Stealth Aerial Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016368603-A1
Application number	US-201615182074-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2016
Priority date	Jun 8, 2011
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An aerial vehicle having a low radar signature includes a first side on which turbine openings, and payload bays or landing gear bays are disposed. A second side of the aerial vehicle is designed to have a smaller radar signature than the first side.

First claim

1 - 15 . (canceled)

16 . A method of operating an aerial vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:
taking off the aerial vehicle in a second attitude in which a first side faces down, wherein the first side of the aerial vehicle has a landing gear bay, and wherein a second side of the aerial vehicle has no bays, has a smaller radar signature than the first side and is arranged opposite to the first side of the aerial vehicle; retracting a landing gear into the landing gear bay that is arranged on the first side; switching from the second attitude to a first attitude in which the second side faces in a direction of a threat during a portion of flight of the aerial vehicle; switching from the first attitude to the second attitude in which the first side faces down; extending the landing gear while the aerial vehicle is in the second attitude; and landing the aerial vehicle in the second attitude in which the first side faces down.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the second side has an essentially undisturbed surface.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first side includes all bays and openings of the aerial vehicle.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising configuring the landing gear bay to be closable by a hinged flap.

20 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the first side is a top side of the aerial vehicle and the second side is a bottom side of the aerial vehicle.

21 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
disposing at least one payload bay on the first side of the aerial vehicle.

22 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein from one viewing direction only the second side of the aerial vehicle can be detected.

23 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
disposing a cockpit on the first side.

24 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring the aerial vehicle for unmanned operation.

25 . The method according to claim 16 , further comprising:
configuring the aerial vehicle as a flying wing.

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Gmbh

Inventors

• Dornwald Jochen
• Bichler Bartholomaeus

Classifications

• B64U2101/15

  for conventional or electronic warfare · CPC title

• B64C25/10

  retractable, foldable, or the like · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C25/16

  Fairings movable in conjunction with undercarriage elements · CPC title

• B64C39/10 Primary

  All-wing aircraft · CPC title