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Australian aerospace company Drone Forge has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six complete Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, totaling 17 aircraft.
The deal represents a major milestone in the deployment of advanced Vertical Takeoff and Landing UAS solutions for complex missions across the Asia Pacific region.
The Flexrotor platforms will be delivered in mission-ready configurations tailored for diverse operational scenarios, ranging from littoral surveillance and high-altitude inland reconnaissance to critical infrastructure monitoring and environmental assessments over maritime zones. Each aircraft will be equipped with a heavy fuel engine specifically configured for maritime use, enhancing safety, fuel logistics, and interoperability with naval forces.
Beyond visual line of sight capability will be enabled through integrated Starlink connectivity, ensuring real-time situational awareness and secure data transmission in remote and contested environments. The systems will also incorporate PT-6 stabilized imaging payloads, delivering high-resolution intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for extended wide-area maritime monitoring.
This agreement follows a recent Letter of Intent signed between Drone Forge and Airbus, laying the groundwork for long-term collaboration in the operational deployment and integration of the Flexrotor system. With a maximum launch weight of 25 kilograms and an endurance of over 12 hours in typical mission configurations, the Flexrotor offers exceptional flexibility for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance missions. Its autonomous launch and recovery system requires only a compact 3.7 by 3.7 meter footprint, making it ideally suited for shipborne operations and expeditionary missions where space and infrastructure are limited.
Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge, said, “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. We look forward to integrating and commercialising the Flexrotor systems in the region.”
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. With strong confidence in the Flexrotor’s efficiency and reliability, this force multiplier will drive operational excellence in defence and security applications.”
The Flexrotor adds a versatile, highly capable VTOL platform to Airbus’ growing UAS portfolio, supporting defense and civil customers with evolving mission requirements in austere or maritime environments.
