Waveaerospace from Connecticut introduced the new unmanned vehicle “Huntress II Turbojet”, which combines a quadrocopter and a powerful jet engine. This unique hybrid is capable of speeding more than 483 km/h (300 miles/h) and working in any weather conditions.
Huntress II Turbojet dimensions are 4 meters in diagonals between the rotors, and its weight can reach 50 kg, depending on the fuel supply. The maximum run of the drone is 165 kg, which allows it to transport a significant load. The drone is equipped with five compartments for avionics and up to four external containers.
The drone is quickly ready for a mission in less than 90 seconds and can be launched from land, sea, or dropped from an airplane at an altitude of up to 6000 meters. The flight duration is up to two hours, and the operator can control the device and receive real-time video at a distance of up to 30 km.
The notable feature of “Huntress” is the ability to transition from a quadrocopter regime to a reactive aircraft mode, allowing it to achieve high speeds. Waveaerospace does not disclose the exact characteristics of the engine, but claims that the drone is able to easily reach a speed of 0.4 mach. This speed can be increased in the future since it is limited by electronics.
The drone can work in extreme weather conditions, including storms with a force of up to 10 points and temperatures ranging from -34 to 54 °C. According to the manufacturer, the cost of operating “Huntress” is about 5% of the cost of a full-scale helicopter flight, while taking up only half the space.
The drone is intended not only for military purposes but also for search and rescue operations, critical logistics tasks, and intelligence missions. Despite the presence of a powerful jet engine, Huntress is not a secretive device due to the engine noise.
At the moment, Waveaerospace has attracted an unknown amount of venture capital to increase the production and commercialization of Huntress II Turbojet. Preliminary orders are being accepted, and the start of supplies is expected during the current year.