Hybrid Electric UAV from Advanced Aircraft Systems

Image courtesy AAC

Hybrid Electric UAV: AAC Selected by AFWERX to Develop Next-Gen Tactical UAS

by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian M. Crosby

The United States Air Force (USAF) AFWERX program has selected hybrid-electric unmanned aircraft systems developer Advanced Aircraft Company (AAC) for the development of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems (SUAS) as part of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program Open Topics 21.2/B Cohort.

In collaboration with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) and the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN), AFWERX developed the SBIR Open Topics to improve upon the effectiveness and transition rate of the SBIR program. Using a competitive awards-based program, the SBIR program allows small businesses to explore their technological potential and offers an incentive to profit from its commercialization.

AAC’s flexible HAMR UAS uses a multi-rotor configuration with a hybrid fuel-electric propulsion system for extended endurance and…