Airbus has completed the purchase of Aerovel, a U.S.-based company, and its unmanned aerial system (UAS), Flexrotor, as part of its strategy to enhance its range of tactical unmanned solutions. Flexrotor, a compact tactical unmanned aerial system, is specifically crafted for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions both on land and at sea.
“We are witnessing an increasing number of para-public and military organizations worldwide examining ways to enhance their intelligence and surveillance capacities through the use of unmanned aerial systems. As a vertical take-off and landing UAS, the Flexrotor complements our plan to increase the range of UAS we provide. Airbus Helicopters Head of Strategy and Sustainability Mathilde Royer stated, “We will continue to develop manned-unmanned teaming in conjunction with the VSR700 to offer our customers the enhanced and expanded mission capabilities that they require to monitor and safeguard their communities and critical infrastructure, while preserving essential assets such as helicopters.”
The Flexrotor is a contemporary VTOL unmanned aircraft designed for 12- to 14-hour ISTAR missions, with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs). It can carry a variety of payloads for specific mission requirements, such as sophisticated sensors and electro-optical systems. With its compact size of about 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.), Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary operations that require autonomous launch and recovery capabilities on land or in the sea. Flexrotor, backed by the US Department of Defence, has been used in several maritime security drills to demonstrate its effectiveness in difficult, GPS-denied conditions. It also performs para-public functions like tracking forest fires and navigating ice in the Arctic. Within a well-established UAS ecosystem, Aerovel, which employs over thirty people, carries on Flexrotor’s design and manufacturing in Bingen, Washington, signalling significant growth prospects.
