Areté has partnered with Parallel Flight Technologies (PFT) under a Navy Office of Naval Research (ONR) contract to enhance maritime surveillance capabilities.
The collaboration focuses on integrating PFT’s Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), the Firefly, with Areté’s cutting-edge Pushbroom Imaging LiDAR for Littoral Surveillance (PILLS) system, and seeks to address the logistical challenges posed by larger, more costly UAS platforms.
Recognised as a ‘heavy-lift workhorse’ Parallel Flight’s USA-built flagship hybrid aircraft, the 270 lb (122 kg) MTOW Firefly, is well suited to numerous defense and industrial applications.
Backed by the National Security Innovation Council (NSIC), USDA, NASA, and NSF, the company’s proprietary Parallel Hybrid Electric Multirotor (PHEM) propulsion technology enables the Firefly to carry a 100 lb (45 kg) payload (not including fuel) for up to 1.6 hours, extending mission durations and expanding operational capabilities.
The combination of the Firefly’s versatility and cost-effectiveness with Areté’s PILLS LIDAR sensors aims to provide the U.S. Navy with a more agile and affordable expeditionary platform for coastal monitoring and surveying.
Eric Korpie, Areté Senior Program Manager, stated, “We’ve been very impressed by the agility of the Parallel Flight team. The Firefly platform shows great promise and the ability to successfully serve the Navy’s expeditionary needs in complex littoral environments.”
Craig Stevens, CEO of Parallel Flight Technologies, added, “We are excited to partner with Areté on this Navy ONR initiative. Our hybrid heavy-lift UAS, Firefly, represents significant advancement in meeting the evolving needs of mine countermeasures and littoral surveillance. This collaboration bolsters our commitment to delivering cost-effective solutions for critical defense missions.”
