Commercial opportunity to enhance access to market. Potential guidance from Leonardo UK Ltd Helicopters Division with support from the wider KTN and Innovate UK networks.

Leonardo UK Ltd Helicopters Division (LHUK) is seeking to understand the potential to deliver or contribute to the delivery of capability through the deployment of drones / UAV&rsquo;s defined in defence terms as Air Launched Effects (ALE). These would be launched (and recovered) from existing and future rotary wing platforms, both crewed and uncrewed, and utilise emergent teaming &amp; swarming technologies.
Technologies of interest are forward motion or hover air vehicles capable of being launched from rotary winged platforms.
This challenge is an opportunity for those with potential solutions that meet either all or part of the challenge (either individually or collaboratively), to present their concepts to LHUK for consideration to participate in a 4-year programme of work to develop their solutions concluding with a demonstration in a realistic environment.

Introduction

The concept of teaming between crewed and uncrewed aircraft and advanced teaming concepts are developing at pace; numerous activities have taken place in the UK and around the world which have demonstrated the benefits of such teaming in terms of extending the effects deliverable by crewed aircraft.
LHUK seeks to identify potential air-launched effects (ALE) air vehicle concepts that can meet the defined need whilst being capable of deployment from rotary wing platforms.

Requirement

The drone challenge has two key challenge elements:
<ol>
<li>The vehicle must be able to be launched and take flight from the helicopter from the standard holding methods of any supplementary kit that may include external clamping systems or launch tubes. The vehicle must be able to recover quickly from any wash from the helicopter and be able to then move on autonomously.</li>
<li>The Drone would need to be based on autonomous or similar control systems that may include teaming or swarm systems. It would also be desirable for the management of the ALE to have systems that allow it to be managed in many different scenarios including independent, ground-based, or helicopter assisted.</li>
</ol>
Leonardo would be interested if one or more companies came together to provide both hardware and software or the parts separately.

The Challenge

ALE will serve as force multipliers through the enhancement of capability by delivering scalable detect, disrupt, decoy and kinetic capabilities. By way of guidance, the following features are of interest to the challenge holder but are not mandatory at this stage.
Air launched effect with the following (target) features:
<ul>
<li>Maximum All Up Mass: c15kg +/- 5kg</li>
<li>Payload: up to 5kg</li>
<li>Endurance: minimum 2 hours</li>
<li>Range: minimum 100 miles</li>
<li>Speed: Cruise 60kts IAS/Dash &gt;90kts IAS</li>
<li>&nbsp;C2: transferable between air assets and surface / ground assets</li>
<li>Deployment height: minimum 100ft AGL to maximum 15,000ft AGL</li>
</ul>
There will be opportunities to study the effects of an air-launch with potential of managing the escape from any rotor wash alongside LHUK with simulation techniques. Constraints Air platform solutions shall be capable of hosting interchangeable payloads, including but not limited to:
<ul>
<li>Full Motion Video</li>
<li>Electronic Intelligence, Reconnaissance, Surveillance (ISR)</li>
</ul>

Technical Details 

Literature reviews, paper-based studies, consultancy, or non-technical potential solutions.

Out of Scope

Launch of the competition: 24th January 2022
Deadline for applications: 20th February 2022
Selection and notification of finalists: By 25th February 2022
Pitch Presentation*: 3rd March 2022&nbsp;
<div>
*Potentially at the i-Aero facility,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.somerset.gov.uk/business-and-economy/iaero-yeovil-centre/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yeovil</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;
</div>

Deployment Timescale

If successful, LHUK will work with potential partners to develop and mature solutions in years 2 &ndash; 3 of the programme resulting in the identification of those solutions to be taken in to the subsequent demonstration programme (years 4 &ndash; 5).
LHUK expects to be under contract before the end of the year for a phased programme of work. In year 1 (FY 2021/2022) LHUK will undertake investigative work to inform the future programme.
The aims of the programme are:
<ul>
<li>Launching a family of UAS organically primarily from rotorcraft, and from the ground and sea.</li>
<li>Maximising aviation mission flexibility with Modular Open Systems Approach (payload, mission equipment, and software)</li>
<li>Demonstrating payloads against tactically relevant threat systems</li>
<li>Validating requirements to support the fielding of the family of ALE</li>
</ul>
Year 1 activities, to be completed by 31 March 2022, include:
<ul>
<li>Assess the current technology position</li>
<li>Develop future concepts, capabilities, and technology requirements.</li>
<li>Deliver a plan to progress the capability and explore launch/recovery, integration, and infrastructure requirements.</li>
<li>Develop a Concept Capability Demonstration roadmap.</li>
</ul>
Subsequent years will focus on the following:
<ul>
<li>Years 2 &ndash; 3: Develop hardware and software technologies including interface with relevant on-board systems and Human Machine Interface (HMI).</li>
<li>Years 4 - 5: Demonstrate the capability in a realistic environment, capturing benefits achieved and pan Defence Lines of Development (DLOD) requirements.</li>
</ul>

Schedule

Rewards and benefits available to selected organisations include:
<ul>
<li>Opportunity to work with the UK only onshore military rotary wing OEM</li>
<li>Support to develop ALE solutions to a level of maturity appropriate for demonstration</li>
<li>Commercialisation opportunities</li>
</ul>
Additional funding opportunities for the most promising potential solutions may exist.

Autonomous forward motion or hover air vehicle concepts to be launched from rotary wing platforms

Opportunity

Challenge opens

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Benefit

Introduction

This challenge is brought to you by:

Autonomous forward motion or hover air vehicle concepts to be launched from rotary wing platformsCopy Link

Opportunity

Challenge opens

Challenge closes

Benefit

Introduction

This challenge is brought to you by:

Autonomous forward motion or hover air vehicle concepts to be launched from rotary wing platforms