BAE Systems Australia and Innovaero fly STRIX UAS

Adelaide-based BAE Systems Australia and Perth-based Innovaero have successfully flown the STRIX Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) armed Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) which was unveiled at Avalon 2023. The flight took place in October at an undisclosed location in Western Australia, according to the Australian online publication Defence Technology Review which broke the story.

A hybrid, tandem wing, multi-domain and multi-role UAS, STRIX is the first all-Australian domestically designed and manufactured UAS, says BAE Systems Australia. It can conduct a variety of missions including air to ground strike and persistent Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR).

Designed to carry up to a 160kg payload over 800km, STRIX will be capable of operating in high-risk environments, says BAE Systems Australia. With a collapsed footprint of 2.6m x 4.5m, it can be transported in a standard 20 -foot ISO shipping container. Its VTOL capability means STRIX could be operated from confined spaces on land and warship flight decks at sea. It could also be operated from a helicopter as a ‘loyal wingman’ to expand the mission set and protect aircrew in high-threat environments.

The STRIX prototype features composite aerostructures and a unique ‘tilt body’ configuration, developed through a collaboration between BAE Systems Australia and Perth-based SME, Innovaero. The body/propulsion system enables VTOL while the aircraft’s wings enable high-speed cruise flight and long range.

Under a spiral development model, the company says, a full-scale electric prototype was built to fast-track flight-testing and reduce program risk following a successful ground test program earlier in the year. A parallel development program will see the two partners create a new hybrid-electric propulsion system which will become the focus of ongoing testing. Details of the hybrid propulsion system haven’t been disclosed as yet.

The flight trials demonstrated STRIX’s Vehicle Management System (VMS) and its ability to control the platform during launch, manoeuvre, sustained hover, and recovery, says BAE Systems Australia. All tests were conducted fully autonomously, with a remote pilot providing safety overwatch but who was not required to intervene.

Perth-based Innovaero is an Australian-owned aeronautical product design, certification and manufacturing company. STRIX is the first collaborative venture by Innovaero and BAE Systems Australia and brings together the latter’s global expertise in autonomous platforms and its VMS technology with Innovaero’s knowledge of aeronautical product design and manufacture in the Australian market.

“This program milestone highlights the ingenuity and capability of world class Australian engineers and delivers on our proof of concept at rapid pace,” said Andrew Gresham, Managing Director of BAE Systems Australia’s Defence Delivery business unit.

“Major flight test objectives were achieved, including safe and autonomous control of an all-new VTOL aircraft configuration never flown before in the history of flight.”

Since its unveiling at the Avalon Airshow in 2023, STRIX has moved from concept to autonomous VTOL flight within two years, demonstrating BAE Systems Australia’s ability to quickly deliver disruptive sovereign research and development, the company says.

It draws on proven technologies from BAE Systems Australia’s’ previous autonomous systems projects. These include the UK-designed Taranis and Mantis uncrewed autonomous demonstrator aircraft, for which the company’s Australian subsidiary developed the VMS. The STRIX VMS is also in use aboard the Australian Army’s M113 OCCV autonomous vehicle and the MQ-28 Ghost Bat for the Royal Australian Air Force’s autonomy program.

STRIX is being marketed to international and local customers, and BAE Systems Australia will continue refining the aircraft in collaboration with local industry and partners depending on their requirements.