↑“Black Hawk” helicopter launches “Artemis” drone
From February to April this year, the U.S. military conducted tests of the “Artemis” drone launched from fixed-wing manned aircraft, helicopters, and ground vehicles at the Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Among these, launching the “Artemis” drone from the “Black Hawk” helicopter is considered one of the most technically challenging test projects.
Unlike ground vehicles that use tube launchers for drones, both fixed-wing manned aircraft and helicopters are equipped with the U.S. military’s 7-inch standard launch tube. This launch tube was initially used to launch the U.S. military’s “Viper” multi-purpose missile and the GBU-69B small glide-guided bomb. Later, the U.S. military also attempted to integrate the Raytheon “Coyote” drone, but due to the fact that the “Coyote” drone was designed based on the U.S. Navy’s 4.85-inch sonar buoy launcher, launching it from the 7-inch standard launcher system seemed like an overkill.
The biggest problem with launching drones from helicopters is the downwash generated by the main rotor, which interferes with the drone. When the drone is pushed out of the launch tube, its main wings have not yet opened, making it poorly resistant to the strong airflow generated by the main rotor. Previously, several drones, including the “Coyote”, encountered this technical bottleneck during helicopter platform launch tests. The successful launch of the “Artemis” drone from the “Black Hawk” helicopter is the result of continuous efforts by the U.S. military and companies to overcome this technical challenge.
As small drones, both the “Artemis” and “Coyote” can perform reconnaissance missions like traditional drones, and after equipping with warheads and guidance systems, can be used as disposable loitering munitions. The U.S. military initially positioned the “Coyote” drone as a counter-drone drone, meaning it would search for enemy medium and small drones in the battlefield and then self-destruct with the target. After improvements, the “Artemis” drone can also be used as an anti-submarine drone.
After integrating these two drones into the standardized launch tube system, any aerial platform equipped with this standard launch tube system can launch both drones. Furthermore, once the data link between manned combat aircraft and drones is established, various medium and large fixed-wing combat aircraft and helicopters can be modified into drone launch platforms to execute high-risk combat missions. Therefore, some media believe that the successful launch test of the “Artemis” drone from the “Black Hawk” helicopter may be a key step in changing the mode of aerial combat. (Yibai)