As seems clear from the title, “optionally piloted vehicles» (Optionally Piloted Vehicle, OPV) may be right in the flight to go from fully automatic mode to control the flight by the pilot on board.

Submitted by Northrop Grumman unit Firebird in its basic configuration is a new reconnaissance drone with quite an impressive capacity (562 kg). According to the company, Connect-compatible devices for communications, reconnaissance and surveillance is as easy as connecting the flash memory on the PC: new hardware is automatically recognized and installed the system. With a wingspan of 19.8 m and a length of 10,3 m Firebird carries a pair of engines Lycoming TEO-540 and can operate at altitudes up to 9 km, carrying out missions lasting from 24 to 40 hours.

But the most interesting thing is that no later than early June, the company promises to provide apparatus and a version in the new format »OPV. The presentation will take place within the planned U.S. military exercises in Arizona. This event may indicate that OPV-system, we get a spread of the use for research purposes, may also find application in solving military tasks. And soon, somewhere in the sky to Asia or Africa may well emerge not only aircraft and drones, but such “semi-manned” vehicles.