UAVT to lend gas turbine engines to major UAV firms
UAV Turbines (UAVT) will lend 15 50hp gas turbine engines to selected UAV manufacturers as part of evaluation efforts, as announced by the company on 21 April.
The company recently demonstrated its new-generation engines for Group 3 and 4 UAVs, in a range from 30hp to 150hp. It will now invest over $20 million in the programme to enable rapid trials of the new systems. The engines will be made available for evaluation in around 24 months.
UAVT said it has already begun selecting appropriate candidates for the engine evaluation programme.
Peter Bale, senior industry advisor, UAVT, said: ‘To speed the application of this new technology, the company plans to produce 15 engines in the 50 hp class, and put them in the hands of selected major manufacturers of UAVs. Their feedback will provide specific information necessary to integrate engines with their airframes, and optimise operation.
‘These turbo-props burn almost any available heavy fuel, rather than aviation gas.'
He added: ‘With a recuperation system that makes them as fuel efficient as the best piston engines, they are light and quiet, able to operate, start and restart at greatly increased altitudes under Full Authority Digital Engine Control. They are significantly more reliable than engines currently in use, increasing mean time between overhaul by an order of magnitude or more over some systems currently in use. The performance of these new engines is already being recognised as game-changing.’
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