Textron Systems Aerosonde SUAS takes 1st flight from US Navy destroyer

Textron Systems' Aerosonde UAS takes 1st flight from US Navy destroyer
Aerosonde UAS while taking its first flight from the US Destroyer (Photo Credit: NAVAIR)
Textron Systems Corporation announced on April 04 the successful first flight and maritime integration of the Aerosonde® Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) on a U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer (DDG).
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Textron Systems press release

The integration follows a September 2021 award by the U.S. Navy of a multi-year Aerosonde task order for maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) services aboard two DDGs. The success of this first flight emphasizes the system’s ability to offer a mature, reliable aircraft to support the types of ship-based missions being performed now, all within a small aviation footprint in a higher sea state environment.

Built with maritime missions in mind, the Aerosonde platform offers multi-mission capability and, with over 550,000 flight hours, proven reliability and performance. Integrated into the ship’s combat systems, the Aerosonde is equipped to deliver day/night full-motion video, wide area surveillance, communications relay, signals intelligence and more. The expeditionary platform is powered by a heavy fuel engine and is capable of point takeoff and landing, minimizing impact to the ship’s operations.

“This flight for Aerosonde represents the expansion of the platform’s real-world maritime mission. Already operating on the expeditionary sea base ship USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB-4), we are excited to see Unmanned Systems contribute to the Navy’s critical missions across the globe. The system’s long endurance capabilities make it an ideal platform for maritime ISR operations; search and rescue; and many other missions providing the U.S. Navy with enhanced real-time situational awareness at any time, anywhere.”


Wayne Prender, Senior Vice President of Air Systems.

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About Aerosonde SUAS

Textron Systems Aerosonde SUAS takes 1st flight from US Navy destroyer
Aerosonde SUAS in Sea Air Space 2022 exhibition

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 Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) delivers multi-mission performance in a class by itself. It is field-proven with more than 500,000 flight hours, including desert heat and Arctic cold.

The company also offers turnkey, fee-for-service operations with its systems, operators, and trainers. Textron‘s hybrid approach provides hands-on training for customer staff while we launch operations.

System Features

  • Expeditionary land- or sea-based operations
  • Powered by Lycoming® EL-005 heavy-fuel engine for benchmark-setting reliability
  • Covert operation, with negligible visual and auditory signature
  • Multi-intelligence (multi-INT) payloads, i.e., electronic warfare (EW) and communications relay, in a single flight

Payload Capabilities Available: 

  • Full-motion video (FMV) and day/night imaging
  • Voice communications relay
  • Ad-hoc networking (MANET)
  • Synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
  • EW
  • Signals intelligence (SIGINT)
  • Communications intelligence (COMINT)
  • 3D mapping
  • Automatic identification systems (AIS)

Key Data

Aerosonde® Fixed WingAerosonde® HQ
PayloadUp to 20 lbs (9.1 kg) up to 200W 15 lbs
Max Wingspan12.0 ft (3.7 m)12.0 ft (3.7 m)
Ceiling15,000 ft (4,572 m)10,000 ft
Range140 km (75 nm)140 km (75 nm)
Max Takeoff Elevation8,000 ft (2,438 m)7,000 ft
UHF-, L-, S- and C-Band CapabilityYesYes
Weight80 lbs (36.4 kg)105 lb
Endurance14+ hr8 hrs (with 10 lb payload)
Automated Launch and RecoverySingle system with hydraulic pneumatic launcher and net recoveryVertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) capability
Airspeed45-65 kt45-65 kt
Transition AltitudeN/A50-150 ft above ground level
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