BAE Systems HERTI - Variants

Variants

HERTI-1D

The first prototype, jet-powered, HERTI version. It uses the same powerplant, systems and ground station as the BAE Corax. Its mass is about 350 kilograms (770 lb). The HERTI-1D was based on the J&AS Aero Design J5 Marco motor glider. BAE Systems quickly realised that a piston engine powered HERTI had a better payload and endurance than the HERTI-1D and subsequently discontinued its development.

HERTI-1A

Powered by a BMW piston engine, with a larger, modified composite airframe based on the J&AS Aero Design J6 Fregata motor glider with a higher endurance and payload than the HERTI-1D. Top speed with an ICE ("Image Collection and Exploitation") system is 125 knots.

HERTI-1B

Powered by a Rotax piston engine and controlled by multi-lane flight controls. This variant also has the more advanced autonomous ICE II mission system (payload).

Fury

BAE Systems announced it was investigating an armed version of HERTI in 2006. At the 2008 Farnborough International Air Show, this variant was unveiled as the Fury armed reconnaissance and close air support UAS (Unmanned Autonomous System). The Fury is an equipped with a new stores management system and armed with the Thales Lightweight Multi-role Missile (LMM).

HERTI-OC

BAE Systems are pursuing a UK civil certification licence for the HERTI-OC (Operational Capability) standard of aircraft featuring a completely new airframe and suite of Flight and Mission Systems. The program is on an incremental development program and is working closely with the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Initial plans were to see the aircraft flying from the Walney Island range in the UK, close to the home of the HERTI in Warton. However the CAA would ultimately put an end to these aspirations despite the best efforts of BAE Systems' engineers. Following this the flight trials were reportedly moved to an overseas location pending further discussions with the CAA. The aircraft itself featured a newly designed, stronger airframe allowing for operations from unprepared strips, greater payload and longer endurance and is built by Slingsby Advanced Composites in the UK. The Flight Systems, while loosely based around the previous versions of the vehicle, undertook a massive redesign to comply with Civil Certification requirements. The Mission system is also of a more advanced design, however due to the modular design of the Unmanned Aircraft System, the Mission System remains 'plug and play' that successful flight of the aircraft does not depend upon.