Drone Forge secures record Flexrotor order with Airbus in Asia-Pacific

Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters have signed an agreement for the purchase of six Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems, totalling 17 aircraft, in the largest single order for the Flexrotor to date.

The agreement specifies that the Flexrotor systems will be mission-ready and tailored to support a wide range of operational requirements within the Asia-Pacific region. These include littoral surveillance, high-altitude inland missions, infrastructure monitoring, and maritime environment assessment.

Each Flexrotor unit will be equipped with a heavy fuel engine designed for maritime operations. This configuration is intended to enhance safety, ensure widespread fuel availability, and improve interoperability with naval assets in the field.

Starlink connectivity will be integrated into the systems to facilitate beyond-line-of-sight operations and enable real-time situational awareness. Furthermore, the Flexrotor will incorporate PT-6 imaging technology. This technology provides stabilised, high-resolution capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, supporting efficient wide-area maritime monitoring.

Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge, emphasised the anticipated impact of the Flexrotor in new market segments.

"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," said Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge. "We look forward to integrating and commercialising the Flexrotor systems in the region."

The agreement is the follow-up to a recent Letter of Intent signed between Drone Forge and Airbus, establishing a framework for collaboration in the deployment and integration of the Flexrotor UAS in Asia-Pacific operations.

Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the significance of the order for the company's partnership with Drone Forge.

"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," said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President of Global Business at Airbus Helicopters. "With strong confidence in the Flexrotor's efficiency and reliability, this force multiplier will drive operational excellence in defence and security applications."

The Flexrotor is the latest addition to the Airbus UAS portfolio. It is a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg. It is designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions, with an operational endurance of over 12–14 hours under typical configurations.

The system supports the integration of varying payloads, including electro-optical systems and advanced sensors that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of individual customers. Its autonomous launch and recovery capability is designed for operation from both land and sea, requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 metre area for deployment, making it suitable for expeditionary missions that demand a minimal logistical footprint.

With the agreement now in place, Drone Forge and Airbus Helicopters will move forward with the commercialisation and regional deployment of the Flexrotor systems in the Asia-Pacific market. The order marks a significant commitment to expanding the scope of uncrewed aerial systems in defence, security, and monitoring missions across the region.