Source (All Images) | Airbus and Airbus Flexrotor video

Airbus (Marignane, France) has been awarded a €30 million framework contract by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA, Lisbon, Portugal) to provide remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) services for multipurpose maritime surveillance with the Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS). These services enhance Coast Guard missions by offering extended coastal range and long-endurance capabilities.

“[This] turnkey contract [will] allow the Flexrotor to fly operationally for the first time in Europe and to serve the critical mission of enhancing maritime surveillance,” says Victor Gerin-Roze, head of UAS at Airbus Helicopters. “We have conducted multiple demonstration flights with the Flexrotor across Europe, showcasing its long endurance and the variety of systems it can carry, which is unique for a UAS of this size.”
 

The core service includes flight operations using the Flexrotor system, delivering electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and radar imagery. This data will be seamlessly streamed to the EMSA RPAS Data Centre used by the relevant national authorities of the Member States to follow the flights live. The services will directly support Coast Guard operations including search and rescue operations, fisheries control and environmental protection, as well as detection of illicit maritime activities.

The Flexrotor surveillance capabilities will support the national competent authorities of EU Member States, Norway, and Iceland, as well as relevant EU institutions. Under this contract the Flexrotor systems can be deployed in two operations in parallel with takeoff sites within any participating country with the flexibility to add supplementary parallel operations if requested.

The initial framework contract is for 2 years, with the provision for two additional 1-year option periods, extending the maximum potential delivery timeframe up to 4 years. Service is scheduled to begin in 2026. Operations will be performed by French service provider Extensee.

The Flexrotor has many composite features, including carbon fiber blades and a carbon fiber weave sighted on the tail sections.