U.S. Navy’s Future VTOL Drone Is Best-in-Class, Hovers and Stares Like No Other

Earlier this year, Texas-based Martin UAV was one of the 13 contestants that responded to the Navy’s Mi2 Challenge and ended up being selected, together with L3Harris Technologies, to compete in a demonstration at the Yuma Proving Grounds, in Arizona. This is where the V-Bat 128, an innovative VTOL UAS (vertical takeoff and landing UAS), made an impression with its remarkable capabilities.

First of all, this aircraft was built from the start for deployment in both land-based and maritime operations, with its ability to easily transition from land to sea. Its maximum versatility means that it can operate in almost any type of environment, no need for a runway – it can takeoff from a small ground area or a ship. Plus, it doesn’t need any launch or recovery support equipment.

The V-Nat 128 is also as easy as it gets to assembly, transport and operate. According to Martin, it takes less than 30 minutes to assemble, it can be transported on the bed of a pickup truck, in a…