Wed, Sep 05, 2012
First-Ever Polish Rotary-Wing UAS
PZL-Swidnik has unveiled the prototype of the SW-4 ‘Solo’ Rotorcraft Unmanned Air System/Optionally Piloted Helicopter (RUAS/OPH) single engine rotorcraft at MSPO 2012 in Kielce, Poland.
The SW-4 ‘Solo’ is the result of extensive cooperation between PZL-Swidnik and AgustaWestland engineering teams. The RUAS/OPH version of the proven SW-4 single engine platform is allowing PZL-Swidnik SA to become a leader in the European rotorcraft industry. With this solution the company aims at playing a major role in the UAV sector which shows significant growth potential and market opportunities.
Nicola Bianco, Managing Director of PZL-Swidnik SA, said “Unveiling the first ever Polish rotary-winged unmanned air system at MSPO 2012 demonstrate the leading role PZL-Swidnik SA is playing in the world’s rotorcraft industry. For our company, remote controlled and unpiloted airborne capabilities are becoming synonymous with the highest possible technology achievements in aeronautics.”
The SW-4 ‘Solo’ is designed to deliver maximum flexibility to operators thanks to the capability of performing both piloted and unmanned missions in land and maritime environments. In the RUAS configuration, the SW-4 ‘Solo’ can perform many tasks such as maritime, border and battlefield surveillance; target acquisition and reconnaissance; homeland security, environmental monitoring, ground survey and mapping, disaster / battle damage assessment and cargo supply.
As an optionally piloted platform, the helicopter is perfectly suited also for passenger transport and training with 1 + 4 crashworthy seats.
The SW-4 ‘Solo’ can be fitted with a comprehensive mission equipment suite, incorporating surveillance sensors, communication/intelligence systems and armament. The SW-4 RUAS prototype is expected to perform its maiden flight in a piloted configuration in the forthcoming months while the first unmanned flight is expected to be performed in 2013.
More News
Aero Linx: JAARS Nearly 1.5 billion people, using more than 5,500 languages, do not have a full Bible in their first language. Many of these people live in the most remote parts of>[...]
'Airplane Bounced Twice On The Grass Runway, Resulting In The Nose Wheel Separating From The Airplane...' Analysis: The pilot reported, “upon touchdown, the plane jumped back>[...]
"Burt is best known to the public for his historic designs of SpaceShipOne, Voyager, and GlobalFlyer, but for EAA members and aviation aficionados, his unique concepts began more t>[...]
"Polaris Dawn, the first of the program’s three human spaceflight missions, is targeted to launch to orbit no earlier than summer 2024. During the five-day mission, the crew >[...]
There Are SO Many Ways To Get YOUR Aero-News! It’s been a while since we have reminded everyone about all the ways we offer your daily dose of aviation news on-the-go...so he>[...]