For the third consecutive year, Spanish drone manufacturer Alpha Unmanned Systems (AUS) will participate in the international exercise REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems). Organized annually by the Portuguese Navy, NATO and the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto, it is the largest unmanned systems testing exercise in the world, involving international military forces, universities and technology companies.
This year, between 16 and 27 September in Portugal, AUS has once again been invited to join the crew of the Navy ship BAM Tornado, where its flight team will carry out a series of key missions including mine detection, maritime environmental awareness and threat identification.
“We are very proud to participate for the third consecutive year in these very important exercises. Our participation underlines our commitment to innovation and the development of new protocols for the use of unmanned systems in military environments and solidifies our position as a manufacturer of rotary-wing drones worldwide,” said Eric Freeman, co-founder and CEO of AUS.
One of the highlights of AUS’ participation in REPMUS is the integration of its platform into the BAM Tornado combat systems via Navantia’s NAIAD system. This integration enables real-time data transmission between the helicopter and the ship, improving efficiency and decision-making in maritime operations.
Additionally, AUS introduces significant innovation to the market with a new flight concept that enables its drones to perform vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), providing superior flexibility in complex and critical environments.
The unmanned rotary-wing design facilitates precise and sustained surveillance, providing advanced capabilities for operations requiring detailed attention and continuous operation in strategic areas.
Alpha Unmanned Systems highlights that its drones stand out for their ability to perform fully automatic takeoffs and landings on moving ships. These drones are powered by heavy fuel oil to operate on these ships, giving them an autonomy of up to 4 hours and a payload capacity of up to 4 kg.
In addition, they can operate effectively in environments where GNSS signals are denied (satellite navigation systems), giving them a significant advantage in signal jamming or jamming scenarios. With a range of 100 kilometers, these drones are ideal for carrying out reconnaissance and surveillance missions in strategic areas.
