Link: https://verticalmag.com/news/airbus-installing-eco-mode-in-racer-enhanced-helicopter-demonstrator/

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/72603924

You want the ideal counter drone platform to keep population centers and infrastructure safe from mass waves of drones? This is a perfect starting point.

edit remember, this aircraft doesn't have to carry all the drone interceptors and drone interceptor operators itself necessarily, it just has to maintain a high throughput quality connection with data and targetting integrated with sensors to serve as a fulcrum to arrange a layered air defense response involving many more people than just the crew of the aircraft. Launch 30 interceptors and use this aircraft to maintain contact with 30 interceptor pilots chomping at the bit somewhere remote. Also if you can retain Line Of Sight or Near Line Of Sight contact with drone interceptors there are many ways you can get around being jammed.

Replacing the tail rotor with a pair of props that generate forward thrust is a clever idea, honestly. Add in the fly-by-wire computer to make everything intuitive, and you've got a very capable little craft. The military is going to love this thing.

Of course, for every other purpose, it's going to cost a pretty penny.

Of course, for every other purpose, it’s going to cost a pretty penny.

In my opinion this is the ideal air ambulance platform that allows sophisticated care while in transit at airplane like speeds. I guess it is expensive for that, but also it isn't inefficient in flight and the amount of miracles you could do with that for lifesaving are immense so.. idk... but like the MV-75 you could build a substantial medical facility inside the aircraft for complex and challenging lifesaving operations, it is a whole new category.

There is no reason the same airframe can't do counter drone operations as well as air evacuation operations of victims in the wake of attacks too which puts the cost in a different context especially if the platform is built with the ground up to focus at least partially on medevac not just be able to do it when needed, a mistake the MV-75 II designers seem to have made..

edit Another recontextualization of cost, this kind of vertical take off and landing long range aircraft is also perfectly suited to strategic submarine deterrance as well as a distribution platform for maritime sensors to detect small unmanned vehicle intrusions or better yet to find people or sea life for lifesaving or to monitor wildlife. The same principle applies to the aircraft being able to quickly distribute acoustic drone sensors over a large area for public safety in the event of an attack on land as well.

edit 2 Aerial firefighting too

What it to be unmanned? Well you are going to build that capacity in for safety from the beginning anyways...