Alenia Aermacchi Sky-X
Alenia Aeronautica · Italy · first flew 2005 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Alenia Aeronautica Sky-X is a self-financed unmanned aerial vehicle built for demonstration and research.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, embedded-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | V-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unmanned jet demonstrator
- High-mounted wing
- V-tail
A single-engined jet UAV powered by a Microturbo TRI 60-268 turbojet, with a wingspan of 5.94 m.
Specifications
- The Alenia Aermacchi Sky-X has a length of 7.8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 5.94 m (19 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 648 km/h (403 mph).
- Typical crew: 0.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was rolled out in May 2003 and first flew on 29 May 2005 at the Swedish test area of Vidsel, becoming the first European-designed UAV over 1,000 kg to fly successfully. It is powered by a Microturbo TRI 60-268 turbojet.
Variants
One was built as a research prototype.
Where you'll see it
Trials focused on autonomous flight systems including assisted take-off and landing, collision avoidance and formation flying. In 2008 it demonstrated the join-up manoeuvres needed for in-flight refuelling with an Alenia C-27J.
Related aircraft
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