L’Ucraina precipita nel cupo futuro della guerra mentre i droni aprono un nuovo fronte

I have yet to see a tandem wing drone with pusher propellors that vector like the Kittyhawk Heavy side. This drone approach would extend range with a decent payload but still needs modification for this application.  The propellers would be too large in efficient forwards flight, but this can be overcome in electric propulsion using a combination of variable RPM, and propeller pitch. The variable pitch propeller is now appearing in multicopters.  Flaps on the wing can also increase low speed lift.  From this point new types of drone can be conceived of, combining high wing loading, low forwards drag, higher speed and efficient lift in hover.  Drones are freed from some of the issues affecting past designs like turbine powered props, tilt rotors like the Osprey, and helicopters, namely we are not limited to a narrow power and RPM range from very expensive turbines with very high shaft power. So, we can power propellers at very low disc loading and a wide RPM range. Up until now, variable pitch propellers also have mostly been conceived for use in constant RPM applications, but performance can be greatly improved by have variable RPM and variable pitch.  Integrating into the wing can be achieved in a number if ways with new designs made possible by the increased number of propellers and freedom in location.  Research is needed into these variables to increase performance. We are not seeing yet drones with flexible morphing wings, vectorable ducted fans or propellers, or slats and flaps or boundary layer enhancement / blown surfaces, but the possibility is there to develop something that meets the requirements of the modern battlefield with much higher payload, speed, range and allow for new attack options and weapons