On May 09th, the Pentagon awarded a contract worth US$ 05 million to Aurora flight sciences to continue developing a new large seaplane for the United States military.
With the agreement, the Department of Defense, through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), guarantees Aurora as the developer and future manufacturer of the seaplane and eliminates General Atomics from the competition, called the Liberty Lifter.
Officially called Liberty Lifter Seaplane Wing-in-Ground Effect, the program seeks to develop a concept seaplane, the size of a C-130 Hercules. If the project is successful, the aircraft could be the size of a C-17 Globemaster III. The USA's main transport jet, the Boeing C-17 is 53 meters long, has a wingspan of 51 meters and can carry 77 tons of cargo.
The future Liberty Lifter should be able to perform long-distance flights at low altitudes, using the ground effect to maintain lift, and fly at 10.000 feet at speeds higher than those of existing platforms. The project must also be low-cost and Aurora must use high-efficiency production techniques and materials used by modern naval industry. Furthermore, the military wants the new seaplane to land and take off in condition 4 seas, with waves of up to around 2,5 meters.
The latest concept presented by Aurora, a subsidiary company of Boeing, based in Virginia, shows an aircraft with eight engines, wingtip floats and two V-shaped vertical stabilizers. The aircraft will also have a rear cargo ramp for boarding and landing of troops, equipment and vehicles.
Now, the development of the United States' giant seaplane will be completely led by Aurora. The project will undergo a preliminary review in 2025 and a flying prototype should be presented between 2027 and 2028.
