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Airbus collaborates with Drone Forge to Deploy Flexrotor in the APAC Region

  • 01 Apr 2025

Australian aerospace start-up Drone Forge has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Airbus to work together on the deployment and integration of the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system.

The new partnership between the two companies was announced on 27 March 2025. The agreement, comprising of the acquisition of Flexrotor systems, represents a significant milestone in revolutionising unmanned aviation with innovative solutions and technologies designed for tactical operations.

Airbus partners with Drone Forge to advance Flexrotor in APAC. Photo: Airbus

As the newest addition in Airbus’ UAS portfolio, the Flexrotor – a Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft – is designed for ISTAR missions with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs) and a 12-14 hour operational endurance. Catering to unique mission requirements, the Flexroter can carry various payloads, including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors. The unmanned aircraft is capable to be autonomously launched and recovered from land or sea in a compact 3.7 by 3.7m area.

With support from the US Department of Defence (DoD) and its utilisation in various marine security exercises, the Flexrotor is a mission-proven asset for operations in harsh, high-threat, GPS-denied environments. It is also used for parapublic missions like forest fire surveillance, ice navigation and border patrol.

The Flexrotor. Photo: Petty Officer 2nd Class Elliot Schaudt

William Sampson, Vice President/Head, Market Operations of Airbus Helicopters, commented on the Flexrotor and its new partnership. “Designed as a force multiplier for diverse missions in defence and security applications, this partnership signals strong confidence in our Flexrotor capabilities and offers perfect crewed-uncrewed teaming possibilities for aircraft operators,”

Thomas Symes, Chief Executive Officer of Drone Forge, remarked that the new partnership represents “a giant leap forward in the evolution and progress of the UAV industry.”

“The Asia-Pacific region presents a significant opportunity for a UAV solution like the Flexrotor. Built on Drone Forge’s values of trust and performance, this partnership with Airbus aims to fully commercialise the Flexrotor across commercial, government, and defence sectors,” added Symes.

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