Lockheed Cormorant Not Starring In Halo 4

Straight out of a Sci-Fi movie, the Lockheed Martin Cormorant is hands down the coolest idea for a UAV that I have ever seen. I had come across the video below a while ago but hadn't posted it because I couldn't find a suitable version to embed until now. Known as a MPUAV (Multi-Purpose Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) the Cormorant is being designed to launch from 150 underwater on the back of a Trident ballistic missile submarine. Once it reaches the surface booster rockets carry it to a height and speed where the internal jet engine can take over. It can then cruise stealthily and autonomously over enemy territory to engage targets or collect intelligence before landing back in the water where it will be collected by an underwater drone and reeled back into a launch tube. Lockheed Martin sees this as a perfect fit for the US Navy who needs ideas on what to do with some of their Ohio-Class nuclear subs after the signing of Start II, the second strategic weapons reduction treaty. The Cormorant is science-fiction meets science-fact at its greatest. Two divisions within Lockheed Martin are working with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to fulfill my fantasy of seeing the Cormorant get off the ground get out of the water.

[Lockheed Martin via Gizmodo]

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Feel the need for (hyper)speed? Try DARPA's new Vulcan engine.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing a new engine that could take its Falcon aircraft to hypersonic speeds without the need for a boost from a rocket. Scramjets are nothing new to aviation, and have been seen by many in the aerospace world as the future's primary method of rapid transportation at the edge of space. The problem has always been getting that scramjet engine through subsonic speeds where it is ineffective. That's where the hybrid Vulcan engine comes in. The Vulcan is proposed to take the Falcon to that sweet spot as a turbojet where it can then transform to a scramjet and power it even further into Ludicrous Speed. Imagine, 9,000 miles in less than 2 hours. The best part is that the Falcon can land and takeoff from any normal runway. DARPA sees this as a cost effective way of slipping satellites into low earth orbits in the future. That future may not be far off, as we may even see the prototype by 2012.

Story via Engadget

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New system gets pilots home on 1 wing and a prayer

Ever wonder what would happen to you if one of your wings broke off in flight? Perhaps you're prone to having wings blown off by enemy missles. No need to worry about that problem any more. Rockwell Collins is introducing a new automated system that makes use of an aircraft's inertial navigation system and GPS to automatically stabilize a damaged aircraft and bring it back safely for landing. The company recently tested its new damage tolerance system on a scale model of an F-18 with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and had amazing results. During the test flight, over half of one of the aircraft's wings is jettisoned. Amazingly, the on board computer regains control of the aircraft and lands it automatically. Rockwell Collins is promoting this new system for both UAVs and manned aircraft. The later especially due to the human nature to over react in emergency situations and perhaps the fatal flaw of providing too much control input. Damage tolerance, could potentially solve that problem.

To see an amazing video of the test, CLICK HERE.

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