Valkyrie Systems Aerospace advances on AFWERX High Speed VTOL Challenge.

Valkyrie Systems Aerospace (VSA) announced advancing to the next phase of the AFWERX High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HSVTOL) Concept Challenge, a crowdsourcing effort for the United States Air Force (USAF) and United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). The company is one of 11 companies from more than 200 challenge entrants selected to receive market research investments aimed at advancing solutions that enable optimal agility in austere environments.

Follow Air Recognition on Google News at this link

Guardian Hoverjet (Picture source: Valkyrie Systems Aerospace)

“We are proud to be selected and have the opportunity to collaborate with USAF and USSOCOM to create game-changing technology that will positively impact our military, creating a more mission-ready and resilient fighting force.” – Glenn Dawson, Co-Founder and CEO of Valkyrie Systems Aerospace.

Valkyrie Systems Aerospace has proposed its HoverJet Guardian model, which will meet or exceed USAF USSOCOM’s needs for speed, range, survivability, cargo, hover, and the bonus of the ability to land on water. The platform has combined the capabilities of a jet and helicopter; nothing can beat the superior speed and agility of a hovering jet.

VSA’s HoverJet solution is envisioned as part of a broader HSVTOL conceptual framework that increases the trade space of speed, range, survivability, payload, size, and flexibility to carry out USAF and USSOCOM missions across the full spectrum of conflict and political scenarios. It emerged as a top-tier entrant in the HSVTOL Concept Challenge by meeting or exceeding rigorous evaluation criteria focused on technical merit, reliability, scalability, and other factors.

“The HSVTOL Concept Challenge has surfaced an impressive range and caliber of solutions to help us understand how to build a new class of air vehicles,” said Dr. Reid Melville, Chief Innovation Officer, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Transformational Capabilities Office. “We believe the organizations selected to receive market research investments at this stage have the potential to deliver truly groundbreaking innovation.”

Over the next six months, VSA will further develop its HoverJet solution, working closely with the USAF, USSOCOM, and Collaboration.Ai, the prime contractor facilitating the HSVTOL Concept Challenge.

VSA’s HoverJet solution is envisioned as part of a broader HSVTOL conceptual framework that increases the trade space of speed, range, survivability, payload, size, and flexibility to carry out USAF and USSOCOM missions across the full spectrum of conflict and political scenarios (Picture source: Valkyrie Systems Aerospace)

Valkyrie’s Guardian and Eagle hold several key advantages over surface-based amphibious vehicles currently in military use:

- Three modes of operation: aircraft, hovercraft, amphibious

- Real-time situational awareness enables HQ/command to make critical decisions to the mission

- Streamlined transport of critically injured on the battlefield without putting flight crewmembers at risk

- Capacity for vertical takeoff, able to land on water, ice and/or rough terrain

- Thrust Vector Control allows operation in most adverse weather conditions

- Stealth Design with advanced sensor suites deliver crucial data that allows risk mitigation as well as threat detection thereby increasing survivability

- Distributed aperture radar along with hyper spectral sensors detect threats, mines, helps secure terrain and establish a safe and secure foothold

Valkyrie Systems Aerospace vehicles contain specifically designed, interchangeable interior modules that allow for safe and efficient delivery of both personnel and cargo.

The Eagle and the Guardian can safely deliver payload modules to their targets, and both can transport sling loads to multiple, beyond line-of-sight drop zones. When finished, each has the ability to return to home base with minimal ground operator oversight.

Specialty uses include medical evacuations, extraction of personnel and equipment, real-time situational awareness and threat detection, re-establishment of downed communications systems, and much more.

The Eagle and the Guardian can safely deliver payload modules to their targets, and both can transport sling loads to multiple, beyond line-of-sight drop zones. When finished, each has the ability to return to home base with minimal ground operator oversight (Picture source: Valkyrie Systems Aerospace)