Airbus Helicopters' VSR700 unmanned aerial system (UAS) prototype made its first flight. The VSR700 successfully completed its ten-minute flight at the drone test center located near Aix-en-Provence in the south of France.
This flight is an important step in the program, following the prototype's first flight to comply with legal regulations in November 2019. Airbus Helicopters used a virtual environment to perform this flight, in which the airworthiness was approved by the relevant authorities, and the flight test program was now ready to progressively improve flight time.
Airbus Helicopters CEO Bruno Even said, “Free flight with the VSR700 is an important step towards trial voyages at the end of 2021 as part of the French Navy's risk reduction efforts for future drones. "Thanks to the French PlanAero, the program will be able to take full advantage of two demonstrators and a vehicle with an on-demand pilot to develop and mature its technical and operational aspects for successful UAS operations in a maritime environment.
Based on Hélicoptères Guimbal's Cabri G2, the VSR700 is an unmanned aerial system in the maximum take-off weight range of 500-1000 kg. It offers the best balance between load capacity, durability and operational cost. It can carry multiple full-size marine sensors over a long period of time and can be operated with a low logistic footprint from existing ships with helicopters.
This VSR700 prototype has evolved in the nine months since its first flight. In addition to the geofencing function, the program also implements the Flight Termination System, which enables the termination of the mission when necessary. Changes have been made to the aircraft on a par with autopilot software improvements and updates, as well as structural modifications and reinforcements.
Hibya News Agency
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