Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Robinson Unmanned Advances Through U.S. Drone Program
Sovereign manufacturing expertise essential to Pentagon initiative
Small drone hovering in window of breeze-block room
Robinson Unmanned’s cylindrical-shaped Spirit drone – seen here hovering in the window frame – has a payload of up to 6.5 pounds and what its manufacturer describes as a “rugged coaxial rotor system”. © Robinson Unmanned

The U.S. Department of Defense has selected Robinson Unmanned to participate in the second round of its Drone Dominance Program (DDP). According to the offshoot of Robinson Helicopters, the announcement last week follows a strong performance for the OEM’s Spirit first-person-view uncrewed aerial system in the inaugural round. 

Having competed alongside 48 other companies in an initial Phase 2 qualifying event, held in June, Robinson Unmanned was named as one of 19 selected to advance to the main round. For the DDP competition, the company is operating as Ascent AeroSystems, whose coaxial uncrewed air systems are part of the Robinson Helicopters portfolio.