DARPA touts efficacy of Gremlins program

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials recently announced the preliminary results of its initial Gremlins program testing initiative, which seeks to enhance aircraft retrieve efficiently and turnaround preparation efforts.

The X-61A vehicle test conducted in late November at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in Utah included one captive-carry mission aboard a C-130A and an airborne launch and free flight lasting just over 1.5 hours.

The X-61A seeks to execute air recovery of multiple, low-cost, reusable unmanned aerial systems (UASs), or Gremlins. Safety, reliability, and affordability are the key objectives for the system.

The schematic would launch groups of UASs from multiple types of military aircraft while out of range from adversary defenses.

“The vehicle performed well, giving us confidence we are on the right path and can expect success in our follow-on efforts,” Scott Wierzbanowski, the program manager for Gremlins in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, said. “We got a closer look at vehicle performance for launch, rate capture, engine start, and transition to free flight. We had simulated the performance on the ground, and have now fully tested them in the air. We also demonstrated a variety of vehicle maneuvers that helped validate our aerodynamic data.”

The next step is a full evaluation of the test data. The second flight test at Dugway is slated in the spring of this year.