Black Eagle 50H Combines Elements of Gas and Battery Powered UAVs

Singapore UAV manufacturer Steadicopter has released the specifications of its Black Eagle 50H, the first of its Rotary UAS family.

The helicopter is designed for the usual range of missions, capable of anything from law enforcement, maritime surveillance, civilian survey, and special low profile missions. 

The Black Eagle is a hybrid featuring elements of the company's all-electric 50E and its gas-powered 50, resulting in a cost-effective, long-legged platform. Steadicopter says the Black Eagle can fly up to 5 hours at a time, far in excess of the standard for rotary VTOL platforms. They recommend it as a solid selection for use in "search & rescue, cyber, intelligence, offshore rigs, and high-end naval missions," owing to its quick vertical take-off capability. 

The integration of gas power means refueling is a simpler, less temperamental affair, as widely available fuel can be found in every corner of the globe. The addition of the electric running gear also serves to boost performance at high altitude, as it can provide continuous power where combustion engine power degrades. That capability opens more of the perilous high-altitude mountain ranges around the globe, always a tall order for constant summertime flights when taking off and landing at high altitudes with little room to land off-airport.

Operators can manually control the source of fuel while in flight, allowing them to fly on generator power en route to the target area when noise is a non-issue. After closing on the target, stealthy flight is only a switch away as the Eagle switches to much quieter direct battery power. 

“The Black Eagle 50H is a true multi-domain, multi-mission and multi-sensor system, coupled with all the benefits of a covert, easy-to-maintain, highly-versatile electric-powered system,” says Noam Lidor, VP of sales, marketing & business development at Steadicopter.

“Its ability to carry advanced payloads and its capability for extended time in the air ensure both mission success and flexibility.”

FMI:www.steadicopter.com