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Essential news and analysis on the defense aerospace business. Your trusted source for new and ongoing programs and requirements in military aircraft (manned and unmanned), engines, avionics, weapons and associated systems, including ground-based air defense.

These jet-powered drones could fire missiles or move cargo

New Drones Like Mayman’s Razor Could Transform Military Logistics in Combat Zones

Charles Alcock

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Razor VTOL aircraft features turbine engines that provide thrust vector control by tilting on gimbals.

Mayman Pursues Multiple Military Missions for Razor Drone 

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

The new family builds on the company's earlier Speeder design

Mayman Unveils Razor Air Utility Vehicles for Military Roles

Savback Helicopters is looking to meet the fast-evolving needs of European militaries by agreeing to buy 300 of Mayman Aerospace’s Speeder P100 uncrewed air vehicles. The Swedish company is Mayman’s distributor in the Nordic countries, where governments are reviewing defense capabilities with an eye on Russian aggression.
According to California-based Mayman, which has backing from the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-02-23/uae-backs-maymans-plans-speeder-vtol-air-utility-vehicle">UAE government</a>, the P100 will use artificial intelligence to operate within a modern battlefield management environment alongside other assets. It has a 100-pound payload and a maximum speed of Mach 0.75. Mayman plans to add larger models, including the P400 and&nbsp;P1000, which have payloads of 400 and 1,000 pounds, respectively.
The letter of intent signed this week covers prospective orders valued at more than $120 million, implying a price tag of $400,000 per P100. Savback plans to take deliveries between the fourth quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2027 and already has an undisclosed customer lined up for the first units.
Under a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense, Mayman is tasked with developing and certifying the Speeder family of UAVs. It expects to start conducting high-speed tests with the P100 in the third quarter of this year.
“We are delivering an aircraft ready for integration into the next-generation, AI-managed battlefield,” said Mayman Aerospace CEO and founder David Mayman. “The Speeder system delivers essential value for defense applications through its ease of deployment, reduced operational cost, and extensive capabilities.”

Managing Editor

Savback Commits to 300 of Mayman's Speeder UAVs for European Defense Applications

The United Arab Emirates’ Strategic Development Fund is investing $3 million in Mayman Aerospace’s plans to bring the remotely piloted Speeder VTOL aircraft to market. The capital injection announced on February 22&nbsp;is the latest investment in the advanced air mobility sector by the venture capital arm of the Tawazun Council, which oversees the Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund.
The full-scale&nbsp;P2 turbine-powered model, which Mayman refers to as an air utility vehicle, is expected to have a 1,000-pound payload. The company believes it will&nbsp;be able to fly up to 400 miles at over 500 mph and be used for a variety of applications, including cargo deliveries and military logistics. The California-based start-up said that the new funding from the UAE will support the Speeder’s ongoing flight test campaign as it aims for FAA type certification in 2024. 
<h3 class="subheading">New Speeder Micro Prepares to Fly</h3>
The company&nbsp;is now working on a smaller version of the vehicle called the Micro, which it says is "considerably smaller" than the P2 model. The exact size and specifications for the Micro have not been disclosed, but founder and CEO David Mayman told FutureFlight it will deliver speed and range that is currently unachievable by comparably sized rotor drones.&nbsp;According to Mayman, defense export customers are showing interest in the Speeder Micro as a compact, high-performance vehicle that could use used as a target drone or for counter uncrewed aircraft systems roles. 
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
<article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-default">
 
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/Speeder_will_add_new_capabilities_to_the_Savback_Helicopter_portfolio.jpg" width="3000" height="1688" alt="Mayman Aerospace's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle is intended for defense and civil uses." title="Mayman Aerospace's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle could be use for roles such as supporting troops in combat zones. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)">

</div>
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Mayman Aerospace's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle could be use for roles such as supporting troops in combat zones. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)</div>
 
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<figcaption>Mayman Aerospace's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle could be use for roles such as supporting troops in combat zones. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)</figcaption>
</figure>
Once the company secures FAA experimental approval or a suitable exempt military facility, it intends to start high-speed, untethered test flights with the new version.&nbsp;Mayman Aerospace, which is part of the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-07-16/jetpack-starts-taking-preorders-speeder-vtol-vehicle">JetPack Aviation </a>group, started tethered flight testing with the first full-scale prototype in May 2021.
<h3 class="subheading">Abu Dhabi Manufacturing Under Consideration</h3>
SDF is exploring the potential to set up a manufacturing center to build the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/aircraft-program/speeder?model=speeder">Speeder</a> in Abu Dhabi for distribution in the Middle East and North Africa region. “As part of our strategic mandate, we look forward to exploring and developing synergies through our portfolio of related investments and partnerships in aerospace, defense, and autonomous sectors that would potentially support the development of a family of primarily defense-focused Speeder air utility vehicles,” said Mohamed Musabah Al Mazrouei, the UAE group’s director of investments and portfolio management.
In the short-term, Mayman Aerospace's priority is to achieve military certification for the Speeder. "FAA type certification for civilian applications remains a significant but more long-term goal as basic rules and infrastructure for heavy fuel-powered compact VTOL aircraft are still in the very early stage of formulation," Mayman explained.
Last year, Mayman confirmed that it is reviewing plans for international joint manufacturing agreements and will submit an application to comply with the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations for exporting military-use products. In 2021, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Special Operations Command selected the Speeder to take part in the <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-08-11/jetpacks-speeder-joins-jetoptera-and-other-hsvtol-contenders-pentagon">High-Speed VTOL (HSVTOL) Concept Challenge</a> organized by the Afwerx unit to evaluate options for military missions. It also holds letters of intent for 25 of the vehicles from its Swedish distributor,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-12-05/savback-market-speeder-vtol-aircraft-military-missions-nordic-countries">Savback Helicopters</a>.&nbsp;
One potential civil application for the Speeder is what the manufacturer describes as port-to-port deliveries of bulk commercial parcels. It says the vehicle could quickly climb to 10,000 feet, where the noise of its engine would not cause ground disturbance, then cruise at 500 mph before descending quickly to make deliveries.&nbsp;
Under this scenario, the company says the Speeder could deliver blood samples from New York City to Boston in 30 minutes or critical electronic parts from London to Paris in 25 minutes. "Speeder would turn parcel delivery expectations on their head," commented Mayman.
<h3 class="subheading">Speeder Cargo and Endurance Models In the Works</h3>
Beyond what Mayman describes as the current "mid-size" Speeder P2 vehicle, Mayman sees scope for a larger Speeder Cargo Class model in addition to the entry-level Micro. The company has not yet disclosed projected specifications for the Cargo Class vehicle.&nbsp;
Also in the works with company's research and development team is a completely new aircraft referred to as the Speeder Endurance Class. Mayman told FutureFlight&nbsp;that this will offer similar payload and range to its Speeder siblings while being able to fly, "for several hours with a very unique propulsion system."
The current vehicle is being designed and manufactured in the U.S. and uses commercial&nbsp;off-the-shelf turbine engines that will run on jet-A or sustainable aviation fuel. Mayman is working with Prometheus Fuels to explore the potential use of its <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2021-06-08/jetpack-commits-running-speeder-utility-vtol-vehicle-fuel-air">Titan Fuel Forge technology</a> to produce zero-carbon fuel to power the Speeder's engines. The Titan process will "make fuel from air" by reclaiming atmospheric carbon through a proprietary process that strips carbon dioxide molecules from the air and "energizes" them into hydrocarbons that can be made into any type of fuel.
“The optimization of Speeder’s existing propulsion control system, which can be adapted to future technologies, combined with its flexible operating capabilities, influenced our decision to invest,” Al Mazrouei commented.
<figure role="group" class="caption caption-drupal-media align-center">
<article class="media media--type-image media--view-mode-default">
 
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/futureflight/import/L_to_R_Abdulla_Naser_Al_Jaabari_Managing_Director_and_CEO_of_SDF_with_David_Mayman_Founder__CEO_of_Mayman_Aerospace%20%281%29.jpg" width="2357" height="1179" alt="Abdulla Naser Al Jaabari (left), managing director and CEO of SDF meets with Mayman Aerospace founder and CEO David Mayman, next to a prototype of the company's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle" title="Abdulla Naser Al Jaabari (left), managing director and CEO of SDF meets with Mayman Aerospace founder and CEO David Mayman, next to a prototype of the company's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)">

</div>
 
 <div class="field field--name-field-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Abdulla Naser Al Jaabari (left), managing director and CEO of SDF meets with Mayman Aerospace founder and CEO David Mayman, next to a prototype of the company's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)</div>
 
 </article>

<figcaption>Abdulla Naser Al Jaabari (left), managing director and CEO of SDF meets with Mayman Aerospace founder and CEO David Mayman, next to a prototype of the company's Speeder VTOL air utility vehicle. (Image: Mayman Aerospace)</figcaption>
</figure>
This story was updated on February 24 to include details of new Speeder vehicles in development.
&nbsp;

Mayman Aerospace

News

New Drones Like Mayman’s Razor Could Transform Military Logistics in Combat Zones

Mayman Pursues Multiple Military Missions for Razor Drone

Mayman Unveils Razor Air Utility Vehicles for Military Roles

Savback Commits to 300 of Mayman's Speeder UAVs for European Defense Applications

UAE Backs Mayman's Plans for Speeder VTOL Air Utility Vehicle

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