Applied Aeronautics designs, integrates, and fields uncrewed aerial systems for government, defense, research, and commercial missions. 5 lb payload.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Organizations conducting government, defense, research, and commercial missions often lack affordable, long‑range unmanned aerial systems that can be rapidly customized for specific payloads, communications, and autonomous operation, limiting their ability to gather data over wide areas or in austere environments.
Solution
Applied Aeronautics delivers the Albatross platform—a fixed‑wing, fully autonomous UAS capable of up to 200 km range, four‑hour endurance, and a 9.5 lb payload capacity. The company provides end‑to‑end engineering, integrating mission‑specific sensors, communications suites, and autonomy software into a ready‑to‑fly aircraft. Each system is built in‑house using carbon‑fiber honeycomb composites and can be configured for diverse operating conditions, including varied takeoff/landing surfaces and temperature extremes. Operational support includes tailored command‑and‑control communications, payload validation, and long‑term maintenance to ensure reliable field performance. Customers receive a complete, mission‑ready solution without needing separate vendors for airframe, avionics, or integration.
Target Audience
Primary customers are government agencies, defense units, research institutions, and commercial enterprises that require long‑range, low‑cost UAS platforms for ISR, asset inspection, and other data‑collection missions.
Features
- Fixed‑wing airframe with carbon‑fiber honeycomb construction for high strength‑to‑weight ratio
- Fully autonomous flight envelope covering takeoff, cruise, and landing
- Modular payload bay supporting up to ~4.5 kg of sensors, gimbals, or inspection equipment
- Configurable communications packages delivering 40 km to >120 km telemetry range
- Multiple battery options (Li‑Polymer or high‑energy Li‑Ion) providing 1–4 hour flight times
- NDAA‑compliant configurations for defense customers
- In‑house systems engineering and validation for rapid integration of custom payloads