Uzbekistan Boosts Surveillance Capabilities with Airbus Flexrotor Drone Purchase

Uzbekistan has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters to purchase Flexrotor unmanned aerial vehicles.

The drones will operate alongside manned helicopters, strengthening the country’s ground and air surveillance capabilities and improving mission control effectiveness, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

According to the company’s official announcement, Airbus Helicopters has reached an agreement with Uztechtrade, a state enterprise responsible for importing military and dual-use products. The deal marks Uzbekistan as the first customer for Flexrotor drones in Central Asia.

“Uzbekistan is a long-standing and valued partner for Airbus Helicopters, and we are proud that Uztechtrade has chosen the cutting-edge Flexrotor to advance its uncrewed capabilities,” said Olivier Michalon, Executive Vice President, head of Global Business, Airbus Helicopters. “This contract marks a pivotal moment, as Uzbekistan becomes the first customer for the Flexrotor in Central Asia. This selection underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to adopting innovative technology and strengthens our cooperation across crewed and uncrewed platforms.”

The Flexrotor is designed for a broad variety of missions, primarily focused on Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition, and Reconnaissance (ISTAR). Uzbekistan plans to utilize the Flexrotor in advanced Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming scenarios, integrating its operations with crewed helicopters to enhance situational awareness and mission effectiveness.

The Flexrotor is Airbus’ newest addition to its UAS portfolio. A modern Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft with a maximum launch weight of 25 kg (55 lbs), it has been designed for ISTAR missions for more than 12-14 hours in a typical operational configuration. It can integrate different types of payloads including an electro-optical system and advanced sensors to suit customers’ unique mission needs. With the ability to autonomously launch and recover from either land or sea requiring only a 3.7 by 3.7 m (12 by 12 ft.) area, the Flexrotor is ideal for expeditionary missions requiring minimal footprint.