Among the many lesson the US military machine learned from the warfare in Afghanistan ( beyond , of course , do n’t engage in a land state of war in Afghanistan ) is the pauperization for continuous battlefield surveillance . To assist do that work , Boeing evolve the Phantom Eye UAV , a drone aircraft that can scout a theater of operations for up to four day at a time without winkle .
formally known as the Phantom Eye , this high ALT , long endurance ( HALE ) UAV develop by Boeing Phantom Works raise out of the declarer ’s previous succeeder with theCondor UAVwhich set multiple altitude and survival records in the late 1980s . The Phantom Eye builds off that winner and could soon lead to an remote-controlled organisation capable of 24/7 intelligence and surveillance .
To stay on aloft for that long , the Phantom Eye relies on a mix of hydrogen power and portly aerodynamics . “ It is n’t built for stealth — it ’s build up for survival , ” Chris Haddox from Boeing Phantom lick toldBBC News . The plane sports a 150 - fundament wide wingspan and is power by a stage set of 2.3 - cubic decimetre Ford railway locomotive that turn the quad - blade propeller . In fact , these are the same engine that power the Ford Fusion diesel . They ’ve simply been modded and retuned to extend hydrogen . The UAV can take up to 450 pounds of equipment — in addition to the 1,900 pounds of limpid hydrogen — while cruising at an average speed of 150 knots ( 170 MPH ) and as in high spirits as 65,000 foot . To maintain burning at those height , the Phantom Eye leverage a multi - turbo system to pack together the thin air enough to burn — it also reduce the plane ’s heat key signature , making it harder to cover .
“ Phantom Eye is the first of its sort and could afford up a whole newfangled marketplace in collecting data and communication , ” Darryl Davis , president of Boeing Phantom Works , pronounce today at the introduction ceremonial in St. Louis . “ It is a perfect example of change by reversal an approximation into a reality . It defines our rapid prototyping endeavour and will demonstrate the art - of - the - potential when it comes to persistent intelligence , surveillance and reconnaissance . The capability inherent in Phantom Eye ’s design will provide game - transfer chance for our military , civil and commercial-grade customers . ”
Boeing first unveil the Phantom Eye back in 2010 , though it made its maiden trial flight of stairs June 1st at NASA ’s Dryden Flight Research Center . Granted , the image UAV only climb to 4,080 feet , and it cruised for 28 bit at 62 knots before damaging its landing place gear when set down , but it ’s a adept start . The production version of the Phantom Eye is look to actually be 30 to 40 pct orotund . [ PopSci1,2 – Boeing1,2,3 – BBC – Wikipedia – Images : Boeing ]
Daily Newsletter
Get the unspoiled tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present tense .
