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Schematic showing early internal layout for the Sikorsky Cypher I. Sikorsky Aircraft Company A test flight in 1997 of the unmanned Sikorsky Cypher I vehicle by the US Army. US Army mode and an operational range of about 15 miles (24km). A prolonged period of development fol- lowed the completion of the first prototype, and Cypher also participated in the US Army’s Autonomous Scout Rotorcraft Test-bed (ASRT) demonstration programme. This led to the US Army’s Force Protection Equipment Demonstration in Virginia during 1997. Cypher was used in many simulated roles and with various different payload packages designed for reconnaissance, surveillance, jamming, decoy, communications relay, fire control and re-supplying small payloads of critical equipment. Highly specialised sen- sors have also been tested to detect NBC threats and to remotely examine under- ground structures. A standard sensor pack- age developed for this UAV comprises of a visible light video camera, an infra-red video camera and a laser rangefinder mounted on a pan-and-tilt head, supplemented with a separate acoustic pick-up. A 360° coverage is possible with + or -30° elevation or depres- sion for video surveillance. However, this machine with its payload UAV via a digital telemetry link. Cypher’s Sikorsky attempted to interest police forces was primarily designed to be controlled by _ shape helped to reduce the vehicle’s radar and the media in this UAV, but it became a single operator, monitoring the flight from signature and it had a maximum speed of clear that further work was required to iron no more than a laptop computer running 8lmph (130km/h), a ceiling of 8,000ft out some of the bugs present in the design. Windows software with a connection to the (2,438m), a three-hour endurance in hover There were two important issues to resolve yor However, this machine with its payload was primarily designed to be controlled by a single operator, monitoring the flight from no more than a laptop computer running Windows software with a connection to the UAV via a digital telemetry link. Cypher’s shape helped to reduce the vehicle’s radar signature and it had a maximum speed of 8lmph (130km/h), a ceiling of 8,000ft (2,438m), a three-hour endurance in hover 152 es Schematic showing early internal layout for the Sikorsky Cypher I. Sikorsky Aircraft Company Secret Projects: Flying Saucer Aircraft