Legacy of Airframe Design
Engineering, Manufacturing, Assembly, Systems Integration, & Flight Testing
progression of innovation & capability
Swift Engineering, Inc. has a long legacy of innovation in the aerospace industry from the ideation of a novel UAV in 2000 to the current 2021 Sikorsky Designed and Swift Engineered, Manufactured and Assembled Future Air Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA – Raider X) Airframe for the Army Future Vertical Lift (FVL) Program.
Airframe and Systems Matrix
| Platform | Detailed Design | Structural Engineering | Component Manufacturing | Airframe Assembly | Flight Testing | Systems Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Northrop Bat |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
Swift 020/021 |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
SULE |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
FLRAA – Defiant |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
|
FARA – Raider X |
X |
X |
X |
X |
|
|
KillerBee
Northrop bat
Aerostructure Heritage
Swift began its aerostructure heritage from the initial napkin sketches of the internally funded low-altitude, long-endurance unmanned aerial reconnaissance system (UAS) in 2000 to the 2006 flying prototype called the KillerBee (in 2009, this asset was sold to Northrop Grumman and renamed the Northrop Bat).
This is the longest running platform development program in Swift history and continues to this day with the BAT 14 variant.
The Northrop Bat UAS was redeveloped to increase payload carrying capacity and extend range over the Killer Bee.
The latest variant has a wingspan of 14 feet (4.3 m) and can carry up to 100 pounds (45 kg) of payload. The Bat “14” UAS has a maximum altitude of 17,000 feet (5.2 km) above sea level and a maximum endurance of 18 hours.
Swift
020/021
X-Blade Technology™
In 2012, following the sale and development of the Northrop Bat, Swift reentered the AUS market with a platform specific aerostructure incorporating its internally developed X-Blade Technology™ (US Patent No. 9567088). X-Blade Technology™ is the technology and expertise of maximizing the benefits of VTOL with the efficiencies of fixed wing flight; vertical take-off and landing (VTOL), transition to horizontal flight technology that does not use rotating mechanisms; all the control is conducted within the flight control autopilot system. The X-Blade Technology was initially used in the Swift020 Technology Demonstrator and ultimately in the Swift021 Unmanned Air System.
In January 2020, Swift Engineering, won a $17 Million contract to provide Bahamas government agencies and ministries with an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. The multi-agency drone program includes the purchase of 55 short and medium-range Swift021 drones, immediate surveillance capabilities, training and support, and the establishment of a regional drone academy.
UAS program
In January 2020, Swift Engineering, won a $17 Million contract to provide Bahamas government agencies and ministries with an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) program. The multi-agency drone program includes the purchase of 55 short and medium-range Swift021 drones, immediate surveillance capabilities, training and support, and the establishment of a regional drone academy.
Swift Ultra Long Endurance
sule
Unmanned Air Vehicle
In the summer of 2016, during the concurrent development of the Swift020 VTOL, Swift won a Phase 1 SBIR contract with NASA Ames Research Center to an develop the Swift Ultra Long Endurance (SULE) Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV). This High-Altitude-Long-Endurance (HALE) UAV made its maiden flight in the summer of 2020.
The SULE is an optimized engineered battery powered ultralight aerostructure capable of flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet during the battery charge phase and power gliding to 40,000 feet during the battery discharge phase. As an attritabe structure, the design emphasizes lower cost and COTS components.
For military purposes, “attritable” is defined as a design trait that trades reliability and maintenance for low-cost, reusable and eventual expendability. The design uses no fuel, has no radar signature and no thermal profile.
Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft
FLRAA
Sikorsky-Boeing SB-1 Defiant
In 2015 Swift Engineering was chosen by the Sikorsky-Boeing Team for a major portion of the airframe structure design and manufacture of the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Airframe by an integrated team of Swift and Boeing employees.
The Airframe was complete and shipped to the Boeing facility in Mesa Arizona in December 2017 ( < 2 years) for testing before full system integration by Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach Florida.
Following minor structural modifications and a full systems integration, the Defiant’s first flight took place in 2019.
Raider X
FARA
Sikorsky Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft
Owing in part to our success with the FLRAA airframe design and build program, in December 2019 Swift Engineering was selected to be the key partner for the airframe design and build of the Sikorsky Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft (FARA) competitive prototype.
“We are proud to highlight Swift Engineering as one of our flagship, non-traditional defense contractors, providing design and construction of the fuselage for the FARA Competitive Prototype,” said Tim Malia, Sikorsky’s Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Director. “Swift utilizes cutting-edge engineering, and composite fabrication techniques first derived from its work in the race car industry and subsequently adapted to the aerospace market. Swift’s ability to leverage this capability to generate rapid, iterative prototypes is best-in-class from Sikorsky’s perspective,” adds Malia.
The Sikorsky-Swift partnership is leveraging digital transformation and model-based design concepts under an agile process. This accelerates the development and build of the RAIDER X, which Sikorsky is offering in the US Army FARA competition.