U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman excursions RapidFlight’s Virginia facility, highlighting scalable drone options important for contemporary navy methods
Virginia-based unmanned aerial methods developer RapidFlight not too long ago introduced they’d obtained a go to from U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA1), Vice Chairman of the Home Armed Providers Committee, to their Manassas headquarters. Over a greater than two-hour-long tour, RapidFlight demonstrated their progressive, additive manufacturing (higher often called 3D printing) primarily based strategy to bringing most operational flexibility to the battlefield.
RapidFlight’s principal product, known as AgileAviation, contains over 20 totally different UAV designs that may be flexibly tailored and manufactured on-site to suit fast-changing mission parameters. Their proprietary hardware-software stack is designed to permit American firms to compete with drone makers overseas, who’ve beforehand been capable of reap the benefits of economies of scale to cost out their opposition.
The go to included a tour of their manufacturing facility in Virginia, using dozens of native employees, and an exploration of RapidFlight’s Cellular Manufacturing System, which could be arrange rapidly in ahead working environments. The MPS could be owned and operated by RapidFlight, or it’s out there to the Division of Protection, US Allies, or protection contractor primes to rapidly and affordably construct as much as 28 Group 3 plane monthly, (with the choice to construct considerably extra Group 1 or Group 2 UAVs ought to the scenario require it). Utilizing business off-the-shelf elements and powered by an ordinary 110/240V wall plug, the MPS is designed to work anyplace it’s wanted, with an efficient operation vary of -20º F to 130º F, even with excessive humidity.
Drone Innovation for Protection
Throughout the go to, Wittman highlighted the significance of scalable drone options to the US and its allies, serving to them handle a quickly altering safety surroundings.
“We get so wrapped up in doing science undertaking after science undertaking, however you could have to have the ability to scale it and have an operational impact,” mentioned Wittman, discussing the present state of Pentagon expertise growth. “What you all do right here is the key sauce that we’d like to have the ability to act rapidly.”
Wittman was key to the passage of the American Safety Drone Act throughout the 2024 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act, which banned the procurement or use of UAVs manufactured by China. As a part of this push, he has visited a number of home drone builders to examine in on the state of the American drone trade.
“Congressional engagement with firms like RapidFlight is vital to nationwide protection. Congressman Wittman will help facilitate progressive options from rising producers aimed toward bolstering our nationwide protection technique,” mentioned Mike Uffelman, Director of Progress at RapidFlight. “We’re excited to work with our elected officers on Capitol Hill to supply our service members with the instruments they should accomplish the mission.”
Extra info on RapidFlight is on the market right here.
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.
