RENO, Nev. — Israeli unmanned aircraft manufacturer Steadicopter has completed a U.S. airworthiness validation for its Black Eagle 50E electric unmanned helicopter, supporting expanded flight operations, testing and customer evaluations in the United States.
U.S. Airworthiness Validation
The Nevada Unmanned Aircraft Systems Test Site (UASTS), operated by the University of Nevada, Reno, conducted the validation on two Black Eagle 50E aircraft. Following the process, Nevada UASTS issued an Airworthiness Statement covering Black Eagle 50E aircraft operated in the United States by Alchemy Analytics, which operates as flyAlchemy.
The validation works alongside existing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (COAs). Together, the approvals cover designated operating areas totaling more than 8,100 square miles (21,000 square kilometers).
The approvals provide a basis for ongoing flight testing, training, customer demonstrations and mission evaluations, moving the aircraft beyond limited one-time demonstration flights.
Moving Toward Mission Evaluations
Steadicopter CEO Noam Lidor said the validation provides the foundation for sustained U.S. operations and for evaluating the Black Eagle 50E against actual customer and mission requirements.
Conrad Wright, founder of flyAlchemy, said the next phase will focus on payload selection, payload integration and operational evaluations.
flyAlchemy operates the U.S. program from Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada. It supports flight operations, airworthiness and regulatory work, aircraft staging, mission development and preparation for customer demonstrations and evaluations.
Steadicopter and flyAlchemy formalized their U.S. partnership in March 2026. Under the agreement, Steadicopter provides Black Eagle 50E systems for demonstration flights, customer evaluations, payload integration and mission development for U.S. government and commercial users.
Black Eagle 50E Capabilities
Introduced in 2022, the Black Eagle 50E is an all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned helicopter.
| Specification | Black Eagle 50E |
|---|---|
| Maximum takeoff weight | 50 kg (110 lb) |
| Combined payload and battery capacity | Up to 30 kg (66 lb) |
| Endurance | Approximately 2 hours |
| Takeoff and landing | Vertical (VTOL) |
The electric propulsion system replaces the gasoline engines used on earlier Black Eagle models and reduces overall weight, allowing capacity for sensors or batteries. Its VTOL design means the aircraft does not require a conventional runway and can operate from confined or remote locations, including ships.
The aircraft uses a modular open architecture supporting payloads such as electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, maritime patrol radar, synthetic aperture radar (SAR), automatic identification system (AIS) receivers and signals intelligence (SIGINT) systems.
The Israeli Navy ordered the Black Eagle 50E in 2022 for coastal security and maritime surveillance.
Planned U.S. Applications
In the United States, Steadicopter and flyAlchemy are developing potential missions covering:
- Defense and homeland security
- Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)
- Public safety
- Emergency response
- Critical infrastructure monitoring
- Remote sensing
With the airworthiness validation completed, the companies plan to conduct mission-specific demonstrations, integrate additional payloads, engage U.S. customers and pursue additional operating areas as requirements develop.
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