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Aurora Flight Sciences

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Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Autonomy | Flight Testing United States of America
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Aurora Flight Sciences

Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) | Autonomy | Flight Testing

9950 Wakeman Dr Manassas, VA 20110 United States of America Regional Offices
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Aurora Flight Sciences is a leading developer of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aviation technologies. We have a 35-year history of creating innovative solutions that span the state of the art in aircraft design, autonomy, propulsion, and a range of other disciplines.

Our products and our R&D capabilities solve problems for customers in the global defense, government, and commercial sectors. We offer mission-ready unmanned aircraft systems, and we design, build, and fly experimental aircraft that demonstrate cutting-edge technologies.

SKIRON-X Small Unmanned Aerial Aircraft System

Tactical Group 2 UAS with VTOL capability & ISR payload

SKIRON-X ISR UAV

The SKIRON-X Group 2 UAS combines the simple operation of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) drone with the longer endurance of a fixed-wing design. It’s easy to setup and fly, and its integrated EO/IR camera payload provides excellent ground resolution for airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).

SKIRON-X sUAS for ISRThe aircraft is designed for efficient deployment with a small footprint and intuitive controls that don’t require a specialist to operate. Advanced autonomy makes operation even easier, and its modular payload allows quick swaps and custom integrations. With hours of flight time and long-range military-grade RF communications, SKIRON-X is well-suited for a variety of operations.

SKIRON-X UAS

SKIRON-X

  • Easy-to-swap battery
  • 3.5 hr. endurance
  • Under 10-minutes to set up and launch

SKIRON-XLE UAS

SKIRON-XLE

  • Powered by a hydrogen fuel cell
  • 7 hr. endurance
  • 54 lbs. take-off weight

Specifications:

SKIRON-X SKIRON-XLE
Wingspan 5.0 m / 16 ft 6 in 5.0 m / 16 ft 6 in
Takeoff weight 22.2 kg / 49 lb with Trillium HD55 and battery 24.5 kg / 54 lb with Trillium HD55, fuel cell, tanks
Propulsion system 40Ah Li-ion rechargeable battery 800W hydrogen fuel cell with rechargeable LiPo battery and fuel tanks
Flight endurance 3.5 hours 7 hours
Max speed 26 m/s / 50 knots 26 m/s / 50 knots
Cruise speed 19 m/s / 36 knots 19 m/s / 36 knots

More information: SKIRON-X UAS >

Flight Operations & Testing

Integration and flight testing of innovative technologies

Aurora’s dedicated flight operations team tests novel air vehicles, payload sensors, autonomous behaviors, and other technologies to ensure success under challenging real-world conditions. With a variety of capabilities and extensive operations expertise, we can efficiently provide the data you need to move your program forward.

Flight Operations and flight testingOur capabilities include:

  • System integration engineering
  • Full-time certified test pilots and crew
  • Test fleet: Centaur remotely piloted and DA-42 turbo-prop aircraft; Group 1 and 2 drones
  • Hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILSIM) for efficient develop-test cycles

Learn more: Flight Operations & Testing

Products

SKIRON-XLE Unmanned Aircraft System

Fuel-cell-powered long endurance Group 2 UAS with eVTOL capability

SKIRON-X Unmanned Aircraft System

Battery-powered tactical Group 2 UAS with eVTOL capability

Documents
SKIRON-X Product Overview

Articles

Latest
Aurora Flight Sciences Advances sUAS Range with New Upgrades

Aurora Flight Sciences has enhanced its SKIRON-X sUAS range to improve flight performance and simplify operation

May 12, 2025
The Evolution of Aurora Flight Sciences’ sUAS Platforms

Aurora Flight Sciences has spent more than ten years refining sUAS capabilities, and its evolving platforms now support a broad range of ISR missions

Apr 17, 2025
Aurora’s Energy Lab Pushing Limits of Battery & Fuel Cell Tech

Explore how Aurora Flight Science's advanced energy lab is enhancing battery efficiency, extending flight endurance, and revolutionizing fuel cell technology

Feb 06, 2025
Aurora & SkyGrid Advance Airspace Management Solutions for UAVs

Aurora Flight Sciences and SkyGrid are set to enhance Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) by collaborating on systems for integrating UAVs into the national airspace

Jan 14, 2025
Vertical Lift X-Plane with Fan-in-Wing Technology in Development

Aurora Flight Sciences is designing a vertical lift X-plane that utilizes fan-in-wing technology, developing an unmanned demonstrator to achieve high-speed, runway-independent mobility in contested environments

Oct 23, 2024
Hydrogen-Powered sUAS Completes Long-Endurance Flight Test

Aurora Flight Sciences' fuel-cell-powered SKIRON-XLE has completed a 7-hour flight test, demonstrating its long-endurance capabilities for BVLOS operations

Sep 02, 2024
New Long-Range sUAS Powered by Hydrogen Fuel Cell

The SKIRON Expeditionary small UAS product line from Aurora Flight Sciences has a new addition, purpose-designed for long range reconnaissance and powered by a hydrogen fuel cell

Jul 02, 2024
In-Air Data Collection Completed with Centaur Optionally Piloted Aircraft

The Centaur optionally piloted aircraft (OPA) from Aurora Flight Sciences completed flight tests in the National Airspace System (NAS), equipped with an EO/IR camera, maritime surveillance radar, and Automatic Identification System payloads

Jun 14, 2024
Preliminary Design Phase Begins for Vertical-Lift X-Plane

The low-drag, fan-in-wing X-plane from Aurora Flight Sciences will begin a preliminary design review, integrating a blended wing body platform and combining VTOL with impressive speed

May 22, 2024
Aurora Provides sUAS to Validate eVTOL Model

Aurora Swiss Aerospace has provided the ZHAW School of Engineering with sUAS technology to collate data for a future-shaping eVTOL model

Mar 28, 2024
Aurora’s X-Plane Progresses Through Preliminary DARPA Testing

The vehicle will demonstrate heavy-air-lift capabilities from the sea and operate efficiently in ground effect at high sea states, using low-cost manufacturing and unique design features

Jan 26, 2024
Aurora Flight Sciences Establishes Legacy of Innovation

Aurora Flight Sciences has released an article discussing its legacy of innovation, including development of an autonomous stratospheric research aircraft,...

Aug 28, 2023
Field Testing the Newest sUAS from Aurora Flight Sciences

Aurora has demonstrated the simple deployment and three-hour flight endurance of its SKIRON-X hybrid VTOL fixed-wing sUAS

May 09, 2023

Videos

Latest
Aurora Flight Sciences: Engineering the Future of Flight

Aurora Flight Sciences is a leading developer of cutting-edge unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aviation technologies. We have a 35-year history of creating innovative solutions that span the state of the art in aircraft design, autonomy, propulsion, and a range of other disciplines. Our products and our R&D capabilities solve problems for customers in the global defense, government, and commercial sectors. We offer mission-ready unmanned aircraft systems, and we design,

SKIRON-X Group 2 Tactical UAS
Regional Offices & Locations
Aurora Headquarters United States of America 9950 Wakeman Dr Manassas, VA 20110 +1 703.369.3633 Contact Office Contact Website
Aerospace & Autonomy Center United States of America 314 Main St, 17th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02142 +1 617.500.4800 Website
Advanced Manufacturing United States of America 200 Aurora Way Columbus, MS 39701 +1 662.328.8227 Website
Advanced Manufacturing United States of America 3000 East Benedum Industrial Dr. Bridgeport, WV 26330 +1 304.842.8100 Website
Aurora Swiss Aerospace Switzerland Baselstrasse 61A, 6003 Luzern, Switzerland +41-41-248-00-40 Contact Office Website
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