Aurora Flight Sciences delivers composite wing for Boeing's Phantom Eye
Aurora Flight Sciences announced today that it has designed, built, tested and delivered the composite wing for Boeing's Phantom Eye High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) demonstrator.
"Aurora strives to provide a broad range of capabilities, high quality and value to our customers," said John Langford, CEO of Aurora Flight Sciences. "Our on time and on budget delivery of the wing is all the more impressive given that the wing was 12% under its weight allocation. This project continues our relationship with the Boeing Company." Previous contracts include high altitude airframe design studies, pressure relief valves used on the International Space Station and ultra-high altitude propulsion testing services.
The wing is a 150 foot long, multi piece design made almost entirely of out-of-autoclave composite material. The wing is a modified version of Aurora's Orion Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) wing. The Phantom Eye wing was designed by a team of engineers based in Aurora's Manassas, Virginia Product Development Center.
The wing was fabricated and tested at Aurora's Columbus, Mississippi plant, an 88,000 square foot advanced composite manufacturing facility. The 100% limit load test thoroughly validated the design and construction, applying over 13,000 lbs of force. Deflections and strain levels measured during the load test matched or bettered the predictions.
Source: Aurora Flight Sciences
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
