The US company Airbus has completed the acquisition of the US company Aerovel and its Flexrotor unmanned aerial system (UAS). Airbus is thus strengthening its portfolio of tactical unmanned solutions. The Flexrotor was developed for reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mathilde Royer, Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Airbus Helicopters, said: “We are seeing more and more armed forces and parapublic authorities around the world exploring how unmanned aerial systems can strengthen their reconnaissance and surveillance capabilities. The Flexrotor as a vertical take-off and landing UAS fits into our strategy to expand our UAS offering. Together with the VSR700, we will further expand the collaboration between manned and unmanned systems.”
The Flexrotor, a modern unmanned VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 25 kilograms, was developed for ISTAR missions of more than twelve to 14 hours. Various types of payloads can be mounted on the aircraft, including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors, to meet the user’s individual mission requirements. The device can launch autonomously from land or sea, requiring an area of slightly less than 4×4 meters. This makes it ideal for expedition missions that require a minimal footprint.
With support from the US Department of Defense (DoD) and contract use in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is already field-proven in harsh, hazardous environments without GPS. The Flexrotor is also used for semi-public missions such as monitoring forest fires, as it can provide firefighters with important images day and night. However, the focus is naturally on other missions, such as ice navigation – i.e. guiding naval vessels through the ice in the Arctic – law enforcement and border protection.
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