Unmanned Aircraft Manufacturer Aerovel to be purchased by Airbus Helicopters, broadening their collection of unmanned aerial systems.
The strategic union of Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel is set to revolutionise tactical unmanned solutions, offering naval and military forces a more versatile, persistent, and cost-effective approach to Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and light strike capabilities.
Airbus Helicopters VSR700
The VSR700, a rotary-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) primarily designed for naval tactical use, is poised to operate from ships such as the French Navy’s Patrouilleurs Hauturiers patrol ships. Equipped for reconnaissance and surveillance missions, the VSR700 can be deployed from a ship’s helipad or hangar, offering multi-domain maritime awareness, including surface and sub-surface monitoring with active sonar capabilities on the ship.
Aerovel Flexrotor
The Aerovel Flexrotor, a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing UAV, offers long endurance and flexibility for tactical missions. Operating from constrained environments without traditional runways, the Flexrotor's flexible payload options make it suitable for ISR, target acquisition, and other tactical reconnaissance tasks. Its endurance and VTOL capabilities enable it to support naval units or ground forces with persistent situational awareness.
Extended Situational Awareness and Force Multiplication
Both platforms provide extended situational awareness in contested and complex environments, enhancing a force’s ability to gather real-time intelligence, monitor threats, and enable quicker decision-making. The integration of a VSR700 UAV complements traditional manned helicopters, allowing a layered approach to reconnaissance and rapid tactical response at sea. Meanwhile, the Flexrotor's VTOL and endurance expand tactical UAV options, especially where runway infrastructure is unavailable, enabling deployment in distributed or austere environments.
Strategic Collaboration
The acquisition of Aerovel by Airbus Helicopters has been approved by the relevant bodies of both companies. The Flexrotor, Aerovel's unmanned aerial system, is designed for ISR, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions. The US Department of Defense (DoD) has provided support for the Flexrotor, and Aerovel will continue collaboration with the US DoD under Airbus' Special Security Agreement (SSA). The expected closing date for the acquisition is in 2024, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary conditions.
Mission-Proven Force Multiplier
Flexrotor has been used in maritime security exercises and is a mission-proven force multiplier for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. Its capabilities for ISTAR missions, integration of various payloads, and minimal footprint for expeditionary missions remain unchanged. The acquisition is part of Airbus Helicopters' strategy to continue its collaboration with the US DoD and to strengthen its tactical unmanned solutions portfolio. Additionally, Flexrotor can be used for parapublic missions like forest fire surveillance and ice navigation.
In summary, Airbus's VSR700 and Aerovel's Flexrotor enhance tactical unmanned solutions by providing persistent, flexible, and ship-integrated UAV capabilities that expand surveillance and reconnaissance reach, lower operational risks, and complement manned systems for effective naval and tactical force multipliers.
The strategic collaboration between Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel has potential to revolutionize the aerospace industry and finance, as the union of their UAVs will offer naval and military forces cost-effective, versatile, and persistent tactical solutions in the realm of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR) and light strike capabilities. The finances within the aerospace industry may see significant growth through the integration of the VSR700 and Flexrotor, which serve as mission-proven force multipliers, aiding in areas such as maritime security and forest fire surveillance.
