Boeing’s subsidiary, Aurora Flight Sciences, has released a new render video unveiling their advanced Liberty Lifter wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) aircraft, currently in development for the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). This innovative aircraft boasts a 50,000-pound cargo capacity and an impressive 213-foot wingspan, designed to provide rapid, heavy-lift transportation without the need for airfields or ports.
The Liberty Lifter operates utilizing the ground effect, where air is trapped beneath the wings while flying close to the surface, improving range and efficiency. This feature enables the aircraft to transport heavy loads at high speeds, typically flying about 100 feet above water. Unlike previous Soviet Ekranoplan models, the Liberty Lifter is capable of flying at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet, allowing it to operate in rough sea conditions.
Aurora Flight Sciences aims for the Liberty Lifter to perform key military and emergency relief missions, including sea-based search and rescue operations and rapid logistics. The aircraft is expected to carry loads comparable to a Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and will be designed to operate in sea state 4 conditions (with waves between 1.25 and 2.5 meters) while offering a ferry range of 6,500 nautical miles.
In collaboration with Gibbs & Cox, Aurora is developing a 213-foot wingspan demonstrator, part of Phase 1 of the DARPA project, which aims to use low-cost shipbuilding techniques to keep production costs affordable. Tow tank testing has already been completed to validate its performance in rough sea conditions, and wind tunnel testing is planned for early 2025. The Liberty Lifter’s final design is expected to be completed by 2026, with flight tests projected to begin in 2028.