Airbus Helicopters and Aerovel have teamed up for an exciting collaboration. They're working together to acquire Aerovel and its cool drone system called Flexrotor. This move is part of their plan to make their collection of high-tech drones even stronger. The Flexrotor drone is a small, smart aircraft designed for important tasks like keeping an eye on things at sea and on land.
Bruno Even, the big boss at Airbus Helicopters, is thrilled about this partnership. He says bringing Aerovel into the Airbus family fits perfectly with their goal of making more types of drones and meeting the growing demand from customers worldwide. Flexrotor, with its autonomous flying abilities, will be a great addition to their drone family.
The CEO of Aerovel, Ali Dian, is also excited. He believes teaming up with Airbus will help them speed up their work in the drone world. They're committed to supporting the US military and its friends. Ali Dian is proud to be part of Airbus, a company with a long history of success in the aerospace world.
The Flexrotor drone is quite a marvel. It's a modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) Unmanned Aircraft, meaning it can go up and down like a helicopter. It weighs up to 25 kg and can fly for a long time—12 to 14 hours! That's a lot of flying time for a small drone. It can carry different kinds of tools and sensors to do special jobs. Plus, it can launch and land by itself, making it great for missions that need a small space.
The Flexrotor has proven itself in tough situations, thanks to help from the US Department of Defense. It's been part of maritime security exercises and is a big help in challenging environments where GPS signals might not work well. This drone isn't just for military stuff; it can also help with things like watching for forest fires or guiding ships through icy waters in the Arctic.
Aerovel, based in Bingen, Washington, will stay a US-owned company. They're going to keep working with the US Department of Defense as part of a special agreement with Airbus.
The deal between Airbus and Aerovel is almost done, but they're waiting for some official approvals. If everything goes as planned, the partnership will be official in 2024. Get ready for more high-tech drones in the sky!
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