Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to purchase six Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), comprising 17 aircraft. This marks the largest order for the Flexrotor to date.
The Flexrotor systems will be configured for a range of operations in the Asia-Pacific region, including littoral surveillance, high-altitude inland missions, infrastructure monitoring, and maritime environment assessment.
Each system will feature a heavy fuel engine optimized for maritime operations, enhancing safety and interoperability with naval assets. Starlink connectivity will allow beyond-line-of-sight operations and real-time situational awareness. Additionally, PT-6 imaging technology will provide high-resolution intelligence and surveillance capabilities.
Thomas Symes, CEO of Drone Forge, stated: “We are fully convinced that the Flexrotor, built on a strong engineering heritage, will allow us to tap into new markets with a proven solution where real-time intelligence, mission flexibility and reliability matters.”
Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters, added: “The landmark order opens a new chapter in our partnership with Drone Forge, reinforcing our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge crewed-uncrewed teaming capabilities to Asia-Pacific operators.”
This agreement follows a recent Letter of Intent between Airbus and Drone Forge for collaboration on deploying and integrating the Flexrotor UAS operationally.
The Flexrotor is Airbus’ latest addition to its UAS portfolio. It is designed for Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) missions with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs). It can operate for more than 12-14 hours in typical configurations and integrate various payloads like electro-optical systems and advanced sensors. The system can autonomously launch from land or sea within a minimal footprint area.
