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Robinson Helicopter Company has established Robinson Unmanned, a new business unit dedicated to developing and supporting a full suite of remotely piloted and autonomous aircraft.
This move marks a significant structural shift for the company, transitioning from a traditional rotorcraft manufacturer to a provider of scalable, autonomous vertical flight systems. The new division expands the company’s current business to include a wide range of manned and unmanned vertical lift solutions for civil, commercial, and defense sectors. Robinson Unmanned integrates the coaxial, modular, small UAS from subsidiary Ascent AeroSystems with larger uncrewed platforms built on the existing R44 and R66 airframes. These larger platforms are powered by strategic agreements with Rotor Technologies and Sikorsky Helicopters.
The division is led by Paul Fermo, current president of Ascent AeroSystems, who serves as president of Robinson Unmanned. By combining five decades of high-volume manufacturing expertise with advanced autonomous technology, the unit aims to provide reliable, high-volume airframes for missions requiring accessible readiness.
David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company, said, “Robinson is officially entering the ‘Era of Both,’ a fundamental shift where flight is no longer a choice between human intuition and machine precision, but the seamless integration of both. By folding the Rotor Technologies R44 remotely piloted solutions into our existing fleet of Ascent small and technology-agnostic, heavy-lift drones, we are creating a versatile ecosystem of certified, proven airframes capable of tackling any mission profile. Our goal isn’t just to build better helicopters; it’s to build smarter, safer VTOL solutions. By fusing human expertise with autonomous reliability, we are massively amplifying mission capability while significantly reducing operational risk. In environments where the danger is highest, our technology is at its strongest, ensuring that we aren’t just protecting the pilot, but redefining what’s possible.”
The product fleet is categorized into large and small UAS platforms. The Large UAS category includes Group 3 and 4 aircraft using common engine, drivetrain, and rotor systems from Robinson manned helicopters. This includes the R44 AIRTRUCK for cargo and surveillance, the R44 SPRAYHAWK for agricultural operations, both featuring the RPX autonomy suite by Rotor Technologies, and the R66 TURBINETRUCK for defense logistics, which utilizes the Matrix autonomy system from Sikorsky.
The Small UAS category consists of Group 1 and 2 NDAA-compliant coaxial aircraft. These include the HELIUS nano UAS, the SPIRIT multi-mission UAS, and the SPARTAN high-performance platform designed for extended endurance and multi-sensor integration.
Paul Fermo, President of Robinson Unmanned, added, “At Robinson Unmanned our primary mission is to expand customer capability through mass deployment of unmanned vertical lift. We are moving past the era of static solutions and instead championing rapid iteration and seamless technology integration. By focusing our engineering expertise on modular, open systems, and autonomy-agnostic platforms, we ensure our fleet evolves at the speed of the mission, not the speed of a traditional procurement cycle. Our competitive edge lies in Robinson’s vertically integrated manufacturing and scalability, which allows us to deliver aircraft-grade performance at a cost structure built for high-volume operations. Furthermore, our purpose-designed architecture allows us to scale effortlessly from single-system precision to complex, coordinated swarm missions.”
This transition ensures continuity for existing customers and defense partners, as Robinson Unmanned formally integrates Ascent AeroSystems and Robinson Helicopter Company. All existing product support, technical roadmaps, and program commitments remain in place. The company maintains all security and supply chain certifications previously earned under Ascent AeroSystems, including CMMC Level 2 and Blue UAS status for the SPIRIT platform. These operations are supported by Robinson’s manufacturing scale and long-term operational stability in the United States.
Smith added, “Unmanned systems are not a departure from our heritage. They are a continuation of it. The same commitment to safety, reliability, and performance that has defined Robinson helicopters for more than 50 years now extends across our uncrewed platforms. Together with Paul Fermo, Robinson Helicopter and Robinson Unmanned will scale integrated vertical flight for the next 50 years, in this new ‘Era of Both.’”
