The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) dubbed Fury has just gotten an engine upgrade. Previously, the UAV has proven an endurance of 12 hours. Now, Lockheed Martin has integrated the 1803 engine, which will allow Fury to sustain 15 hours of continuous flight.
The recent update ranks Fury as one of the highest endurance vehicles of its kind.
“We’ve engineered Fury to bring the flight endurance and other advantages of much larger unmanned aircraft into a compact, effective, category three system,” says Kevin Westfall, director of Unmanned Systems at Lockheed Martin. “Lockheed Martin has invested heavily to mature the incredible capabilities Fury can deliver, and we’re excited to bring this system to customers around the world.”
In addition to heightened endurance, Fury delivers Class 3 UAV capabilities with its power generation, low-signature design, and advanced fuel propulsion system. The open architecture platform can carry over 200 pounds of payload and fuel, boasts an adaptable and reconfigurable structure, and has a blended 17-foot wingspan for minimal visual signature.
With no landing gear, Fury is a true runway-independent UAV. The catapult launch and expeditionary recovery system can be assembled on unimproved ground, in an area spanning only 200 square feet.
With more updates waiting on the horizon, Fury is built to serve in many military missions, including cyber-electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Filed Under: Aerospace + defense