Jun. 15--PARIS -- Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. is building a prototype pilotless aircraft in Fort Worth with wings that fold up like a paper airplane.
The unmanned aerial vehicle promises to look like something out of a sci-fi flick.

The goal of the "hunter killer" project is to produce an aircraft suitable for hovering around for surveillance, which can then change shape and dash off to shoot at a target.

The idea originated after a Lockheed customer involved in the current conflict in Iraq said he was interested in a drone that could zip in quickly enough to neutralize a target before it disappeared.

That intrigued engineers at Lockheed Martin's famed research and development unit, known as the "Skunk Works," and within months they had developed a Morphing UAV.

Engineers first tried to field a test version last year at Edwards Air Force Base in California, but it hit a berm and cracked up its landing gear, slowing down testing as they waited for a replacement.

" 'Just in time delivery' means after you use it there are no more," joked Frank Cappuccio, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's advanced development programs and the Skunk Works.

But the parts have now been replaced, and the vehicle, which is about 15 feet from wing tip to wing tip, will flight-test in the desert in about three weeks.

"For the first flight we'll keep the wings locked and expand to Mach speed to validate the flight controls," said Mr. Cappuccio at the Paris Air Show, the world's largest trade show for the aerospace, aviation and defense industries. "We'll be in flight-test for about six months before we fold the wings."

So far, the concept is being funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, an arm of the Defense Department, as part of a Morphing Aircraft Structures Program that began in 2003.

Lockheed Martin will pick up the tab for the landing gear mishap.

"They don't pay us to crash things. It's on our own nickel," said Mr. Cappuccio.

Usually defense companies don't like to talk much about their experimental projects, and much of the program is classified.

Lockheed declined to say how many people work on the Morphing UAV in Fort Worth. But the company decided to allow Mr. Cappuccio to explain some of its concepts under development at a briefing here.

After flight-testing, next up will be development of the shaped-memory polymer skins. The skins begin changing in shape when an activator, such as heat, is triggered. Position sensors and stopping mechanisms guarantee the right shape.

"If we can solve the flying, we'll put more research in the polymer. There's no sense in the United States government spending $15 million to $25 million for materials yet," Mr. Cappuccio said.

Morphing wings are the latest in a long list of airplane parts that change design during operation. For instance, there are variable sweep wings, as well as retractable landing gear and flaps all moving throughout flight and landing. But Lockheed's new test vehicle takes design changes to a new level by totally altering the plane's look.

Skunk Works hopes to take the concept even further and is working on ways to launch the UAV from the missile silos of decommissioned Trident subs.

This idea involves shooting the UAV out of the silo to do its mission and then having it dive into the water to return to the submarine for reloading.

DARPA is also funding this aspect of the Morphing UAV program with U.S. Navy support. Testing should begin in six to nine months.

Challenges to the concept include whether Lockheed can figure out how to successfully capture the UAV and pull it back into the submarine. A watertight airframe and adequate seals to protect the propulsion system also are needed.

"The engine people wouldn't buy into us rinsing the engine," Mr. Cappuccio.

Mr. Cappuccio says he knows that a submarine-launched UAV sounds farfetched, but he's willing to have his engineers work on it anyway.

"We have a different approach. We say it's OK to dream," he said.

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Publication date: 2005-06-15