Lockheed Martin awarded $1.1mil for second SURGE-V phase.

Lockheed Martin are moving forward with SURGE-V, The goal of the SURGE-V program will be to develop a hybrid power and propulsion system for UAVs smaller than 20 pounds that enables these aircraft to operate on missions longer than four hours. The aim is to demonstrate such a small UAV propulsion system in an operational environment.

Last Friday Lockheed Martin was awarded $1.1 million to start work on the second phase of development.

Lockheed Martin engineers will test the SURGE-V aircraft and engine to MIL-STD-810G standards for shock and vibration, and demonstrate that the integrated UAV system is aerodynamically stable, capable of producing sufficient power-to-weight ratios for adequate climb performance, and has sufficient endurance in a simulated operational environment.

Successive phases of the SURGE-V program will concentrate on demonstrating the integrated power system and payload on a SURGE-V UAV, as well as flight demonstrations of the integrated system. Total cost of the program will be about $2.2 million.

The SURGE-V UAV must be small enough to be carried and operated by only one person on battlefield situational awareness missions. The UAV should be capable of landing on rough terrain, operating in winds stronger than 35 knots in temperatures as cold as 30 degrees below zero Fahrenheit, and at altitudes as high as 25,000 feet in sandy, dusty conditions, as well as in fog, light rain and snow, and high humidity, according to Air Force officials.