INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters have signed an agreement to purchase six Flexrotor unmanned aerial systems
comprising 17 aircraft, making it the single largest order for the Flexrotor to date.The mission-ready Flexrotor systems will be configured
to meet a broad range of operational requirements in the Asia-Pacific region, spanning littoral surveillance and high-altitude inland
missions, to infrastructure monitoring and maritime environment assessment.Each UAS will feature a heavy fuel engine optimised for maritime
operations, ensuring greater safety, fuel availability, and interoperability with naval assets
It will also incorporate Starlink connectivity, enabling beyond-line-of-sight operations and real-time situational awareness
Additionally, the Flexrotor will be equipped with PT-6 imaging technology, providing stabilised, high-resolution intelligence, surveillance
engineering heritage, will allow us to tap into new markets with a proven solution where real-time intelligence, mission flexibility and
partnership with Drone Forge, reinforcing our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities to
addition to its UAS portfolio
A modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), it has been designed for
ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration
With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor
is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint.Source: Airbus
