Airbus VSR700 prototype completes first autonomous free flight
The prototype of the VSR700 UAS has carried out its first free flight, manufacturer Airbus Helicopters announced on 28 July.
The geofenced VSR700 performed a ten-minute untethered flight at a UAV test centre near Aix-en-Provence, France. It had to be tethered in its first-ever flight in November 2019.
Bruno Even, Airbus Helicopters CEO, said: ‘The free flight achieved by the VSR700 is a major step leading up to the sea trials that will be performed at the end of 2021 as part of the de-risking studies for the French Navy’s future drone.’
Two demonstrators and an optionally piloted vehicle will be used by the French Navy to develop and mature the technical and operational aspects for successful UAS operations in a naval environment.
The VSR700, derived from Hélicoptères Guimbal’s Cabri G2, is a UAS in the 500-1,000kg MTOW range. It is capable of carrying multiple full-size naval sensors for extended periods and can operate from existing ships, alongside a helicopter, with a low logistical footprint.
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