X-61: The U.S. Military’s Plan For Drone Swarm Weapons?

X-61: The U.S. Military’s Plan For Drone Swarm Weapons?

Meet the X-61: Throughout the Cold War, the United States military developed several so-called “X-planes,” which were technology demonstrators that tested the latest advancements in aviation. In the 21st century, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) often takes a lead on these programs, and one of the most promising current demonstrators is the X-61A Gremlins, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed by the team at Dynetics Gremlins.

It is a drone-like vehicle that can be integrated with the strike, reconnaissance, and cargo aircraft, as well as ground support systems operational with the US Armed Forces. It is intended to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mobile target attack, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and close air support (CAS) missions.

The program is aimed at developing low-cost swarming drones that can be outfitted with different payloads, launched by a mothership, recovered during flight, and then reused. Each Gremlin can incorporate several types of sensors up to 150 pounds and easily integrate technologies to address different types of stakeholders and missions. The X-61 platform is intended to demonstrate low-cost airframe design, launch and recovery methods, digital flight control, and navigation systems, as well as aircraft integration concepts.

In-flight recovery is performed by a roll-on/roll-off system, which includes the physical structure, the docking structure, the towed, attitude-controlled “bullet” and the in-flight storage system, which is all installed inside the cargo bay of a C-130 transport aircraft.

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