As the Internet resource CNews.ru informs, the World Surveillance Group company has successfully completed tests of the airship of the Argus One drone, the tests were carried out in the position of payloads and an integrated propulsion system. The new payload is the electro-optical system and the latest electronics, housed in an overhead container. The powerful propulsion system has shown very encouraging results, the new modification of the propeller should be noted, which provides better maneuverability.
At the moment, at the US Department of Energy's proving ground in the Oklahoma training center, engineers are preparing the drone to demonstrate its capabilities in flight tests. During the last test, the airship, having taken off for two hours, demonstrated good wind resistance and excellent maneuverability.
The Argus One's appearance is completely different from other rigid airships. The shell of Argus One is elongated, soft, has an original shape, is very mobile (easily fits into a small container), and besides, it perfectly resists the wind. The automatic system of the control unit continuously monitors the stiffness of the shell, monitors the aerodynamic qualities of the aircraft, and controls the stability of the flight in different environmental conditions. Continuous monitoring of the entire system allows you to adjust the rigidity of a single module and adjust the lifting force of the entire structure, which ultimately allows the airship to bend into a snake shape.
The capabilities of the Argus One airship are very diverse. The payload allows you to take on board various equipment or all kinds of systems weighing 13 tons. Government agencies and military departments have the ability to use the airship as a remote observation post for various reconnaissance missions. Airship control and monitoring of sensors operation is possible both at a programmable level, according to GPS control points, and manually.
The advantage of Argus One over most airships is its mobility, it does not require large hangars and airport infrastructure. In a matter of hours, this serpentine airship is launched and provides continuous data collection for several days. Radar signature by air defense means is very small, which is ensured by the softness of the tissue shell, which, after the completion of the task, is very simply folded up and placed in a container.
