Australian aerospace company Drone Forge has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus to explore joint efforts in implementing and integrating the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS).
This partnership also encompasses the procurement of Flexrotor systems.
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The Flexrotor is the latest addition to Airbus’ UAS portfolio. It is a vertical take-off and landing uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25kg.
It is designed to perform intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational setup.
Airbus finalised its strategic purchase of Aerovel and its Flexrotor UAS, in May last year.
The acquisition, which was agreed upon in January 2024, has since been subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
Drone Forge CEO Thomas Symes said: “This partnership between Airbus and Drone Forge is a giant leap forward in the evolution and progress of the UAV industry. When we deliver a capability or product to a customer, they expect a proven solution, partnerships committed to safety, and teams that can provide world class support. This partnership will provide customers with all of these and more.
“The Asia-Pacific region presents a significant opportunity for a UAV solution like the Flexrotor. Built on Drone Forge’s values of trust and performance, this partnership with Airbus aims to fully commercialise the Flexrotor across commercial, government, and defence sectors.”
The US Department of Defence has supported the Flexrotor, which has been contracted for use in various maritime security exercises. Airbus notes that the UAS can perform in environments that are harsh, high-threat, and where GPS is unreliable.
Additionally, it is being used for parapublic missions, including forest fire surveillance—and other mission needs such as ice navigation for naval vessels in the Arctic Ocean, law enforcement, and border patrol.
Airbus Helicopters Market Operations head William Sampson said: “This agreement outlines a shared commitment to explore opportunities for implementing innovative Flexrotor technologies in the region.
“Designed as a force multiplier for diverse missions in defence and security applications, this partnership signals strong confidence in our Flexrotor capabilities and offers perfect crewed-uncrewed teaming possibilities for aircraft operators.”
Drone Forge is expanding its portfolio and has set up a UAS service centre in Perth, Western Australia.
The centre is dedicated to offering training, maintenance, and support services for a variety of UAS, including the Flexrotor.
