It looks like a helicopter and flies just like one, but the newly-minted RX550X – the largest uncrewed whirlybird to be approved for production and sale starting in 2024 – has many advantages not found on the standard manned version of the aircraft.

For one thing, there’s room for a higher payload – about 1,200 lbs. – and the drone can be remotely piloted – or fly autonomously – to conduct missions that might otherwise be deemed risky or unsafe with a human aboard.

But the R550X also has distinct advantages over most unmanned drones – including an ability to fly for up to 3 hours at speeds of 150 mph.   The craft can serve strictly as a cargo carrier but properly equipped, it can also perform in a vast array of commercial niches, including precision agriculture, law enforcement and fire suppression.

The R550X comes equipped with sensors and digital  flight control systems that allow it to fly at night and to perform in extreme weather conditions, including fog and heavy rain.

All of these specs make the craft unusually versatile, and extremely competitive with manned and unmanned craft alike.

“The R550X is going to bring huge safety and economic benefits to a wide range of helicopter use cases,” says Hector Xu, CEO of Rotor Technologies, Inc., the dorne’s manufacturer. “Demonstrating the impact of autonomy in dangerous missions like crop dusting and aerial firefighting is the first step towards our vision for safe and accessible vertical flight.”

The R550X operates on conventional low-lead aviation fuel, known in the industry as “100LL.”  However, Rotor says it plans to transition to sustainable aviation fuels, or SAFs, ensuring net-zero emissions.

In theory, the R550X may require a special FAA certification before it can be sold and actually deployed in the field.  But Rotor officials say they’re confident that the craft can be approved under the same authority granted to smaller drones that perform in similar niches.

The company has already begun production of two R550X units at its New Hampshire facilities based on Letters of Intent received from agricultural producers seeking unmanned aircraft for crop dusting purposes.  Rotor hopes to begin commercial operations for the R550X early next year, with international operations to follow.

Airbus has also introduced a dual use helicopter drone – the VSR700 – which is versatile enough to perform cargo transportation, reconnaissance, infrastructure inspection or search-and-rescue operations, as needed.  Equipped with advanced avionics systems and state-of-the-art sensors, the drone can operate autonomously but can also seamlessly integrate into existing manned helicopter fleets, allowing for unusual flexibility under adverse flying conditions.

Airbus designed the VSR700 with the U.S. Navy in mind.  Its compact size and discreet gray silhouette enhance its stealth capability.  And the craft’s 1,500 lb. payload is meant to accommodate a host of long-range, high-performance sensors – an optimal enhancement for modern navies especially.

Last May, Airbus began testing the VSR700 in operational configurations aboard a French frigate as part of a major new French Navy testing program.  France hopes to have the vehicle ready for surveillance and intelligence-gathering missions sometime in 2026.

The Army, with support from DARPA is also expediting the development of helicopter drones by adapting its flagship Black Hawk models for unmanned use.  The Army is primarily interested in unmanned helicopter drones for long-endurance medical resupply operations and cargo delivery and emergency evacuation missions.  The Army says drones can fly close to the earth, masking their signature, increasing their chances of survival in landing zones under heavy fire.  Tests of the aircraft began in October 2022.

Sikorsky hopes to adapt the unmanned Black Hawk for commercial applications such as firefighting, cargo and urban air mobility.  The company is also seeking a new Pentagon contract to develop “flying wing” eVTOL drones that can land on ships and in clearings that lack the runway capacity for military’s larger unmanned aircraft.