Boeing's 'Loyal Wingman' UAV makes maiden flight

摘要

Boeing Australia has successfully conducted the maiden flight of the 'Loyal Wingman' unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) it is developing in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), the company announced on 2 March. The first military aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years, the UAV flew for an undisclosed time under the supervision of a Boeing test pilot who monitored the aircraft from a ground control station at the Woomera range complex in South Australia. The flight of the fighter-size UAV took place on 27 February after a two-month delay caused by unfavourable weather and issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic. "Initial flights are usually short, but we went through all the steps we were looking to achieve," said Dr Shane Arnott, programme director of the Boeing Airpower Teaming System (ATS). He declined to disclose the origin of the commercial turbofan powering the Loyal Wingman.