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Drones & Air Taxis News

Airbus acquires drone company Aerovel

Ben SampsonBy Ben Sampson8th May 20242 Mins Read
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The Flexrotor drone is suitable for use in space-constrained locations Image: Airbus

Airbus has finalised the acquisition of US-based Aerovel and its Flexrotor drone.

Flexrotor is a small tactical unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions at sea and over land.

Mathilde Royer, head of strategy and sustainability at Airbus Helicopters said, “We see more and more armed forces and parapublic agencies around the world looking to investigate how unmanned aerial systems can strengthen their intelligence and surveillance capabilities.

“The Flexrotor, as a vertical takeoff and landing UAS, fits into our strategy to expand our UAS offerings. Together with the VSR700, we will continue to develop manned-unmanned teaming 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 Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25kg (55 lbs), designed for of more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration.

It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7m (12 by 12ft.) area, the Flexrotor is suitable for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint.

Through the support of the US Department of Defense (DoD), and contracted deployment in a variety of maritime security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven, force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments.

The Flexrotor is also being operated for parapublic missions such as forest fire surveillance (providing firefighters with critical images day or night) and can address other demanding mission needs, including ice navigation (helping guide naval vessels through ice in the Arctic ocean), law enforcement, and border patrol.

Aerovel currently employs more than 30 people and will continue to design and manufacture the Flexrotor in Bingen, Washington.

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Ben Sampson

Ben has worked as a journalist and editor, covering technology, engineering and industry for the last 20 years. Initially writing about subjects from nuclear submarines to autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies, he was editor of a leading UK-based engineering magazine before becoming editor of Aerospace Testing in 2017.

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