The Area-I Altius-600 is an autonomous, tactical-level, high-agility Air-Launched Effects (ALE) Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The vehicle can be tubed-launched or air-launched and setup for operations over land or sea within minutes of being unpacked. This multi-mission solution, capable of operating in low- and medium-altitude environments, features an endurance of over 4 hours and a range out to 275 miles while traveling at speeds of 100 miles-per-hour. The design has seen proven integration with existing American military hardware including the C-130 "Hercules" family of tactical transports, UH-60 "Black Hawk" multi-role helicopters, P-3 Orion over-water special-mission platforms, and lightweight flatbed vehicles.
The payload is designed to be modular, allowing the customer to outfit the system as needed per mission requirement. This allows the Altius-600 to undertake such critical over-battlefield missions as Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), SIGnals INTelligence (SIGINT), and anti-drone.
Its overall arrangement is essentially the tube-shaped fuselage (housing power supply, engine, payload, and optics set) with straight monoplane mainplanes and downward-canted tailfins. The engine turns a two-bladed propeller unit at the rear of the fuselage in pusher fashion. The aircraft can be launched via Common Launch Tube (CLT) or Pneumatically-Integrated Launch System (PILS), giving it considerable tactical flexibility in-the-field - capable of launching from fixed-wing, rotary-wing, vehicle, and watercraft platforms. The entire unit weights a manageable 27lb.
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November 2021 - AREA-I has revealed the larger, more powerful Altius-700 ALE UAS.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
✓Unmanned Capability
Aircraft inherently designed (or later developed) with an unmanned capability to cover a variety of over-battlefield roles.
PUSHER-PROP
Design incorporates rear-facing pusher-prop arrangement, a contrast to the more conventional puller-prop layout.
RUGGED AIRFRAME
Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.
EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.
MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.
UNMANNED OPERATION
Design features ability to fly sans pilot, actions controlled onboard through programming and / or ground-based operator.
CAMERA EQUIPMENT
Payload supports photographic equipment providing still and / or real-time image / video results.
Length
3.3 ft (1.00 m)
Width/Span
8.3 ft (2.54 m)
MTOW
26 lb (12 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the AREA-I Altius-600 production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the AREA-I Altius-600 production variant)
Installed:
1 x Engine driving two-bladed propeller at rear of fuselage in pusher arrangement.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the AREA-I Altius-600 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Variable based on mission requirement; held internally.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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United States (possible)
