Ultra Electronics DF 70 Heavy Fuel engine for Unmanned Autonomous Vehicles (UAV) moves to flight test

GLOUCESTER, EnglandUltra Electronics Precision Air Systems, a leading aerospace and defence gas systems company, has agreed with Brock Technologies Incorporated (Tucson, AZ USA), one of the newest and innovative unmanned systems companies, that after successful ground based evaluation the engine, will go to flight trial evaluation, on the Brock SPEAR aerial vehicle

Keith Brock, Vice President of Brock Technologies, Inc said, Ultra’s DF 70 light weight heavy fuel engine technology has performed very well in ground based testing at Brock’s facilities. Some of the Brock team have described the engine as a “power beast”, this will give the Brock SPEAR a very short take off and landing (VSTOL) capability. Brock sees real opportunities in small but growing number of civil applications such as fire fighting when a human observer would be at risk, police observation of civil disturbances, crime scenes, and reconnaissance support in natural disasters. UAVs are often preferred for missions and offer a real cost benefit over manned aircraft.

The modular construction and adjustable wing position of the Brock Spear and low development risk also make this platform suitable for very fast configuration of different mass payloads and would have a real place in Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) demands for the US war fighter, to give additional persistent surveillance and detection.

Andy Yates, Managing Director of Ultra Electronics Precision Air Systems, commented “This is great news and marks an exciting move into a new sector for the business. It is one where Ultra can apply its systems engineering skills to integrate and optimise sub-systems and components to improve overall performance. I look forward to the project’s successful conclusion and the resultant business opportunities that will follow.”