Airbus Helicopters has signed an agreement with Aerovel for the acquisition of the Flexrotor Unmanned Aerial System (UAS). The unmanned helicopter will be integrated into Airbus’s helicopter division, filling the gap for small tactical UAS operations for government and military operators. The acquisition has been approved by both companies, but is still subject to regulatory approvals. As part of the acquisition, Aerovel will remain a United States based company. Aerovel will maintain collaboration with the U.S. Defense Department under the Airbus Special Security Agreement (SSA).
A Tactical Unmanned Platform
According to Airbus, the Aerovel flexrotor is completely unmanned, and can carry out intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISTAR) over different land and sea environments. It can operate ISTAR missions for 12-14 hours at a time and can land on either land or sea. For launch and recovery, it only requires a 12×12′ operating area, making the platform ideal for expeditionary operations. “Joining forces with Airbus will allow us to scale innovation, accelerate our mission to advance unmanned aviation, and maintain our unwavering support for the US military and its allies. We are proud to become part of an organization with a rich legacy of aerospace excellence and we look forward to leveraging our combined strengths to define the future of autonomous systems” said Ali Dian, CEO of Aerovel.
Airbus has also began development of other unmanned helicopter platforms as well as manned helicopters for the United States Army. Transaction closing for Aerovel and its integration into Airbus Helicopters is expected to complete in 2024, pending approvals.