LUANDA, Angola — Swiss manufacturer ANAVIA has completed the on-site customer acceptance of six HT-100 Naval unmanned helicopters ordered by the Angolan Navy. The acceptance was conducted jointly with Abu Dhabi Ship Building (ADSB), a partner in the delivery process.
Each aircraft underwent individual flight testing and system verification. Angolan Navy representatives checked every aircraft and its systems rather than accepting the six helicopters as a single batch.
“This milestone shows our ability to deliver a complete system, closely aligned with our customer’s operational requirements,” said Ishan Sahgal, founder and co-CEO of ANAVIA.
The delivered package includes the six unmanned helicopters, electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) sensors, and maritime control stations. All components were tested together on site as an integrated system.
Two Helicopters for Each Corvette
The six HT-100 Naval helicopters will be assigned to three new BR71 MK II-class corvettes, with two aircraft per ship. They are intended to extend each vessel’s reconnaissance range and support maritime surveillance, anti-piracy operations and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) protection.
The helicopters will also be fully integrated with each corvette’s combat management system.
HT-100 Naval Specifications
The HT-100 Naval is ANAVIA’s maritime version of the HT-100 unmanned helicopter. It uses a Flettner intermeshing rotor system with two counter-rotating main rotors and no tail rotor. ANAVIA says the design directs roughly 30 percent more power into useful lift, supporting greater endurance and payload compared with conventional single-rotor layouts.
The aircraft has a 120-kg (265-lb) maximum takeoff weight and can carry up to 60 kg (132 lb) of payload. It is powered by a 15-kilowatt turbine engine consuming about 9 liters (2.4 gallons) of Jet A-1 fuel per hour.
The HT-100 Naval has a flight endurance of up to six hours, a maximum mission range of 600 km (373 miles) and a maximum airspeed of 120 km/h.
For shipboard operations, the aircraft uses a fully autonomous, radar-guided deck landing system that measures its position, velocity and attitude relative to the moving ship without relying on GPS. The system supports autonomous landings in conditions up to Sea State 3.
A harpoon deck-securing system locks the aircraft to the deck after landing. The airframe uses corrosion-resistant carbon composite, while its electronics and connectors are sealed for continuous saltwater exposure. Emergency equipment includes flotation gear and an emergency locator transmitter.
Part of Angola’s €1 Billion Naval Program
The three BR71 MK II-class corvettes are part of Angola’s roughly €1 billion ($1.16 billion) naval modernization program. The first vessel, NRA Ekuikui II, was launched in Cherbourg, France, on March 4, 2026.
The corvettes are about 70 meters long, have a top speed of 30 knots, a range of 2,500 nautical miles at 12 knots, and a crew of around 50. Construction involves French shipbuilder CMN Naval and ADSB under a technology-transfer arrangement.
ANAVIA is headquartered in Bilten, Switzerland, with additional operations in Näfels. In late 2023, UAE-based EDGE Group acquired a 52 percent majority stake in ANAVIA. ADSB is part of the EDGE Group.
Main Source : defence-blog
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