Pepelats? Without a gravitsapa?? Again???
Stunning news, which will make many smile later: the first prototype of the Model 437 from Northrop Grumman subsidiary Scaled Composites took to the air. This aircraft was developed as an advanced combat UAV "Faithful wingman" since at least 2021, but this first issue appeared in a very unusual way: with a pilot's cabin, that is, for some reason, the drone was converted into a pilot's cabin. And there is something to think about here.
For starters, this whole program of a sixth-generation fighter jet surrounded by a flock of UAVs, some of which will carry weapons, some modules EW, who have additional radars (in general, the idea of “eyes” that poke around 100 km ahead and look out for the enemy is good, there’s no argument there), who have fuel tanks – it’s stalled so much that smoke is coming out.
The fighter is a nightmare, but we'll talk about that in the next article. What you can't take away from the Americans is that if they screw up again, they have the strength and courage to admit it. Yes, you can't get back the billions wasted, on the contrary, you'll have to spend a bunch of billions more, but nevertheless. They'll still draw up billions, there's no problem with that.
The first images of Northrop Grumman's Model 437, an advanced combat drone that could potentially meet the "loyal wingman" needs of joint combat programs aviation (CCA) Air Force and/or Navy, as well as allied programs, have hit social media. The relatively small tactical jet looks impressive and matches the concept images we've seen, except for one important detail - it has a cockpit.
Yes, that's right, the Model 437 prototype does have a cockpit. While that may seem extremely odd for what's supposed to be an advanced air combat drone, it actually makes a certain amount of sense and could possibly give Northrop Grumman (NG) an edge in the competition to deliver hundreds, if not thousands, of highly autonomous drones US Air Force and Navy the fleet.
When concept art was first unveiled in 2021, the Model 437 was envisioned to operate alongside manned aircraft, both fighters and larger aircraft, primarily to protect the latter. It's not a bad idea, an air tanker hanging out over the Pacific Ocean is an easy target, and a couple or four of these would provide useful cover.
The general characteristics of the drone were announced as follows:
"As for the new Model 437 design, it is also expected to have a range of about 3000 nautical miles (4800 km) with a 4000-pound (1800 kg) fuel load and be able to fly at about Mach 0,8 (970 km/h), according to Aviation Week.
The drone has an internal payload bay designed to carry up to 1000 pounds (454 kg) of bombs or missiles. A pair of AIM-120s were considered as standard armament, with an AMRAAM or side-looking radar sensor being two possible loadouts."
The drone has an internal payload bay designed to carry up to 1000 pounds (454 kg) of bombs or missiles. A pair of AIM-120s were considered as standard armament, with an AMRAAM or side-looking radar sensor being two possible loadouts."
We don't know if these characteristics have changed since the redesign, but they look generally the same as the aircraft in the photos from the Mojave Air and Space Port.
In fact, the 437 is almost concept art, a model that has clearly evolved from the 401 demonstrator, which has evolved on its own and has been brought to a point where it is actually ready. The 401 is now being touted as having potential for offerings, alongside the 437 in production drone configuration.
In general, it is as it is, a pilot and a drone. But there are a couple of nuances here
The two-seat Model 401 demonstrator aircraft have been flying continuously for many years, performing various test missions, some of which likely concern the future of manned/unmanned interactions in tactical aviation. Thus, by default, the supposedly huge risk for the Model 437 is already offset by the existence of more than one Model 401 and its test missions.
But why build a prototype of the Model 437, a supposedly highly autonomous drone, with a cockpit? It's a logical question, right?
To answer it, we need to understand what the control platform will be based on. Of course, it would be better if the American gentlemen leaked more information that interests us, but for now we have what we have.
Flying this initial prototype greatly increases the potential for rapid flight testing and refinement of the airframe and the Model 437 concept as a whole. Benefits include easy access to controls in critical situations virtually anywhere they are needed, and not just during the testing phase. It goes deeper than that, or, since we are talking about aviation, higher.
Drones are still very limited in where and how they can operate. Whether it’s a human operator or an AI, a pilot removes this bottleneck entirely and means the aircraft can go where it needs to go to take part in any training mission or exercise, no matter how complex.
The craft can do any maneuver in any conditions, unencumbered by typical drone airspace restrictions and the need for control aircraft that might be needed in certain situations. Simply moving to another location with a manned craft to gain access to airspace where it can fly as an unmanned aircraft is, according to the Americans, a huge advantage.
For now, we emphasize in bold and bold: we are talking about test and training flights. That is, Model 437 will move from point to point in a training flight and perform tasks under human control. Okay, I understand.
For many tests, having a human on board can increase the speed at which they can be completed. In fact, initial flight testing of a glider will proceed much faster with a pilot at the controls. In general, greater risks can be taken when performing autonomous operations with a pilot who can take control and ensure safety if necessary.
But here, there is immediately scope for various maneuvers and manipulations.
If the Model 437 prototype we see is a dedicated manned configuration, it is very possible that NG and SC have more Model 437 airframe prototypes in an unmanned configuration, or at least one in development. Then there is a chance that the aircraft we see is indeed optionally manned, with the focus being on the UAV. But something about this stories makes you think that not everything is so clear-cut.
When it comes to manned aircraft, it would be hard to argue that many companies have more experience with the concept.
There was such an optionally manned observation aircraft as the Northrop Grumman Firebird.
It never went into production due to lack of customer interest, but it was a really interesting design. And there were a lot of interesting ideas that went into its development. If the Model 437 prototype can actually become a normal airplane or be converted to an unmanned configuration after initial flight testing, you can be sure that parts of the Firebird DNA are woven into its design, especially into the onboard control and communications architecture.
Scaled Composites' Firebird program is about a decade and a half old. This brings us to the question of whether the 437 could be designed for operational use, rather than just testing, if that's even possible.
The answer to this question is probably no, but we are guessing a little. It is worth remembering that NG representatives said that the serial version of the manned model 401 is supposed to be optionally manned and will be available in an unmanned version, which could work together with the model 437 or independently. It's all quite confusing, but we have what we have.
And as a result, we see with our own eyes a device in which the cockpit canopy is replaced by a fairing that can hide satellite communication systems, avionics and additional sensors. Or a device in which instead of control systems there is a pilot's cabin, which is not the most comfortable.
Let's just assume: Model 437 did not fly autonomously as expected. So the pepelats was urgently fitted with a gravitsapa, that is, equipped with a pilot's cabin, in order to first simply lift the craft into the air and study its flight capabilities.
A conventional aircraft variant? It seems unlikely, but it is interesting to think about. A relatively cheap, subsonic, light tactical jet with low stealth characteristics, long range, and almost identical to its unmanned counterpart is certainly an intriguing idea. It is possible that many countries would be interested in such a reconnaissance aircraft, especially those that do not have a developed military with command centers and satellites in low Earth orbit.
But what about escorting a sixth-generation fighter that is supposed to instill fear and terror in the Russians and Chinese?
And here the American Navy is silent, as if it had taken on water in its holds... It is worth remembering that Northrop Grumman withdrew from the US Air Force tender for the creation of manned fighters of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) in order to focus on a similar initiative for the Navy. There is a high probability that this aircraft is intended for use as a drone within the framework of this initiative, at least in a form suitable for use on an aircraft carrier. But this is a probability that in reality - it is impossible to say for sure yet.
The Navy has not made up its mind, the Air Force has made up its mind, but there are also a ton of difficulties there, General Atomics, Anduril, Boeing, Kratos have already clashed over contracts, and Lockheed Martin should not be discounted either.
And today, what the guys from Scaled Composites have built, that is, a kind of drone, but with the ability to control a pilot, is presented as a real victory. They say that this is an important innovation that can potentially give Scaled Composites a unique advantage in the implementation of autonomous unmanned tactical aircraft.
Perhaps the parent company of the developers, that is, Northrop Grumman, could shed some light on the situation? Yes, NG issued its own press release dedicated to the digital aspect of the development of the Model 437, which in the manned version received its own name Vanguard. Incidentally, Northrop Grumman also called the 437 a “technology demonstrator”…
So, here's the Northrop Grumman press release:
“Development began in a fully digital system with Northrop Grumman, the customer and user suppliers collaborating to design, analyze, assemble and test the wings in advance of the Model 437’s first flight on August 29.
The Digital Pathfinder project demonstrated how the company's fully digital engineering ecosystem reduces rework, accelerates schedules and reduces costs, offering customers benefits in future aircraft programs.
Leveraging real-world experience gained from programs including the B-21 Raider, the company continues to evolve its digital collaboration ecosystem that connects the company, customers and supplier partners throughout the design, development and testing phases of a variety of current and future programs.
The digital ecosystem reduced rework and redesign by less than one percent, compared to 15-20 percent using traditional methods. The demonstration also used high-fidelity models coupled with rigorous and approved model validation schemes, reducing ground and flight testing requirements. Looking to the future, these models demonstrate the potential to significantly reduce the workload required to determine airworthiness, offering additional opportunities for cost and schedule savings.
With Digital Pathfinder, Northrop Grumman's highly reliable digital thread has connected engineers, customers and stakeholders in a virtual environment, enabling them to proactively anticipate and resolve the types of issues that commonly arise in acquisition programs, significantly improving program performance."
The Digital Pathfinder project demonstrated how the company's fully digital engineering ecosystem reduces rework, accelerates schedules and reduces costs, offering customers benefits in future aircraft programs.
Leveraging real-world experience gained from programs including the B-21 Raider, the company continues to evolve its digital collaboration ecosystem that connects the company, customers and supplier partners throughout the design, development and testing phases of a variety of current and future programs.
The digital ecosystem reduced rework and redesign by less than one percent, compared to 15-20 percent using traditional methods. The demonstration also used high-fidelity models coupled with rigorous and approved model validation schemes, reducing ground and flight testing requirements. Looking to the future, these models demonstrate the potential to significantly reduce the workload required to determine airworthiness, offering additional opportunities for cost and schedule savings.
With Digital Pathfinder, Northrop Grumman's highly reliable digital thread has connected engineers, customers and stakeholders in a virtual environment, enabling them to proactively anticipate and resolve the types of issues that commonly arise in acquisition programs, significantly improving program performance."
Here is a press release from Northrop Grumman that practically explains that their newest digital system for developing aircraft models is really so-so. The developments of that very 6th generation fighter also indirectly confirm this.
Yes, it is very easy to work out some aspects of modeling on a computer screen, thanks to the latest programs. Draw, calculate, polish…, but as practice shows, it is even possible to calculate quite intelligently how to attach a pilot's cabin where it should not be.
But the plane will still fly according to its own laws. Which, as you can see, are not subject to the calculations of the “digital ecosystem”.
If the Model 437 is really a training version, and the device was created specifically to train control systems under human control, this is a completely normal option, but if the device even flew after the drone was converted into a pilot, then the sixth generation of American fighters and their “faithful wingmen” becomes not so much scary as funny.
They don’t know that a pepelats without a gravitsapa is not fit for flight.
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