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4mo ago

Spain Begins Live Trials of Autonomous Flexrotor Drones with Military and Civil Helicopters

The Spanish Defense and Interior ministries are testing Airbus's Flexrotor drone to enhance reconnaissance and protection, with plans for local production and expanded applications by 2027.

Infografía de cómo opera el Flexrotor, el dron del futuro, en tiempo real.
Imagen captada por el Flexrotor que llega a los tripulantes del helicóptero ampliado con el zoom que del dron.
Image
Hasta ahora, en avances de unidades militares con apoyo aéreo, los helicópteros iban por delante protegiendo a hombres y blindados. En un futuro inmediato serán los drones los que vayan por delante para informar de amenazas a los helicópteros… y proteger a vehículos y hombres. Es la principal aplicación militar del Flexrotor, una aeronave autónoma con la que

Overview

  • The Flexrotor, an autonomous VTOL drone, is being tested alongside Spanish military and police helicopters for forward reconnaissance, target acquisition, and protection roles.
  • The drone transitions from rotorcraft to fixed-wing flight at 100 meters, enabling vertical takeoff, high-altitude endurance of 14 hours, and minimal fuel consumption.
  • Trials aim to evaluate its dual-use capabilities, including military ISTAR missions and civilian applications like border surveillance, disaster response, and critical infrastructure monitoring.
  • Airbus's Albacete facility is developing integration systems for the drone, with plans to scale up local production and create jobs within the next year.
  • The Flexrotor has logged over 4,000 flight hours in U.S. operations, including military deployments in Afghanistan and wildfire response, showcasing its versatility and reliability.