HANGAR TALK UAS & eVTOL NEWS RELATING TO Uncrewed, AAM & eVTOL SYSTEMS
Leonardo Unveils AWHero RUAS’ New Developments Showing Unique Technologies and Capabilities for Multi- Purpose Maritime Operations
Leonardo recently unveiled the latest developments for its 200 kg class AWHero RUAS (Rotary Uncrewed Aerial System) during an official ceremony held at Seafuture 2023 (La Spezia, Italy) on board the Italian Navy’s Paolo Thaon di Revel PPA (Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura - Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessel). The unveiling was carried out in the presence of representatives from across the industry.
AWHero leverages on Leonardo’s unique combination of longstanding and extensive capabilities in rotorcraft system development and integration in support of the uncrewed aerial system and naval application sectors. The first and only RUAS in its class with a military certification (obtained in Italy in 2021) and based on worldwide recognized standards, AWHero now features new developments stemming from previously planned and anticipated activities based on a range of enhancements.
The new developments include: a heavy fuel power plant based on a unique twin-engine solution increasing efficiency safety and time between overhauls; airframe modifications delivering significant operational and support advantages (powerplant integration, payload bay capacity, system/sensor integration
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and field of view, maintainability, on-deck stability); advanced sensor modularity; the Leonardo Gabbiano TS Ultralight maritime radar for unmatched all-weather wide-area coverage; enhanced survivability; and cyber resilience. However, the system builds upon the certified and proven basic configuration it shares with the rotor system: transmissions, a core avionic system, data-link architecture, and a control station.
Gian Piero Cutillo, managing director of Leonardo Helicopters, said, “AWHero is part of a forward-looking roadmap that Leonardo is implementing to maintain its leadership in vertical-flight applications in the frame of current and future technological evolutions, which will extensively re-shape this industry. Within this roadmap, uncrewed systems and relevant enabling technologies (i.e., automation/autonomy, communications, sensors integration and fusion) are key elements in which the company has been significantly investing while leveraging a fruitful collaboration with the Italian military authorities. The system enhancements unveiled today reflect the incremental, yet firm, move from basic design to CONOPS (concept of operations) focused configuration. This is particularly true for relevant naval applications, which are able to meet intelligence and situational awareness extension capabilities with an optimized use of resources.”
AWHero is optimized to support a range of assets involved in a range of naval and multi-domain operations, such as ISTAR
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