The design combining a high-speed jet system with a vertical takeoff and landing electric aircraft from Valkyrie Systems Aerospace promises to achieve subsonic speeds.
Valkyrie Systems Aerospace’s HoverJet Guardian design. (Photo: Valkyrie)
The American aerospace company Valkyrie Systems Aerospace has received research funding from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to develop the HoverJet Guardian design, a high-speed hybrid jet system with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) capabilities.
The USAF is funding designs for high-speed VTOL aircraft that can significantly enhance combat and cargo transport capabilities. The HoverJet Guardian design is an integrated jet aircraft with eVTOL systems. The vehicle is being developed to possess the high speeds of a jet combined with the flexibility of a VTOL system.
This machine can operate in three modes: airplane, hovercraft, and seaplane. This means the vehicle can land and move on water. According to Valkyrie, the aircraft can fly autonomously or be piloted. However, the company has not yet disclosed any prototypes.
The HoverJet Guardian utilizes a VTOL system with four rotors for takeoff and landing. When in the air, the vehicle switches to using a pair of jet turbine engines with a thrust of over 3,700 kg. This configuration allows the HoverJet Guardian to achieve a cruising speed of 547 km/h and a maximum speed of 1,127 km/h in horizontal flight. The HoverJet can continuously fly for 15 hours at an altitude of 12,192 m. The aircraft measures 9.1 m in length with a wingspan of 7.3 m. The vehicle has a maximum takeoff weight of 5,443 kg.
The newly allocated funding through the USAF’s AFWERX program will enable Valkyrie to continue developing the vehicle over the next six months. The USAF has been investing in several high-speed VTOL designs in recent months.
