Whisper Aero Unveils New Family of Systems Called “Collaborative Logistics Aircraft” for U.S DOD
U.S‑based Whisper Aero, a next-generation propulsion provider, unveiled this week a new family of systems for contested logistics known as “Collaborative Logistics Aircraft” (CLA) during a Special Operations Forces Week, reports a press release.
The release explains, “Light (500 lbm payload) and heavy (3,000 lbm payload) variants of CLA were revealed utilising Whisper’s proprietary UltraQuiet propulsion and JetFoil integrations for conventional and short takeoff and landing (STOL). Development of these aircraft is being accelerated by the U.S Air Force (USAF) who has chosen Whisper Aero for funding via Strategic Finance Increase (STRATFI) and Operational Energy Capabilities Improvement Fund (OECIF) contracts.”
It continues, “Today’s joint air mobility portfolio relies heavily on large, fuel-hungry, runway-dependent aircraft that strain operational resilience. Shorter, less-maintained runways left over from World War II in the Pacific and other theatres make future contested logistics especially challenging. Increasingly, decentralised and more autonomous operations are being explored to deliver critical payloads on time.”
And goes on, “However, new aircraft capabilities are required to ensure payload delivery in new Agile Combat Employment concepts. To meet future needs, logistics aircraft of the future need to be capable of STOL or VTOL operations, to be autonomous, more efficient, survivable, maintainable and affordable.”
Whisper has looked at how its propulsive innovations could tackle an improving contested air logistics and conceived CLA. Instead of one singular platform, the company believes that cargo missions will increasingly rely on distributed fleets of right-sized logistics UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) capable of operation from restrictive runways at any time of day.
Whisper says its innovative propulsion systems are the core enablers for these platforms.
The release explains, “Multiple eQ250 propulsors, capable of 80 lbf of thrust, are integrated into the leading edge of the wings of these aircraft, in a concept known as JetFoil, to achieve coefficients of lift as high as 14, critical for short takeoff and landing from degraded runways. eQ250 propulsive efficiency improves at higher speeds, enabling higher speed flight of up to 250 kts with reduced acoustic and thermal signatures compared to existing turboprop or turbojet propelled aircraft.”
It adds, “Static performance has been verified through tests with the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) at White Sands Missile Range’s (WSMR) Acoustic Range Complex (ARC).”
The CLA name “is a nod to the Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA),” in which autonomous capabilities are being employed to revamp how the Air Force projects airpower. Whisper believes an autonomous systems’ approach to the logistics challenge will unlock new concept of operations (CONOPS) to move payloads anywhere and at any time. Without the requirement for a pilot on board, these aircraft are designed to be more affordable and identifiable. They can reposition themselves with greater fuel efficiency, prioritising energy needs for other aircraft in the fleet.
The company has been selected for STRATFI and OECIF funding by the USAF to advance its CLA development. This comes after various years of maturing and validating its propulsion technologies together with AFWERX and the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) on prior small business contracts.
First, Whisper is leveraging its Ultralight, a retrofitted Swift3 glider with two eQ250s, to gather flight test data and advance the thrusters to technology readiness level (TRL) 7/8. The company recently announced a USD500,000 award by the State of Tennessee in conjunction with Tennessee Tech to accelerate this effort. After successful civil flight tests, the team expects to advance to trialling with the Air Force Test Centre at White Sands Missile Range’s Acoustic Range Complex next year.
The Ultralight
Once the Ultralight is airborne, the engineering team will set its sights “on the CLA Light, a 1,300 lbm Group 3 UAS capable of carrying 500 lbm payload over 200 NM or ferrying over 2,000 NM with no payload,” says the release. The CLA Light is a clean sheet design leveraging JetFoil arrays of twelve eQ250 on its main wing to enable CTOL or STOL with a 50 ft takeoff/landing ground roll. “Its long range and STOL capabilities,” continues the release, “are enabled by a 40 kW powerplant and a small battery and can dash at 175 kts. The nose easily opens to reveal an accessible payload bay for cargo specialists to load and unload necessary supplies.”
The team expects flight trials to begin in 2027.
CLA Heavy will then build upon the learnings of the CLA Light and its test campaign. As a 10,140 lbm optionally crewed retrofit Group 5 UAS, the CLA Heavy will feature a new wing with eQ250 JetFoil arrays for CTOL or STOL flights with a 300 ft takeoff/landing ground roll. Its 50 ft wingspan features 30 higher voltage eQ250s proven out on the glider and CLA Light, enabling more robustness in flight due to no critical propulsor parts or subcomponents.
Equipped with a 600 kW powerplant, the CLA Heavy will be capable of up to 250 kt speeds, 800 NM range with 3,000 lbm of payload, or 3,000 NM ferry flights with no payload. While the aircraft has been designed for cargo missions, it can be reconfigured for multiple missions where STOL and UltraQuiet flights may be enablers.
During the next four years, Whisper aims to focus its air mobility on rapidly designing, building and flying multiple full-scale CLA variants with the intention of bringing this capability to service. The designs of these aircraft, their propulsion systems, manufacturing plan, and prototype builds will be covered through Whisper’s DOD contracts. Flight testing is to begin through funded internal R&D before transitioning to funded DOD flight experimentation and exercises.
As a propulsion company, Whisper Aero is not developing the CLA family of systems alone. Additional manufacturing and autonomy partners will be announced soon. VTOL variants may be explored in the future through additional partnerships.
For more information
(Images: Whisper Aero)
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