General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS

Off-Board Sensing Station Unmanned Technology Demonstrator

United States | 2024

"The General Atomics XQ-67A continues to build upon the successes of the earlier XQ-58 - now featured as an OBSS tech demonstrator."

Image from U.S. Air Force Material Command; Public Release.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/05/2024 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The General Atomics XQ-67A follows in the steps of the earlier XQ-58A Valkyrie Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) as an Off-Board Sensing Station (OBSS). While the XQ-58A served as a first-generation platform, the XQ-67A builds upon the successes of its forerunner to become a second-generation unmanned technology demonstrator as the USAF continues its gains towards the 'Loyal Wingman' concept. The concept looks to augment manned powered flight as oppose to directly replacing it.

The new vehicle first took to the air on February 28th, 2024 over Palmdale, California under the direction of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). GA-ASI was selected for its drone design in 2021.

Largely mimicking the earlier XQ-58A in form-and-function, the aircraft sports a pair of mid-mounted mainplanes, a dorsal air intake for engine aspiration, and a pair of outward-canted vertical tailplanes. The engine exhausts through a shrouded cylindrical port at the rear of the vehicle between the vertical planes. Ground-running is accomplished through a retractable, wheeled tricycle undercarriage.

Part of the project focus, as was the case with the earlier XQ-58A, it to deliver a cost-effective developmental solution at-speed through utilization of a common airframe and internal components while retaining a certain degree of modularity.

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February 2024 - The XQ-67A successfully recorded its first-flight with the AFRL.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station Unmanned Technology Demonstrator.

1 x Engine of unknown make, model, and output power.
Propulsion

652 mph
1,050 kph | 567 kts
Max Speed

44,997 ft
13,715 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

2,128 miles
3,425 km | 1,849 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the XQ-67A Off-Board Sensing Station Unmanned Technology Demonstrator.

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

28.9 ft
8.80 m
O/A Length

22.0 ft
(6.70 m)
O/A Width

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS Off-Board Sensing Station Unmanned Technology Demonstrator .

None. Payload restricted to sensors and data-collecting equipment.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS family line.

XQ-67A (OBSS) - Base Series Designation.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Incorporated (GA-ASI) - USA

[ United States ]

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Image of the General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS

Image from U.S. Air Force Material Command; Public Release.

Going Further...
The General Atomics XQ-67A OBSS Off-Board Sensing Station Unmanned Technology Demonstrator appears in the following collections:

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