Insitu introduces Integrator VTOL UAS

Boeing Company Insitu announced its Integrator vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) at Navy League's Sea-Air-Space Exhibition in National Harbor, Maryland.

Integrator VTOL launches vertically on ships or land without sacrificing payload capacity or endurance. The system retains the performance of fixed-wing aircraft, providing the same long range wide-area surveillance capability for extended periods.

Integrator VTOL is designed to operate as a portable system in tight quarters, such as ship decks, and in challenging maritime conditions with high seas and gusty winds. No stationary launch and recovery equipment is required – providing expeditionary (ship-to-ship, ship-to-land) portability and modularity across UAS hardware and payloads while minimizing impact to other flight operations.

With greater than 16 hours of endurance carrying 40 lb of modular payloads, the unique design offers 3x improvement in range and endurance over hybrid-VTOLs. It also has a significant improvement over tail-sitter UAS in its ability to fly on and off ships in rough seas where ship roll and motion present major issues.

Diane Rose, Insitu president and CEO, says, "Customers can finally have it all: vertical launch and recovery with industry-leading payload capacity and endurance for their most critical missions, even in the most extreme maritime environments and sea states, without sacrificing valuable transport, deck, or hangar space."

The system has two parts: FLARES (Flying Launch and Recovery System) developed by Hood Tech, and the Insitu Integrator air vehicle. Requiring no modifications to the aircraft, FLARES performs normal operations at half throttle, allowing significant control authority to withstand gusts, lower density air, and higher ship deck motion.

To deploy, FLARES engages Integrator and climbs into the sky. Once it reaches its desired altitude, FLARES dashes forward before releasing Integrator, allowing Integrator to perform its long range, wide-area surveillance mission for extended durations. Once Integrator is released, FLARES returns to a ship's deck or land to await Integrator's return.

As Integrator approaches the end of its mission, FLARES again climbs into the sky with a recovery rope attached and performs Insitu's proven maritime retrieval method. FLARES then lowers Integrator to the ship's deck or the landing area to complete the mission.

Insitu

Insitu recently set a company record for the longest duration flight with a 25.5-hour sortie with its Integrator UAS on an operational mission.

The record flight was achieved with a 150 lb Integrator equipped for a multi-payload mission. It surpassed the previous record of 24.2 hours performed in 2014, also with an Integrator.

The Integrator's configuration, with its long endurance capability, allowed the customer to use one aircraft instead of two or more lower endurance aircraft.

Long endurance aircraft reduce risk with fewer launch and recovery sequences, where UAS are most vulnerable to damage. They also provide better coverage in areas with sparse basing and allow customers to operate with less equipment and manpower than aircraft with lower endurance.

Insitu's full suite of modular payloads provides persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) in extreme environments. Payloads ranging from day and night full motion video (FMV) and signals intelligence (SIGINT) to electronic warfare (EW) extend the capabilities of UAS to meet the specific and evolving needs of customers through flexibility and easy integration.