Contributor - UK

David Donald

Perth, Australia-based start-up Drone Forge has agreed to acquire six Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems (UAS)&nbsp;comprising a total of 17 aircraft. The aircraft are intended for a range of operational requirements in the Asia-Pacific region, including littoral surveillance, inland high-altitude surveys, maritime environment assessment, and infrastructure monitoring.
Each vehicle will be powered by a heavy-fuel engine that provides greater safety, fuel availability, and interoperability in the maritime environment for which they are optimized.
Starlink connectivity allows for over-the-horizon operation, and the vehicles will incorporate PT-6 imaging technology for high-resolution intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and wide-area maritime monitoring. The order follows a letter of intent to collaborate on the deployment and operational integration of the UAS.
Flexrotor has a maximum launch weight of 55 pounds and, in typical operation, can conduct autonomous ISR missions of 12 to 14 hours endurance and return to land on a 12-by-12-foot area. A variety of payload options is available.
Airbus and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency announced on Wednesday that an agreement had been signed covering the development of crewed-uncrewed teaming operations and the exploration of how they can improve situational awareness during missions.
Airbus will integrate its HTeaming modular crewed-uncrewed teaming system aboard a Republic of Singapore Air Force Airbus H225M helicopter, allowing the crew to take control of Flexrotor air vehicles. The H225M is in use by the RSAF for a range of missions, including overwater operations such as search and rescue.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

Airbus Helicopters Flexrotor UAS Secures Largest Order to Date

Australian company Drone Forge is purchasing six complete systems with 17 air vehicles

Perth-based Australian start-up Drone Forge has agreed with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six Flexrotor uncrewed air systems (UASs), with 17 air vehicles.

Flexrotor UAS Secures Largest Order to Date

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

A demonstrator is expected to be available for flight testing no later than the end of 2026

France Contracts Daher and Thales To Develop MALE Drone

GA-ASI has partnered with Saab to offer low-cost airborne early warning

General Atomics, Saab Propose Affordable AEW

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Tests illustrate how regular helicopters can be converted for autonomous operations

Honeywell Flies Autonomous Helicopter

Anduril and General Atomics are showing their collaborative combat aircraft in full scale

Loyal Wingmen Face Off in Paris

Baykar’s proven UAVs integrated with Leonardo’s sensors and systems is the offer from LBA Systems

Leonardo Joins Forces With Baykar To Pursue UAV Opportunities

New developments and products in avionics, specifically about aircraft electronics in the cockpit.

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Paris Air Show 2025

In this article

Airbus

More In Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

France Contracts Daher and Thales To Develop MALE Drone

A demonstrator is expected to be available for flight testing no later than the end of 2026

General Atomics, Saab Propose Affordable AEW

GA-ASI has partnered with Saab to offer low-cost airborne early warning

Honeywell Flies Autonomous Helicopter

Tests illustrate how regular helicopters can be converted for autonomous operations

Loyal Wingmen Face Off in Paris

Anduril and General Atomics are showing their collaborative combat aircraft in full scale

Leonardo Joins Forces With Baykar To Pursue UAV Opportunities

Baykar’s proven UAVs integrated with Leonardo’s sensors and systems is the offer from LBA Systems

Parrot Launches Flock of AI-Based Micro UAVs and an Autopilot

Anafi UKR drone can be deployed in military or public safety missions

UVision Introduces Smart Launch for Loitering Munitions

Company develops a minimum-integration launch system for its Hero-120 loitering munition

Boeing’s Ghost Bat Readies for Interoperability Trials

The MQ-28A has been developed for the RAAF’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft program

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN