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X-61: The U.S. Military’s Plan for Drone Swarm Weapons?

X-61
Dynetics X-61A during its maiden flight 23 November 2019.

Meet the X-61: Throughout the Cold War, the United States military developed several so-called “X-planes,” which were technology demonstrators that tested the latest advancements in aviation. In the 21st century, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) often takes a lead on these programs, and one of the most promising current demonstrators is the X-61A Gremlins, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) being developed by the team at Dynetics Gremlins.

It is a drone-like vehicle that can be integrated with the strike, reconnaissance, and cargo aircraft, as well as ground support systems operational with the US Armed Forces. It is intended to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), mobile target attack, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), and close air support (CAS) missions.

The program is aimed at developing low-cost swarming drones that can be outfitted with different payloads, launched by a mothership, recovered during flight, and then reused. Each Gremlin can incorporate several types of sensors up to 150 pounds and easily integrate technologies to address different types of stakeholders and missions. The X-61 platform is intended to demonstrate low-cost airframe design, launch and recovery methods, digital flight control, and navigation systems, as well as aircraft integration concepts.

In-flight recovery is performed by a roll-on/roll-off system, which includes the physical structure, the docking structure, the towed, attitude-controlled “bullet” and the in-flight storage system, which is all installed inside the cargo bay of a C-130 transport aircraft.

X-61: Testing Underway

In late 2019, DARPA completed its first flight test of the X-61A vehicle at the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground in Utah. It included one captive-carry mission aboard a C-130A and an airborne launch and free flight lasting just over an hour and a half. The C-130 served as a demonstration platform for the Gremlins program, while the team said the X-61A could be easily modified for use on another transport aircraft or other major weapons system.

The program has made significant strides, including a free flight of the X-61A that was conducted on January 17, 2020. While the flight was successful, the main parachute failed to deploy during the recovery, and the aircraft was lost. 

Four remaining test demonstrator vehicles remained operational, and in August 2020, an X-61A completed a second test flight that lasted more than two hours. That time the parachute opened, and the aircraft was successfully recovered by a C-130 mothership.

In October 2021, DARPA announced that a specially equipped C-130 Hercules cargo plane had also successfully recovered an X-61A from mid-air.

“Airborne recovery is complex,” Lt. Col. Paul Calhoun, program manager for Gremlins in DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office told Breaking Defense after the flight and recovery. “We will take some time to enjoy the success of this deployment, then get back to work further analyzing the data and determining next steps for the Gremlins technology.”

Expert Biography: A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

Written By

Expert Biography: A Senior Editor for 1945, Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer who has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,000 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu.

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