Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS
Aerosonde VTOL FTUAS
Prepared for tomorrow's mission
Purpose-built to meet the U.S. Army’s Future Vertical Lift requirements, Textron Systems' Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS is runway independent, bringing enhanced flexibility through Hybrid Quadrotor technology to achieve vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Its size, weight and power (SWAP) profile are optimized to execute the aerial reconnaissance missions of the brigade combat team (BCT), while retaining its two-soldier portability.
The Aerosonde® Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) is a proven combat aircraft with over 700,000 hours of mission support in some of the world's most challenging environments. Building on the platform's proven performance and benchmark-setting reliability, the Aerosonde VTOL FTUAS brings unparalleled mission capability and flexibility.
Simplified Logistics & Usability
Textron Systems' Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS seamlessly integrates into the pre-established battlespace through utilization of heavy fuel engines, rapid emplacement, two-soldier portability and minimal ground support equipment. This unmanned air system provides improved capabilities with a smaller footprint to support the agility of the Brigade Combat Teams and requires no prepositioned launch and landing equipment. Through a simplified 6-week training course, Textron Systems provides the warfighter with the skills and qualifications needed to fly, maintain, and repair the aircraft in a contested battlespace. Specialized Textron Systems Field Service Representatives (FSRs) remain available at all times to support the warfighter and aircraft across the globe to maintain battlefield preparedness.
Modular Open System Approach (MOSA)
Designed with a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA), the Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS offers rapid payload integration, improving mission readiness and agility while providing enhanced capabilities to the Maneuver Commander. Expanding beyond improved interoperability, this approach enhances competition, simplifies Technology refresh, incorporates innovation, all while enabling cost savings/cost avoidance. This aircraft proves the validity of this approach with over 35 separate payload integrated and capable of carrying up to six of them at once to include EO/IR Full Motion Video, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay, LiDAR and Wide Area Search (WAS).
Two-Soldier Portability
The Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS adapts to the evolving needs of the warfighter. Requiring only two soldiers to carry cases and assemble the aircraft increases the availability of invaluable Brigade Combat Team personnel in complex battlefield. Two-soldier portability also increases the expeditionary capabilities of the BCT, allowing them to quickly and efficiently execute missions.
Rapid Emplacement
The rapid emplacement abilities the Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS offers is crucial for success in today's warfighting landscape, providing soldiers the support needed to remain agile. The system can be quickly transported across all terrains on tactical ground and air vehicles in order to support soldiers in a wide variety of mission sets. The entire UAS can be assembled and launched in under 30 minutes with the ability to land for fuel, swap payloads and re-launch in a matter of minutes.
Heavy Fuel Engine (JP-8)
The Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS is equipped with a heavy-fuel engine powered by JP-8 fuel, which is widely used across the military for both land and air vehicles across all NATO countries. This improves logistics and removes the need to transport additional ground support equipment. The Aerosonde UAS has proven its reliability, with more than a decade of experience and over 600,000 hours on this engine technology in a variety of operating environments.
Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS
FTUAS represents the next generation of products. Our Aerosonde® VTOL FTUAS is easy to maneuver, modular in nature and deployable worldwide at a moment's notice, enabling the soldiers to move around the battlefield with ease and expedience.
About Textron Systems
We are Textron Systems. Part of Textron Inc.'s family of powerful brands including Cessna, Beechcraft, Bell and E-Z-GO, we're best known for innovative defense, government and aerospace technologies and services. But our business is all about people – the customers who rely on us and the exceptional team that brings our mission to life. We've been in the defense industry for more than 50 years and embraced the unique capabilities that come with being a mid-sized player. We bring the agility of a small business to meet our customers' most urgent requirements and empower our team members to push past possible. We can scale quickly to solve the big problems, working across functions, sites and business lines to make it happen.
With more than 30 years of uncrewed aircraft experience, Textron Systems has supported numerous programs of record for the DoD and accumulated over 3 million flight hours. We continue to successfully provide reliable UAS solutions to our U.S. troops and their allies in support of military operations across the globe.
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