The Airbus Cargo Copter is a 35-kilogram sub-scale demonstrator developed by the UAS New Programmes group and the X-Works rapid prototyping team to validate the concept for a future heavy-lift Multi-Mission and Transport UAS.
This vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) multicopter was notably tested during the REP(MUS)2022 military exercise in Portugal, where it successfully demonstrated shore-to-ship cargo transfers in a high-density robotic environment. The demonstrator utilizes a modular "system-of-systems" design, allowing for the rapid swap-out of batteries and specialized payloads, which enables it to shift between roles such as logistics transport and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).
Technically, the demonstrator is equipped with the Airbus DeckFinder™ landing aid, an all-purpose system designed to facilitate fully autonomous landings on moving ship decks. The data collected from the 2022 trials are being used to inform the development of a full-scale version of the drone, which Airbus envisions as being capable of carrying payloads exceeding 250 kg (550 lbs) over ranges of more than 300 km (186 miles). While the initial focus of the development has been on military mission requirements, such as serving as a communications relay or combat force multiplier, Airbus also projects its use in civilian sectors for humanitarian aid and disaster management.
