Bye Aerospace, Inc. Announces Plans to Develop Hybrid Remote Piloted Vehicle

Denver, Colorado – Bye Aerospace, Inc. announced it intends to develop a hybrid remote piloted vehicle (H-RPV) called the Silent Sentinel. The H-RPV will be designed primarily for military use; however, its capabilities will also include a broad spectrum of civil applications.

The first of its kind hybrid utilizes stored electric power, thin film solar photovoltaics (PV), and other technologies to enhance its endurance, quiet operations and low emissions.  Bye Aerospace is teamed with thin film PV manufacturer Ascent Solar to develop the solar energy capability on the aircraft. For primary propulsion the hybrid RPV will be coupled with an advanced Williams International FJ33 turbofan.  The efficient engine will provide the RPV remarkable climb rates and high altitude quick access to areas requiring surveillance.

Charlie Johnson, Chief Operating Officer of Bye Aerospace, said the Silent Sentinel is a robust, long-range RPV that will incorporate several proprietary clean energy features. “Ultimately, it will provide advanced tactical reconnaissance functionality with stealth characteristics while utilizing a unique long endurance, highly capable tactical sensor platform that is cost-effective to operate,” he said.

Dr. Joseph Armstrong, Chief Technical Officer of Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. stated, “Our flexible, monolithically integrated CIGS PV technology offers the ideal combination of low weight, higher voltage, and high performance that makes it ideal for applications such as the Silent Sentinel. Optimization of the production of our modules continues as planned, and we look forward to providing Bye Aerospace the materials they require for their vehicle.”

George Bye, Bye Aerospace CEO, commented, “Ascent Solar PV is the ideal solution of powering advanced RPV such as the Silent Sentinel.”  

Potential military applications include border patrol, search and rescue, visual and thermal reconnaissance, and forward air control. In addition, potential civil applications include traffic control, pipeline and power line inspection, aerial law enforcement, forest fire detection and aerial photography. Initial meetings are being conducted with US Government entities regarding the capabilities of the aircraft.  More are planned in the near term.