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Survey Copter enters crowded lightweight tactical drone market

30th March 2023 - 12:45 GMT | by Jean-Marc Tanguy in Bordeaux

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Capa-X has a twin-boom, rear-engined configuration with multiple rotors providing a VTOL capability. (Photo: author)

The company is hoping the Capa-X VTOL fixed-wing drone's modularity and French supply chain will help it stand out against competitors.

A model of the new Capa-X UAV was unveiled on 28 March at the SOFINS show in Bordeaux.

Survey Copter, a subsidiary of Airbus, clearly believes in its chances of breaking into a market already well served by others with the design, a 75kg aircraft aiming for 8 to 10 hours of autonomous operation.

Key elements are modularity and sovereignty with Capa-X using mainly French ITAR-free components and assembly at Survey Copter's plant in Pierrelatte in the south of France.

Survey Copter CEO Christophe Canguilhem detailed the main features of Capa-X, which will be able to take off and land from a runway (with a fixed tricycle

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Author

Jean-Marc Tanguy

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Jean-Marc Tanguy started its career in journalism on 1991 and focussed quickly on defence matters …

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