Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with Uztechtrade, Uzbekistan’s state importer of military and dual-use equipment, to deliver an undisclosed number of Flexrotor uncrewed systems.
Olivier Michalon, Airbus Helicopters Executive Vice President for Global Business, said the deal marks Uzbekistan as the first customer for the Flexrotor in Central Asia.
«Uzbekistan is a long-standing and valued partner for Airbus Helicopters, and we are proud that Uztechtrade has chosen the cutting-edge Flexrotor to advance its uncrewed capabilities,» said Michalon. “This selection underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to adopting innovative technology and strengthens our cooperation across crewed and uncrewed platforms.”
The Flexrotor is a modern vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aircraft designed for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions. It can operate for 12-14 hours, carry multiple payloads including electro-optical sensors, and integrate with crewed helicopters to improve situational awareness. The system can autonomously launch and recover from land or sea using a minimal footprint of 3.7 by 3.7 metres, making it suitable for expeditionary operations.
Kursiv also reports that Uzbekistan Airways has reached an agreement with Chinese leasing company CALC to acquire four new Airbus A321neo aircraft.
