U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman excursions RapidFlight’s Virginia facility, highlighting scalable drone options very important for contemporary navy methods
Virginia-based unmanned aerial techniques developer RapidFlight lately introduced that they had obtained a go to from U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman (R-VA1), Vice Chairman of the Home Armed Companies Committee, to their Manassas headquarters. Over a greater than two-hour-long tour, RapidFlight demonstrated their progressive, additive manufacturing (higher often known as 3D printing) primarily based strategy to bringing most operational flexibility to the battlefield.
RapidFlight’s fundamental product, referred to as AgileAviation, contains over 20 completely 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 make the most 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 staff, and an exploration of RapidFlight’s Cell Manufacturing System, which may be arrange rapidly in ahead working environments. The MPS may be owned and operated by RapidFlight, or it’s obtainable to the Division of Protection, US Allies, or protection contractor primes to rapidly and affordably construct as much as 28 Group 3 plane per 30 days, (with the choice to construct considerably extra Group 1 or Group 2 UAVs ought to the state of affairs require it). Utilizing business off-the-shelf elements and powered by a normal 110/240V wall plug, the MPS is designed to work wherever 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 mission after science mission, however you might have to have the ability to scale it and have an operational impact,” stated Wittman, discussing the present state of Pentagon know-how 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 business.
“Congressional engagement with firms like RapidFlight is essential to nationwide protection. Congressman Wittman may help facilitate progressive options from rising producers geared toward bolstering our nationwide protection technique,” stated Mike Uffelman, Director of Development 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 data on RapidFlight is obtainable right here.
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, knowledgeable drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory surroundings for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the business drone area and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, Electronic mail Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife right here.
