Australian STRIX ready for first flight

The STRIX UAS has a range of 540 km and can carry a payload of 200 kg. (BAE Systems Australia)

The first test flight of BAE Systems Australia’s (BAESA) STRIX Uncrewed Aerial System is scheduled for mid-October. The company says the vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) platform offers a unique combination of functionality, range and payload.

In July, Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) approved test flights of a prototype X-wing aircraft. They will take place at an undisclosed location in Western Australia.

“A few sketches and ideas on the board were thrown around in June/July 2022, but the final design/concept for STRIX wasn’t finalized until March 2023. So we’ll go from concept design to first flight of a first-of-its-kind prototype in 18 months,” said Kisa Christensen, director of Red Ochre Autonomy and Sensors at BAESA.
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“We are taking a phased approach as we prepare for our first full flight.”

She added: “We will start with a nose-up maneuver, then combine it with a vertical take-off and hover, followed by a vertical landing. The final test flight will be from hover to conventional flight, then back to hover and a vertical landing. So the full flight characteristics of the platform will be covered.”

“Then we’ll move on to our next spiral, which focuses on testing the unique hybrid propulsion that powers this concept. This will enable us to realize the full range that can be achieved with the efficient fixed-wing cruise of the STRIX.”

Developed in partnership with Australian company Innovaero, STRIX’s versatility is considered one of its strengths. Potential multi-mission capabilities include strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, reliable targeting, anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, electronic warfare and cooperation with rotary-wing platforms.

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