Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge has signed an agreement with Airbus Helicopters to acquire six Flexrotor uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), comprising a total of 17 aircraft. This marks the largest single order for the Flexrotor to date.
The aircraft will be configured for a wide range of operational missions across the Asia-Pacific region, including littoral surveillance, high-altitude inland operations, infrastructure monitoring, and maritime environmental assessment.
Each Flexrotor will be equipped with a heavy fuel engine optimised for maritime use, enhancing safety, logistical efficiency, and compatibility with naval platforms. The systems will also feature Starlink satellite connectivity to support beyond-line-of-sight operations and real-time situational awareness. Additional capabilities will include PT-6 imaging technology for stabilised, high-resolution ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance), enabling effective wide-area maritime monitoring.
“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 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 deal follows a recent Letter of Intent signed between Airbus and Drone Forge to collaborate on the deployment and operational integration of the Flexrotor system.
The Flexrotor is a modern vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAS designed for ISTAR missions lasting over 12 to 14 hours in standard configuration. With a maximum takeoff weight of 25 kg, it can carry various payloads, including electro-optical systems and specialised sensors. The aircraft can autonomously launch and recover from land or sea within a confined area measuring just 3.7 by 3.7 metres, making it particularly suited for expeditionary operations with minimal logistical footprint.
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