The Strix takes off and lands vertically, and can transition to and from horizontal flight. Photo: BAE Systems Australia.
BAE Systems Australia has announced it has successfully conducted the first flight of its radical Strix uncrewed combat aircraft.
Conducted at a remote West Australian test facility in October, the first flight came just 20 months after the Strix was first revealed in concept form at the February 2023 Australian International Air Show at Avalon, Victoria.
The aircraft was designed and developed in Australia through a collaboration between BAE Systems Australia and Perth-based Innovaero.
BAE Systems has a strong legacy of integrating autonomous systems, with experience on the RAAF’s MQ-28 Ghost Bat program in collaboration with Boeing, and with the Australian Army on converted M113AS4 armoured optionally crewed combat vehicles (OCCV).
Innovaero is a leading composite uncrewed air vehicle designer and manufacturer, and is supplying its Owl UAS to the Australian Army.
About the size of an SUV and constructed mostly from composite materials, the praying mantis-like Strix has a unique tilt-body configuration with offset forward and rear wings, each of which has two electric motors driving propellors. The aircraft can take off and land vertically, and then transition to forward flight.
The air vehicle can be packed into an ISO container for rapid deployment by truck or air, and is designed to be rapidly reassembled for operations at forward areas.
Missions planned for the Strix include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and strike. Its autonomous systems allow it to perform its mission independently of a pilot, either as a singleton, multiple-ship missions with other uncrewed aircraft, or as a loyal wingman in company with manned helicopters.
The composite Strix can be carried in an ISO container and deployed quickly. Photo: Screenshot – BAE Systems Australia.
The first test flight saw the aircraft take off vertically, hover around the launch area and then land successfully. Future tests will lead to horizontal flight and the integration of payloads.
It is not known whether the Australian Defence Force or other potential customers have shown any official interest in the Strix program. However, if successful, the Strix could meet many requirements for future mobile land-based or ship-borne ISR and strike capabilities.
Managing director of BAE Systems Australia’s Defence Delivery Business Unit Andrew Gresham said: “This program milestone highlights the ingenuity and capability of world-class Australian engineers and delivers on our proof of concept at rapid pace.
“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.”
