The success of any special operations largely depends on the mobility of modern military troops. Fast delivery to the desired point will ensure the solution of both strategic and tactical tasks. Since last year, the U.S. military has been studying electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, and 30 of them are scheduled to be delivered to the military by 2030.
New vehicles are being developed by aviation companies that offer the US Department of Defense several options at once. Recently and on the day the famous Wright brothers unveiled the first military aircraft, the US Air Force tested the first flying LIFT Aircraft.
The Hexa vehicle integrates technologies used in traditional ground transportation, helicopters and quadcopters. The presented prototype has 18 propellers providing vertical take-off and landing. The huge number of propelling screws provides increased reliability for the mechanism, which may have to take part in combat operations. According to the developers, Hexa is capable of landing normally, even if 6 out of 18 engines are turned off.
The US Armed Forces Agility Prime project already brings together 15 aircraft manufacturing companies. Developers from LIFT Aircraft also noted that the tested prototype can be used not only for army operations, but it can also be used in solving national economic problems. The advantage of the provided Hexa aircraft is also that it does not require a special license to fly it.
