In Germany, an electric drone with a Porsche engine reached a speed of 699 km/h.

German company Quantum Systems Group has set an unofficial world speed record for battery-electric unmanned aerial vehicles. Experimental UAV The Apex Recordhunter reached a speed of 699 km/h in straight and level flight.

This result significantly exceeds the previous official record (approximately 657 km/h). Official certification and submission to the Guinness Book of World Records are expected in the coming weeks.

The Apex Recordhunter is a technology demonstrator specially developed over the past year. The vehicle is equipped with a high-performance battery from V4Smart GmbH (a Porsche subsidiary), which allows for exceptional aerodynamic and energy performance.

From the official release:

Engineers used custom-designed propulsion components, optimized aerodynamics, and advanced flight control systems.

The device is designed as a fixed wing aircraft and is intended to test technologies for future high-speed unmanned interceptors. drones will be able to effectively counter fast air targets, including cruise missiles missiles and attack UAVs. Technologies developed on the Recordhunter are planned to be implemented in production interceptors, including as part of German-Ukrainian cooperation (Ukrainian engineers are participating through the WIY Drones division).

Representative of the German company:

699 km/h is just the beginning. We'll be back soon to demonstrate even greater speed and officially record the record.

The project highlights the growing potential of electric power aviation in the military sphere: high speed, low thermal signature and potentially low production cost make such devices promising for Defense future.

Our military and engineers should take these developments, which will soon appear in the enemy's arsenal, into account.

Comments

[tjeck91]

Cool, this is already on par with late-war piston fighters. A couple of years ago, they were barely breaking the ~400 mark.

[Sevastiec]

There were never any questions about German engineers. As for German industrialists... In other words, the latter will always ruin what the former did.

[Vadim_2]

Yes, because industrialists will have to think not about records, but about cost. And the cost will be like that of missile interceptors.

[Sevastiec]

You understood me correctly

[ssg.spb]

I hope that we also develop similar units.
In addition to speed, the range and payload should also be increased.

[Rom8681]

You are very optimistic about our technological progress.

[Uncle lee]

Our military and engineers should take into account such developments that will soon appear in the enemy’s arsenal.

And they will pass it on to the dry-mouths...

[smart fellow]

What does our technological progress have to do with this? Chinese technological progress is key. This speed was achieved thanks to ultra-powerful lithium-ion batteries developed in Germany. The batteries deliver a huge amount of energy in a fraction of a second, ensuring incredibly rapid acceleration.
The best analogues of these German elements are produced by the following companies:
Tesla, Panasonic Energy, Samsung SDI and LG Energy Solution.
However, we only have access to high-performance lithium-ion (NMC) cells and Qilin batteries from CATL, a Chinese company. CATL is a global leader, with batteries that offer record-breaking range and support ultra-fast charging.

[Vadim_2]

Are you having problems in Israel?

[SAG]

In addition to speed, the range and payload should also be increased.

Each of these parameters drags down the other two. These are basic parameters. And there's no longer any talk of record speed. Everything can be increased—by greatly increasing the mass. However, the cost will increase exponentially or even by orders of magnitude.

[Joker62]

German company Quantum Systems Group has set an unofficial world speed record for battery-electric unmanned aerial vehicles. The experimental Apex Recordhunter drone reached a speed of 433 mph (699 km/h) in straight and level flight.

Excellent, nothing to say here.
Questions: What is the capacity of the battery itself and what is the range at this flight speed without a payload on board and with a payload on board???
So far I haven't found any answers on the Internet.
It's a pretty good toy and a perfect replacement for piston-powered ones! Its main feature is its virtually silent flight, unlike piston-powered drones.

[eon eon]

"in level flight" - what about the rate of climb?) It looks smooth on paper....

[SAG]

Not a bad toy and an equivalent replacement for the piston!

Superior to piston engines in terms of low noise and acceleration.
The main achievement is high-current batteries.
As a drone fighter, it could be a great "toy." Other uses require different approaches.
Well, again, the question of price is key in today's reality!

[Joker62]

Quote: SAG

The main achievement is this high-current batteries.

Yes, this is problem number one. There are sodium-ion traction batteries developed by Belarusian scientists. And they are manufactured in Russia. These batteries are more powerful than lithium-ion ones. They have a higher charge-discharge cycle rate and are also frost-resistant.
As for dimensions, I can't comment on them. They come in different sizes and are designed for different purposes. Another important factor is that sodium-ion batteries are cheaper than lithium-ion batteries, and they're also environmentally friendly.

[faridg7]

Well, I think for the speed record, the load was only the batteries.
Regarding noise reduction, propeller rotors also produce quite a bit of noise, and at certain speeds, rotor noise exceeds that of both piston and jet engines. The VK12 engine is an example of this, and indeed, any helicopter's rotors produce the bulk of its noise.

[Andrei from Chelyabinsk]

One question: is the price of this technological marvel the same as a Porsche? :)))

[acetophenone]

Such developments, which will soon appear in the enemy’s arsenal, worth considering to our military and engineers.

It is possible, but why?

[Samoyed]

I agree, please elaborate. It would be good to provide the record conditions. The distance over which this speed was maintained, perhaps—time, flight altitude, trajectory (circular, shuttle, other), payload...Well done.
I think microturbine developers are also moving forward. If the big ones can already achieve supersonic speeds without afterburners, then their smaller brothers will follow suit.

[ximkim]

They remember the past in the military-industrial complex.
They have time and brains, so they will catch up.

[rocket757]

That's right, they're trying to find effective ways to counter the threat of attack drones...
It might work with the right skills and investment of funds and resources...

[Ivanhoe]

Today Porsche, tomorrow Ferrari, Maserati and Bugatti.

[cat Crush]

And then, you see, Moskvich will catch up.

[Mint Gingerbread]

The guys were late, enthusiasts of a similar design accelerated to over 700 km/h.

[Alex20042004]

The Germans started the First and Second World Wars, and it seems they didn't stop there.