Unmanned Aerial Vehicle The latest drone news
McMinnville, OR: Northwest UAV (NWUAV) is proud to be a part of the team bringing the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) the energy-efficient solution of the Skylark 3 Hybrid. Equipped with a hybrid propulsion system featuring NWUAV’s NW-44 Multi-Fuel Engine alongside an electric motor, the Skylark 3 Hybrid Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) has tripled in endurance, without altering the size and weight of the aircraft. Offering up to 18 hours of operations, the Skylark 3 Hybrid offers RAF a more environmentally responsible UAV to help them achieve future capability ambitions.
The Skylark’s twin-engine architecture provides redundancy in propulsion for safety and reliability. The system leverages the energy efficiency and endurance of the NW-44 to rapidly reach altitude, while offering the opportunity to employ only the electric motor for sustained flight. This makes the Skylark 3 Hybrid highly energy efficient and environmentally responsible without sacrificing crucial capabilities the RAF will continue to require for future missions.
“The use of hybrid solutions is a critical path to support future operations on the battlefield, and the NW44 is the perfect propulsion system for this application,” according to Brian Russell Sr. Director of Business Development & Tech Development at NWUAV. “We are proud to be a part of this important technology demonstration to the RAF.”
Purpose-built to be a complete turn-key engine system solution, the NW-44 is a lightweight, multi-fuel UAV engine that delivers ease of integration and supports worldwide expeditionary operations. Its innovative modular design makes it lightweight and easy to maintain, increasing its endurance, fuel efficiency, and lifespan, which reduces a NW-44 supported aircraft’s environmental impact. With over 28,000 operational hours logged, the NW-44 has proven to be a reliable, maintainable power system that is easily configured to integrate with a variety of Tier II UAVs (40-75 pounds).
The Skylark 3 Hybrid, based on the Skylark family of STUAS, is optimized for dismounted or vehiclebased operation. Featuring a 15.4ft wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 110lbs, a service ceiling of 12,000 feet, and a range of 74.5 miles, the Skylark 3 Hybrid is designed to be a field-deployed tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) UAV. Its twin-engine architecture offers built-in reliability with the capability to sustain flight on one power system and the endurance that longer missions require.
The NW-44 multi-fuel engine will be on display in Booth 1629 at AUVSI XPONENTIAL April 25-28 in Orlando, Florida. See the NW-44 alongside NWUAV’s other propulsion system solutions – the NW-88 multi-fuel engine, the NWFC-1500 Hydrogen propulsion system, and the new NW-230 multi-fuel engine in development.
About Northwest UAV
America’s trusted leader in UAV propulsion and integrated solutions, NWUAV continues to engineer the future of unmanned power systems. Through innovation, NWUAV delivers unmatched capabilities to address modern challenges and navigate the toughest environments. For over 15 years our experienced team has equipped customers with reliable, cost-effective propulsion solutions – propelling systems to new heights and unlocking new missions. Northwest UAV is an AS9100-D/ISO9001-2015 certified, and DCAA compliant operation.
About Elbit Systems
SkylarkTM 3 Hybrid Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (STUAS) is a long-endurance tactical mini UAS designed and developed by Elbit Systems Ltd. Elbit Systems is an international high technology company engaged in a wide range of defense, homeland security and commercial programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance (“C4ISR”), unmanned aircraft systems, advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence systems, data links and communications systems, radios, cyber-based systems, and munitions. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.
