Lockheed Martin will release its next-generation Indago 4 quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), which will feature increased takeoff weight (TOW) and at least twice the payload capacity than found on its predecessor Indago 3 small Group 1 UAV, in the fourth quarter of this year.
Jeff Gardner, business development lead at Lockheed Martin Procerus Technologies, told Janes on 17 August that the company expects the Indago 4 to have similar endurance to the Indago 3, which he said can fly for 38–45 minutes depending on the payload. A stripped-down version of the Indago 4, Gardner said, could potentially have an endurance of 60 minutes. Gardner expects the Indago 4 to consistently have 45 minutes of endurance at an altitude of 4,600 ft, the level where a company test facility in Utah is located.
Lockheed Martin spokesperson Heather Kelso said on 19 August that the Indago 4 is larger in its operational mode with unfolded quadcopter arms than the Indago 3 and is roughly 20–30.5 cm larger in size compared to its predecessor. However, in its folded configuration for packability, the Indago 4 is less than 2.5 cm larger than the Indago 3.
Lockheed Martin has a prototype of the Indago 4, which will utilise the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK). This uses an Android cellular phone to control the aircraft's operation via a common capability.
The company is increasing the modularity and replaceability of parts for the Indago 4 after the company heard feedback from customers that it was challenging to replace precision parts in the field, according to Gardner.
Looking to read the full article?
Gain unlimited access to Janes news and more...
