ARES: Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System

Difficult terrain and threats such as ambushes and Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) can make ground-based transportation to and from the front line a dangerous challenge. Helicopters can easily bypass those problems but present logistical challenges of their own, and can subject flight crew to different types of threats. 

ARES is a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) flight module designed to operate as an unmanned platform capable of transporting a variety of payloads. 

The ARES VTOL flight module is designed to have its own power system, fuel, digital flight controls and remote command-and-control interfaces. Twin tilting ducted fans would provide efficient hovering and landing capabilities in a compact configuration, with rapid conversion to high-speed cruise flight.

It is envisioned that the flight module would travel between its home base and field operations to deliver and retrieve several different types of detachable mission modules, each designed for a specific purpose. Example modules could include:

• Cargo resupply
• Casualty evacuation (CASEVAC)
• Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)

The ARES program would enable numerous benefits, including:

• Useful load capability as high as 3,000 pounds, more than 40 percent of the takeoff gross weight of the aircraft
• Flight performance similar to light aircraft
• Compact configuration and the ability to use landing zones half the size typically needed by helicopters of similar size
• VTOL operations from prepared, unprepared and ship-based landing sites
• Unmanned operation, with a future path towards semi-autonomous flight systems and user interfaces for optionally manned/controlled flight