UDT 2024: IAI/Aerotor unveil APUS 25 long-range endurance quadcopter

The APUS 25 prototype on display at UDT 2024. (Janes/Kate Tringham)

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Aerotor Unmanned Systems have joined forces to develop a novel unmanned quadcopter designed for long-range endurance missions.

The new platform, named APUS 25, was showcased for the first time at the Undersea Defence Technology (UDT) 2024 conference and exhibition, which was held in London from 8 to 10 April.

Speaking to Janes at UDT 2024, an IAI spokesperson said the vehicle incorporates new technology developed by Aerotor that promises greater flight endurance, payload carrying capacity, and manoeuvrability than comparable unmanned quadcopters on the market.

Existing multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) typically have electric motors for each rotor that enable them to independently change their revolutions per minute (RPMs) for manoeuvres.

The Apus concept developed by Aerotor, however, introduces a new steering method based on a central heavy fuel internal combustion engine that powers the four blades working at a fixed RPM with a variable pitch rotor system.

“This means you can change the angle of attack of each rotor, which improves the steering and manoeuvrability of the vehicle. And because the platform is powered by heavy fuel you can fly for many, many hours,” he said. “For instance, if the payload is a magnetic anomaly detector, which is just under 3 kg, you can fly for seven hours and hover for six hours.”

With a five kg payload it has a flight endurance of six hours and a hovering endurance of five hours, and with an eight kg payload it has a flight endurance of two hours and a hovering endurance of one hour.