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The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency — or DARPA — just launched a one-fifth-scale model of its LightningStrike aircraft for the first time.

By Bryan Clark thenextweb.com 4-18-16

Built by Aurora Flight Science, the ‘Subscale LightningStrike’ relies on 24 fans to propel the 325 pound scale model and enable vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Not shown in the video, but planned on the full-sized version, is the ability for these propellers to rotate to provide thrust in addition to assisting in take-off and landing.

The full-sized LightiningStrike, once completed, is said to be capable of speeds of 400 knots (about 460 mph) while carrying several thousand pounds of cargo (without a pilot) and running entirely on electric power. [...]
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WASHINGTON – The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency has selected Aurora Flight Sciences to build the so-called “X-Plane,” an unmanned aircraft that will take off and land vertically.

Lara Seligman Defense News 3-4-16

DARPA awarded Aurora the prime contract for phase two of the agency’s Vertical Takeoff and Landing Experimental Plane, or VTOL X-Plane, program, the company announced March 3.

The Aurora team’s design, named LightningStrike, is an unmanned aircraft that features a Rolls-Royce AE 1107C turboshaft engine that will power three Honeywell generators, according to a company statement.
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