Engineers at the Air Force Research Lab’s Air Vehicles Directorate at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, are working on a new unmanned aerial vehicle called SkyTote, which will take off and land vertically while being able to transition into horizontal flight. The primary mission of the aircraft would be to deliver a payload to a specific tactical point, becoming a safe and inexpensive choice for tasks such as assessing bomb damage and conducting resupply missions. The project is currently a concept demonstrator and researchers have been working on various forms of the aircraft since 1998. The next test for the vehicle is scheduled for June at Camp Roberts, Calif.
With a shrinking fleet and growing operational demand, Air Force Special Operations Command sees the new OA-1K combat scout aircraft as key to a “new era,” officials say.