Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS

AEROSONDE MK 4.8 VTOL UAS

The Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS is runway independent, bringing enhanced flexibility through Hybrid Quadrotor technology to achieve vertical takeoff and landing. Its size, weight and power (SWAP) profile are optimized for expeditionary aerial reconnaissance missions while retaining its two-soldier portability.

• Simplified logistics & usability
• Modular open system approach (MOSA)
• Heavy fuel engine (JP-8)
• Rapid emplacement

Simplified Logistics & Usability

• Textron Systems’ Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS seamlessly integrates into the pre-established battlespace through utilization of heavy fuel engines, rapid emplacement, two-soldier portability and minimal ground support equipment. This uncrewed aircraft system provides improved capabilities with a smaller footprint and requires no prepositioned launch and landing equipment. Through a simplified 6-week training course, Textron Systems provides the warfighter with the skills and qualifications needed to fly, maintain and repair the aircraft in a contested battlespace.

MOSA

• Designed with a Modular Open System Approach (MOSA), the Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS offers rapid payload integration, improving mission readiness and agility while providing enhanced capabilities to the Maneuver Commander. Expanding beyond improved interoperability, this approach enhances competition, simplifies technology refresh, incorporates innovation, all while enabling cost savings/cost avoidance. This aircraft proves the validity of this approach with over 35 separate payload integrated and capable of carrying up to six of them at once to include EO/IR Full Motion Video, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), communications relay, LiDAR and Wide Area Search (WAS).

Rapid Emplacement

• The rapid emplacement abilities the Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS offers is crucial for success in today’s warfighting landscape, providing soldiers the support needed to remain agile. The system can be quickly transported across all terrains on tactical ground and air vehicles in order to support soldiers in a wide variety of mission sets. The entire UAS can be assembled and launched in under 30 minutes with the ability to land for fuel, swap payloads and re-launch in a matter of minutes.

Heavy Fuel Engine (JP-8)

• The Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS is equipped with a heavy-fuel engine powered by JP-8 fuel, which is widely used across the military for both land and air vehicles across all NATO countries. This improves logistics and removes the need to transport additional ground support equipment. The Aerosonde UAS has proven its reliability, with more than a decade of experience and over 700,000 hours on this engine technology in a variety of operating environments.