“…The team of Advanced Tactics Inc (AT) of Torrance, California and Rotor X Aircraft Manufacturing Co. (Rotor X) of Chandler, Arizona unveiled their design concept for a new family of aircraft for military and commercial applications called the Barracuda. The AT/Rotor X Barracuda *HSVTOL aircraft combines the hover capability of a
helicopter with jet-like forward flight speed, extended long-range, and versatility of a light strike/fighter aircraft. The Barracuda HSVTOL technology is a dramatic improvement in rotorcraft capabilities. The Barracuda HSVTOL technology eliminates the risk in rapid development of this HSVTOL aircraft because of its simple rugged design, its use of commercially available components, and use digital engineering and manufacturing systems. The AT/Rotor X team will be joined by the Georgia Institute of Technology (GaTech), School of Aerospace Engineering, Vertical Lift Research Center of Excellence (VLRCOE) for aerodynamics and structural analysis.The Barracuda HSVTOL design described below is being considered by the U.S. Air Force, and has the following features:
Very-low downwash in hover (less than V-22 and other 2-engine tilt-rotor aircraft)
No cross-shafting and heavy, complex gearboxes (unlike other 2-engine tilt-rotor aircraft)
Capable of emergency landing vertically with half power, and cruising with a single-engine
Jet-like cruise speed of over 400kts
Greater than 12,500 lb. useful load, or 14 seats (passengers and crew)
Fully loaded VTOL range of more than 2,400 nm and STOL range of more than 3,200 nm
Runway independence for land and Naval operations
Self-deployable, and mid-air refuelling capable
Family of aircraft (pictured below) scalable from 30 lbs. to over 200,000 lbs.
The Barracuda HSVTOL family of aircraft can support a wide spectrum of missions including unmanned ISR, land and ocean personnel recovery, SOF infiltration/exfiltration support, tactical mobility, logistics, armed close air support, and strike. The AT/Rotor X team is ready to evolve the Barracuda HSVTOL technology to serve the immediate and future needs of our warfighters…”
*HSVTOL: High Speed Vertical Takeoff and Landing