Aerosonde
Overview
Designed for expeditionary land- and sea-based operations and equipped for simultaneous day/night full-motion video, communications relay, signals intelligence and a customer-selected payload in a single flight, Textron Systems' Aerosonde Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) family of products delivers reliable, multi-mission performance in a class by itself. It is field-proven with more than 700,000 flight hours, including desert heat and Arctic cold.
We also offer turnkey, contracted uncrewed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services with our systems, operators and trainers. Our hybrid approach provides hands-on training for customer staff while we launch operations.
System Capabilities:
- Covert operation, with low visual and auditory signature
- Proven performance with heavy-fuel engine including JP-5, JP-8, F44, Jet-A, Jet-A1
- Multi-INT capabilities with up to six payloads in a single flight
- Over 40 payloads available including:
- Full-Motion Video (FMV) and day/night imaging
- Maritime Wide Area Search (MWAS)
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)
- Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)
- Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
- Electronic Warfare (EW)
- Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)
- Communications Intelligence (COMINT)
- Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)
- 3D mapping (Multi-Spectral)
- Voice communications relay
- Ad-hoc networking (MANET)
- Anti-Jam/APNT
configurations
Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 Fixed Wing
Textron Systems' Aerosonde UAS offers superior reliability and multi-mission performance in its class. With an easy-to-use Launch and Recovery System (LRS) for constrained land and shipboard operations, our Aerosonde system is ready to go in any environment.
| Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 Fixed Wing | |
|---|---|
| Payload Capacity |
Up to 32 lbs (14.5 kg) |
| Wingspan |
14.45 ft (4.4 m) |
| Service Ceiling |
15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Range |
140 km (75 nm) |
| Max Takeoff Elevation |
10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Datalink Bands |
L, S, C |
| MGTOW |
93 lbs (42.2 kg) |
| Max Endurance |
18.3 hr |
| Automated Launch and Recovery |
Single system with hydraulic pneumatic launcher and net recovery |
| Airspeed |
42-65 kt |
Commercial variant available in most countries.
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Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 VTOL
Combined with our Aerosonde system's proven performance and benchmark-setting reliability, the Aerosonde Mk. 4.7 VTOL UAS brings unparalleled levels of mission capability and flexibility. Textron Systems' Aerosonde VTOL is runway-independent using Hybrid Quadrotor technology to achieve vertical takeoff and landing.
| Aerosonde® Mk. 4.7 VTOL | |
|---|---|
| Payload Capacity |
Up to 23 lbs (10.4 kg) |
| Wingspan |
14.45 ft (4.4 m) |
| Service Ceiling |
10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Range |
140 km (75 nm) |
| Max Takeoff Elevation |
6,000 ft (1,829 m) |
| Datalink Bands |
L, S, C |
| MGTOW |
118 lbs (53.5 kg) |
| Max Endurance |
9 hr |
| Automated Launch and Recovery |
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability |
| Airspeed |
47-65 kt |
| Transition Altitude |
up to 150 ft (46 m) |
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Aerosonde® Mk. 4.8 Fixed wing
Textron Systems' Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 Fixed Wing (FW) UAS offers superior reliability and multi-mission performance in its class. With increased size, weight and power (SWAP) compared to the Mk. 4.7 configuration, the Aerosonde Mk. 4.8 Fixed Wing brings enhanced mission flexibility and capability.
| Aerosonde® Mk. 4.8 Fixed Wing | |
|---|---|
| Payload Capacity |
Up to 39 lbs (17.7 kg) |
| Wingspan |
14.45 ft (4.4 m) |
| Service Ceiling |
17,400 ft (5,304 m) |
| Range | 140 km (75 nm) |
| Max Takeoff Elevation |
10,000 ft (3,048 m) |
| Datalink Bands |
L, S, C |
| MGTOW |
120 lbs (54.4 kg) |
| Max Endurance |
17.2 hr |
| Automated Launch and Recovery |
Single system with hydraulic pneumatic launcher and net recovery |
| Airspeed |
47-70 kt |
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.
| Aerosonde® Mk. 4.8 VTOL UAS | |
|---|---|
| Payload Capacity |
Up to 45 lbs (20.4 kg) |
| Wingspan | 17.03 ft (5.19 m) |
| Service Ceiling |
15,000 ft (4,572m) |
| Datalink Bands |
L, S, C, KU |
| MGTOW |
215 lbs (97.5 kg) |
| Max Endurance |
14.9 hr |
| Automated Launch and Recovery |
Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capability |
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.
Blackstone & Training Support
Our Aerosonde Center of Excellence located in Blackstone, VA is a 38,000 sq ft. facility that covers the full product life cycle of the Aerosonde UAS from production and assembly, to testing and training. Staffed with dedicated instructors, we provide both classroom and flight-line training on-site. Our courses cover Aerosonde familiarization, crewmember qualification and maintenance certification. Home to a global logistics hub, this facility also handles shipping, receiving and quality inspection.
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