The US Army and US Special Operations Command have conducted the first flight test of the Air-Launched, Tube-Integrated Unmanned System (Altius) 700 air vehicle.
A Black Hawk helicopter twice demonstrated the Andruil system, validating its performance across all phases of operation, including launch, flight, landing, and recovery.
Insights from the demonstration will help refine the system’s design and operating procedure ahead of the first test flight of the fully integrated launched effects prototype in early 2024.
Altius 700
The platform carries 300 percent more payload than its predecessor, the Altius 600, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; counter-drone; electronic warfare; munitions; and signals intelligence.
It offers up to five hours of flight time, one hour more than the 600.
Launched Effects Program
Andruil is one of five companies providing specific elements for the US Army’s launched effects program, which further includes a Collins Aerospace mission system, modular payloads by Technology Service and Northrop Grumman Information Systems, and an Aurora Flight Sciences system integrator.
Launched effects involve manned and unmanned systems teaming to detect and identify threats in contested environments, enabling commanders to execute fires and effects when needed.
Further tests will continue through the end of 2024, with a fielding decision expected in 2025.