U.S. Congressman Rob Wittman excursions RapidFlight’s Virginia facility, highlighting scalable drone options important for contemporary navy methods
Virginia-based unmanned aerial programs developer RapidFlight not too long ago introduced that they had acquired 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 called 3D printing) based mostly method to bringing most operational flexibility to the battlefield.
RapidFlight’s foremost product, known 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 corporations to compete with drone makers overseas, who’ve beforehand been in a position to 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 will be arrange shortly in ahead working environments. The MPS will be owned and operated by RapidFlight, or it’s obtainable to the Division of Protection, US Allies, or protection contractor primes to shortly and affordably construct as much as 28 Group 3 plane per thirty days, (with the choice to construct considerably extra Group 1 or Group 2 UAVs ought to the scenario require it). Utilizing business off-the-shelf parts 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 deal with a quickly altering safety surroundings.
“We get so wrapped up in doing science venture after science venture, 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 shortly.”
Wittman was key to the passage of the American Safety Drone Act inside 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 corporations like RapidFlight is important to nationwide protection. Congressman Wittman might help facilitate progressive options from rising producers geared toward bolstering our nationwide protection technique,” stated Mike Uffelman, Director of Progress at RapidFlight. “We’re excited to work with our elected officers on Capitol Hill to offer our service members with the instruments they should accomplish the mission.”
Extra info on RapidFlight is obtainable right here.
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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 targeted on the business drone house and is a global 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 and marketing for brand new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, E-mail Miriam.
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