Alenia Aeronautica - Sky-X UCAS

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Challenge: Italy's Alenia Aeronautica needed a full flight control and navigation system for its new Sky-X Unmanned Combat Aircraft System (UCAS). The Sky-X, one of the first European UCAS development programs designed for strategic reconnaissance, surveillance and combat missions, is powered by a single jet engine, is capable of speeds up to 440 knots, can climb above 30,000 ft and perform; high g maneuvers. The Sky-X is the first complex European UCAS being developed to test UCAS related technologies. Alenia looked to Athena Technologies, now part of Rockwell Collins, to provide the flight control and navigation system for the Sky-X.

Solution: Our solution provided Alenia with the field tested and proven Athena 311 flight control system with integrated sensor suite to support the Sky-X program. The Athena 311 includes integrated flight control hardware with embedded mission management and navigation software. In addition to providing the 311, we utilized our LTI'zation patented control design technology process, applying the proven process to the Sky-X's specific vehicle characteristics.

Results: The Sky-X subscale technology demonstrator was developed and flown within 18 months, successfully completing Phase I of the Sky-X development program.