High Eye Airboxer Completes 4.5-Hour Endurance Flight in Maritime Configuration
High Eye has successfully completed a 4 hour, 30 minute endurance flight with the Airboxer unmanned helicopter in a representative maritime configuration, further demonstrating the platform’s ability to support long-duration operations from land and at sea.
During the flight, the Airboxer was equipped with an EO/IR payload, flotation system and two Extended Range Fuel tanks, representing a configuration suitable for maritime surveillance and other persistent ISR missions.
The aircraft landed after 4 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds of continuous flight, with approximately 0.7 kg of fuel remaining. The flight was conducted in ambient conditions of approximately 22°C at ground level, with winds of around 15 knots.
At an endurance cruise speed of approximately 35 knots, the flight represents the equivalent of roughly 290 kilometres of airborne distance, while carrying operationally relevant equipment.
“This flight was not about demonstrating endurance in a stripped-down configuration,” said Joost de Ruiter, CEO of High Eye. “The Airboxer flew with equipment that is directly relevant to maritime operations. For customers, this represents the most important distinction: endurance needs to remain available when the aircraft is carrying the equipment required to perform the mission.”
Designed for persistent maritime operations
The Airboxer is a long-endurance VTOL unmanned helicopter developed and manufactured by High Eye in the Netherlands. Its vertical take-off and landing capability allows it to operate without a runway and from confined locations, including vessels.
High Eye has continued to expand the Airboxer’s maritime capabilities through operational testing and cooperation with maritime users. The platform has demonstrated automatic take-off and landing from a moving vessel, supporting operations where deck space, weather conditions and vessel movement create additional demands on an unmanned aircraft.
Combined with its long endurance, modular payload architecture and ability to carry EO/IR, communications and other mission equipment, the Airboxer is designed for missions including:
- Maritime surveillance and reconnaissance
- Exclusive Economic Zone and coastal monitoring
- Search and rescue support
- Critical maritime infrastructure monitoring
- Border and security operations
- Persistent ISR from naval and coast guard vessels
Endurance with operational payloads
High Eye develops the Airboxer around the principle that aircraft performance should be measured in representative operational configurations. The latest endurance flight therefore included the flotation equipment required for maritime operations alongside an EO/IR sensor and extended-range fuel system.
The test forms part of High Eye’s continued development programme aimed at expanding endurance, communications range, sensor integration and autonomous shipborne operations. High Eye is currently working with customers and technology partners on additional capabilities including advanced EO/IR systems, LiDAR, communications, maritime positioning and beyond-line-of-sight connectivity.
