Kelley Aerospace Releases Arrow Supersonic Drone Concept

Kelley Aerospace has officially launched its supersonic unmanned combat aerial vehicle concept (UCAV). The arrow is said to be the "world's first supersonic UAV that pushes the boundary with state-of-the-art swarm and autonomous aerial flight logic — making it a formidable UAV."  The aircraft features a Monocoque fuselage built from carbon fiber. This makes it lightweight enough to fly more than 2,600 Nm (4,800 km) with a maximum weight of 37,038 lbs. (16,800 kg). “It is designed for a reduced radar cross-section and infra-red signature. The carbon fiber and monocoque design endows the Arrow with outstanding strength and stiffness…”  The Arrow can also be deployed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance tasks. For details, visit Interestingengineering.com and Futurism.com. 

Thanks to CDR David Place (USN/Ret), davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com, and Robin E. Alexander, President ATC, alexander technical[at]gmail[dot]com, for their assistance with this report, the background for which appeared in their  # 21 – 6 – 5 MARCH 2021 edition of the UNMANNED SYSTEMS NEWS (USN).

David distributes the USN, a free, comprehensive newsletter in PDF format every week or two, as well as serial news flashes, from which this NREF news update was sourced. To be included in his distribution, simply send David a subscribe request to davidplace47[at]gmail[dot]com.