Unmanned VTOL will add new and expanded mission capabilities to family of small unmanned systems

Unmanned aircraft specialist AeroVironment Inc has unveiled its new VAPOR all-electric helicopter UAS which can be used for defence and commercial applications.

The VAPOR 35 and VAPOR 55 add vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) and multi-payload capabilities, complementing and expanding AeroVironment’s fixed-wing small unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). VAPOR incorporates more than a decade of aerospace engineering at the company’s Innovation Center-Midwest, along with technical research and development to bring to market high-performance helicopter UAS for defence, commercial and industrial customers.

Up to 4.5kg usable payload

The VAPOR product line will deliver advanced performance, endurance and payload flexibility, with up to 4.5 kg of usable payload capacity and one hour of flight time on a single battery charge.

Rick Pedigo, vice president, sales and business development for AeroVironment said: “The addition of VAPOR to our family of small unmanned aircraft systems demonstrates our commitment to providing customers with the most comprehensive capabilities to help them proceed with certainty in an ever changing operating environment.”

“VAPOR fully complements AeroVironment’s family of fixed-wing UAS with VTOL and flexible payload capabilities that can satisfy new customer missions across multiple domains.”

AeroVironment’s family of small UAS is deployed by US Armed Forces and more than 45 allied governments.

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