The first flight of the Aerosonde drone from the deck of the American destroyer has been completed

Textron Systems Corporation announced on April 4 a successful first flight and the integration of the small Aerosonde unmanned aerial vehicle system onto a US Navy rocket destroyer. As part of this test, the official first flight of the Aerosonde drone took place.

The first flight of the Aerosonde drone from the destroyer deck opens the door for more widespread use

In September, the US Navy ordered a multi-year contract with Aerosonde to secure the so-called SUAS (Small Unmanned Aerial System) for maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance services on board two DDG destroyers. The success of this first flight underscores the system’s ability to provide seafarers with reliable equipment to support current ship missions, which more than 550,000 flight hours attest to reliability and performance.

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The Aerosonde drone, which is somewhat unusual in the common understanding, is equipped with equipment for providing day / night video image, wide area surveillance, communication transmission or signal intelligence. Depending on the version, take-off and landing are limited to the use of a hydraulic launcher and a net (in the case of Aerosonde Fixed Wing), or a small area, thanks to the capabilities of VTOL (Aerosonde HQ).