UAV · VTOL UAV
A160 Hummingbird
Boeing · United States
Unmanned VTOL rotorcraft (YMQ-18A) with optimum-speed-rotor design enabling very long endurance and high-altitude hover; demonstrated 18.7h flight in 2008. Cancelled 2012.
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | VTOL / Hybrid |
| Subtype | VTOL UAV |
| Role | Reconnaissance and cargo demonstrator |
| Class | VTOL UAV |
| Classification | VTOL rotorcraft UAS |
| Mission | ISR, Cargo/resupply, Communications relay |
| Variants | A160; A160T; YMQ-18A |
| Notable partners | Boeing; Frontier Systems (original); DARPA |
| Operators | United States (test) |
| Frame type | Multirotor |
| Length (m) | 11 |
| Propulsion | Turboprop |
| Range (km) | 4630 |
| Wingspan (m) | 11 |
| Combat-proven | No |
| Export status | Not exported |
| Launch method | Vertical takeoff |
| Autonomy level | Autonomous VTOL |
| Endurance (min) | 1440 |
| Recovery method | Vertical landing |
| Year introduced | 2002 |
| Max payload (kg) | 454 |
| Max speed (km/h) | 260 |
| Standard sensors | Forester FOPEN radar (test), EO/IR (test) |
| Production status | Cancelled (2012) |
| Notable engagements | 18.7-hour endurance flight May 2008 |
| Service ceiling (m) | 9144 |
| Airframe / lift type | VTOL hybrid – quadplane |
| Control / autonomy level | Semi-autonomous (human-on-the-loop) |
| Domain | Aerial (UAV/UAS) |
| Mission / use case – civil | Research |
| Mission / use case – military | Comms relay, ISR, Logistics / resupply |
| Origin / supply chain | Military-grade |
| Propulsion | Turbine / jet |
| Range / endurance | Long range (>650 km) |
| Speed regime | High (150–400 km/h) |
| Strike depth / operational role | Mothership / relay (carrier drone launching FPVs or extending link range) |
| Threat vector | Smuggling / payload delivery, Surveillance / reconnaissance |
Review-stage catalogue data — specs corroborated from manufacturer and secondary sources; not for procurement decisions. Source: www.boeing.com