Piasecki XV-25 ARES
The history of the ARES UAV begins in 2009, when DARPA started a program called Transformer (TX). The objective of that program was to develop a kind of small "roadable aircraft" or "flying car" for forward military operations. Envisaged was a ground vehicle for up to 4 persons, which could also vertically take-off and land to travel some distance by air. Even though Phase II contracts (for concrete vehicle design) had been awarded to AAI and Lockheed Martin by 2011, Transformer (TX) didn't proceed to an actual flight demonstration. Because of slow progress, and a lack of interest by the military services in the ground vehicle part, the program was reoriented in 2013 towards an unmanned VTOL flying platform, which could carry large configurable payload modules. At that time, the program name ARES (Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System) was introduced. A contract to develop an ARES flight demonstrator was awarded to a team of Piasecki Aircraft (airframe and integration) and Lockheed Martin (flight control system).
The Piasecki ARES-DV (Demonstration Vehicle) design has a central wing section, attached to a framework resting on a high-legged quadracycle landing gear. This allows for the attachment of a relatively large mission payload between the landing gear legs. The outer sections on each side consist of a large ducted fan and a smaller wing section. Fan and outer wing can be tilted as a whole to allow vertical take-off and landing, hovering, and forward flight faster than a conventional cargo helicopter. The fans are driven by two Honeywell 900 turboshaft engines. The vehicle has no vertical control surfaces, and the total wingspan is about 13 m (42 ft).
Progress on the ARES-DV was rather slow. By 2019, it had reached only ground testing in cooperation with the U.S. Marine Corps, when DARPA cancelled ARES because of the delays and significant cost overruns.
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| Photo: Piasecki |
| ARES-DV (XV-25A) |
After the cancellation, Piasecki continued the development of the ARES-DV using their own funds. The company eventually received funding support from both the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force through SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) contracts. In 2023, Piasecki received another contract through the Air Force Research Lab's AFWERX innovation organization. In March 2024, the ARES-DV was officially designated XV-25A on behalf of the Army and Air Force. The first hover flight of the XV-25A occurred on 6 September 2024.
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| Photo: Piasecki |
| XV-25A (with M4 pod) |
ARES' initial payload is the so-called Mobile Multiple Mission Module (M4) pod, developed for the U.S. Army's Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). It is designed for casualty evacuation, as well as generic troop and cargo transport. The XV-25A has demonstrated hovering capability both with and without the M4 pod.
Specifications
Details about the specifications of the XV-25A are not available.
Main Sources
[1] DARPA: ARES Aims to Provide More Front-line Units with
Mission-tailored VTOL Capabilities, February 2014
[2] Piasecki Website:
ARES - Aerial Reconfigurable Embedded System, May 2021
[3] The War Zone, Joseph Trevithick:
Tilt-Ducted Fan ARES
Drone Designed To Carry Modular Payloads Has Finally Lifted Off, September 2024
Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 4
Last Updated: 17 March 2025