Airbus and Singapore Complete HTeaming Flight Trials
Airbus and the Singapore Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) have concluded a flight trial campaign demonstrating the operation of a mixed-crew system combining a piloted H225M helicopter and an unmanned Flexrotor drone. Conducted in January at a Singaporean air base, these trials aimed to explore how crewed-uncrewed teamwork could enhance situational awareness and operational outcomes.
Successful Integration and Real-Time Data Sharing
The trials validated the ability of a piloted helicopter to access real-time data from a drone, thereby expanding visual range and overall mission safety. For this demonstration, the H225M and Flexrotor collaborated on a search and rescue mission, providing enhanced situational awareness. Airbus was responsible for designing the HTeaming system and integrating it into the H225M, including specialized data link architectures. This integration allows the helicopter crew to receive and process real-time data from the Flexrotor while maintaining direct command and control of the drone, facilitating rapid decision-making while minimizing crew exposure to high-risk environments.
Modular Design and Broad Compatibility
The Airbus HTeaming system is designed as a modular solution compatible with the entire range of Airbus helicopters and agnostic to unmanned platforms, allowing for the integration of various drones. The Flexrotor is an unmanned aircraft capable of vertical takeoff and landing, with a launch weight of 25 kg, and capable of autonomous operations from land or sea over an area of 3.7 by 3.7 meters. The H225M, the latest model in the Super Puma family, has more than 360 units in service globally with a million accumulated flight hours among military clients including Brazil, France, Hungary, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, Thailand, and Morocco.
