S-PLANE’s X-KIT is employed by Airbus UpNext’s eXtra Performance Wing aircraft which successfully completed its first flights on 6 November 2023. As the project progresses, the X-KIT will be used to safely and reliably ensure the remote control of this modified Cessna Citation VII business jet to fly Airbus UpNext‘s breakthrough wing technologies. The goals of the first flights included testing the aircraft installation as well as the X-KIT‘s communication links to the aircraft.
S-PLANE‘s X-KIT is a set of airborne and ground equipment facilitating the conversion of human-piloted aircraft into prototype and production Uncrewed Airborne Systems (UAS) or Optionally Piloted Systems (OPS). At the heart of the X-KIT is an appliance known as the X-CUBE. According to Dr. Iain Peddle, S-PLANE’s Chief Technical Officer: “The X-CUBE interfaces with all the necessary aircraft sub-systems, such as fuel, engine, electrical power, communication and hydraulic systems to manage and control them.”
The X-KIT includes satellite and line-of-sight RF datalinks. On the ground, RF links are fitted to S-PLANE‘s rugged TRACKER+ directional antenna pointing solution. The communication equipment reliably links the aircraft to ground station equipment, such as S-PLANE‘s remote piloting stations and payload operator stations running their highly configurable ParagonC2 and ParagonISR software.
“S-PLANE is well experienced at the conversion of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft into UAS and OPS, having done so since 2008″, says Dr. Thomas Jones, S-PLANE‘s Chief Executive Officer. “Our practical experience, equipment and well-honed processes allow us to support safe, fast and affordable conversions, even for unconventional aircraft”.
Moreover, S-PLANE readily supplies their solutions to clients intending to certify their airborne systems. Therefore, the necessary X-KIT equipment is developed according to high design assurance levels and the applicable environmental qualification standards. “S-PLANE not only supplies equipment. We are always ready to support clients with system design and engineering, configuration, integration, flight testing and certification activities. With this approach our clients optimally benefit from our experience and can be sure that our equipment is properly configured within their larger system,” says Dr. Jones.
Recent examples of successful public domain projects are listed on S-PLANE’s website, including the X-KIT conversion of: A Tecnam P2006T to become Indra’s TARGUS OPS; and Stemme ES 15-based crewed and uncrewed airborne surveillance systems. UMS Skeldar’s V200 and V150 uncrewed helicopters also employ S-PLANE‘s NX-FCUs to meet their flight control and communication needs.
About S-PLANE:
For the past 15 years S-PLANE has been producing complete certification-ready automation, simulation, communication, and ground control solutions for crewed, uncrewed and optionally piloted airborne systems. Applicable aircraft range from 100kg to more than 10 tons of GMTOW. S-PLANE combines its market-leading products with system engineering, integration, testing and certification support to customize and deliver solutions to clients. Their portfolio spans fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and applies to civil and military special-mission and cargo transport operations.