ILA 2012 : Rheinmetall Hybrid VTOL UAV Makes Debut

Rheinmetall is debuting a hybrid UAV with VTOL capability at the ILA Airshow in Berlin.

The Tactical Utility TU-150 is being jointly-developed by Rheinmetall Airborne Systems (RAS) and SwissUAV and features an unusual mix of wing-tip mounted rotor blades and a pusher propellor to give the aircraft dash speeds of up to 220 km/h. 

'We recognised that customers increasingly want VTOL capability but none of the drawbacks that traditional VTOL UAV designs face,' said Bjorn Symank, head of sales for Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems at RAS. 

'This UAV is able to meet a range of requirements including shipborne operations. The German armed forces are looking to replace their UAS systems in the coming years and have expressed an interest in a VTOL platform as well, so we are keeping an eye on this and the export market as well.'

The TU-150 weighs in at around 140kg and is powered by a kerosine or heavy fuel turbine engine which drives an electrical generator. This generator then drives the electric motors running the two main rotors and the pusher propeller. 

The model on display at ILA 2012 features three EO/IR payloads, one under the main fuselage acts as the primary sensor while two smaller sensors are fitted on the wing tips allowing the operators to keep an eye on the surroundings while the main sensor is focused on a target.

Rheinmetall has already flown a tandem rotor testbed to prove the principle of the configuration. 

The aircraft was able to move and turn around either by reducing the RPM of one of the rotors or by changing the angle of attack of the blades like on a traditional helicopter. A first flight for a complete system is not expected until 2014.