Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Gremlins Air Vehicle Takes Flight
Dynetics performed the first free flight test of its X-61A Gremlins air-launched, air-recoverable UAS in November 2019.
Five X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicles have been built by Kratos for the Dynetics-led demonstration. The first was lost at the end of its first test, but the overall mission was a success. (Photo: Dynetics)
Five X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicles have been built by Kratos for the Dynetics-led demonstration. The first was lost at the end of its first test, but the overall mission was a success. (Photo: Dynetics)

Dynetics undertook the first flight of its X-61A Gremlins Air Vehicle (GAV) in November last year, the company revealed on January 17. Gremlins is a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) program, handled by the agency’s Tactical Technology Office. The aim is to demonstrate the feasibility of the air-launch and mid-air recovery of low-cost unmanned air systems (UASs) that could perform reconnaissance and other missions in “volley" quantities.