P-175 Polecat
On June 19 2006, Lockheed Martin unveiled the existence of a new high altitude, unmanned aerial demonstrator to reporters attending the Farnborough International Air Show. The announcement was part of a review of several Skunk Works projects highlighting technologies the company is exploring to enable technology for the future.
"This UAV is an effort to better understand the flight dynamics of a tailless unmanned air system in support of our ongoing research and development work for the U.S. Air Force’s future Long Range Strike Program as well as to field the next generation of structural composite concepts," explained Frank Cappuccio, executive vice president and general manager of Advanced Development Programs and Strategic Planning.
Developed in only 18 months, using internal funding, unmanned system P-175, nicknamed ‘Polecat’ – aligned with the well-known Skunk Works name – represents the key tenets for which the Skunk Works is known. “It was specifically designed to verify three things: new, cost effective rapid prototyping and manufacturing techniques of composite materials; projected aerodynamic performance required for sustained high altitude operations; and flight autonomy attributes,” said Cappuccio. “In addition, the company investment and the resulting successful flights are proof positive of our commitment to developing the next inflection point in unmanned systems.”
Cappuccio said the company is also exploring technologies to enable low boom, supersonic flight over land and global reach.
“It’s easy to identify a need,” said Cappuccio. “The hard part is evolving the technology to make filling that need possible. The Skunk Works is all about advancing the art of the possible. It may sound nebulous to some, but we thrive on ideas and innovation.”
Recent developments (news)
Lockheed confirms P-175 Polecat UAV crash
Posted at: Mon Mar 19th, 2007
Lockheed Martin has confirmed that its P-175 Polecat unmanned air vehicle crashed in December on the Nevada test range after the unintentional activation of its flight termination system.
PopSci Awards F-35 Lightning II and Polecat UAV Best of What's New for 2006
Posted at: Tue Dec 5th, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter and the P-175 Polecat Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) have received the 2006 Best of What's New awards from Pop...
Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works Reveils New High Altitude UAV
Posted at: Thu Jul 20th, 2006
Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] today unveiled the existence of a new high altitude, unmanned aerial demonstrator to reporters attending the Farnborough International Air Show. The announcement was part of a review of several Skunk Works projects highlighting technologies the company is exploring to ena...
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