Leonardo AWHERO

Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS)

Italy | 2024

"The relatively compact Leonardo AWHER RUAS originates from a proven pedigree and offers unsurpassed versality in multiple environments."

Image from official Leonardo-Finmeccanica marketing materials.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/08/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Leonardo-Finmeccanica of Italy has thrown its hat into the growing Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS) market with its new AWHERO. The type is billed as a multi-mission solution for military, industry, and civilian marketplaces, capable of operating in daytime and low-light-level conditions over land and water. This provides the product with unsurpassed versatility in sortie types coupled with economy and Leonardo reliability.

As with other Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UASs), the AWHERO is controlled by way of a ground-based operator through a Ground Control Station (GCS) that is certified NATO compliant. The air system provides real-time feeds and data to the ground operator for real-time decision-making. The payload is of modular design and built around the carrying of various sensors and processing systems for generally centered on the Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR) and data-collecting roles. Electro-Optical (EO) and InfraRed (IR) imaging is supported and optics fits were positioned at the "chin" mounting on the airframe with heavier loads reserve for side-mounting.

Outwardly, the design follows accepted rotary-wing design standards including an overhead-mounted main rotor blade, offset tail rotor unit (facing port side), and a fixed, four-point landing skid assembly. This allows the relatively compact helicopter to be operated from confined spaces such as urban environments and mountains to open fields and the deck of warships.

Dimensions include an overall length of 12.1feet, an overall height of 3.10 feet, a rotor diameter of 13.1 feet. The aircraft has an empty weight of 120 kilograms and an MTOW rating of 200 kilograms. It can fly for six hours before refueling up to altitudes of 14,000 feet at speeds up to 90 knots.

Beyond its obvious military value, the AWHERO can be effective in humanitarian mission sets as well as Search and Rescue (SAR) operations over land or at sea. It can also serve as a communications relay for other aircraft including other UASs.

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October 2021 - The Leonardo AWHERO has received Italian military certification.

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Leonardo AWHERO Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS).

1 x Conventional engine driving four-bladed main rotor and two-bladed tail rotor (facing port).
Propulsion

103 mph
165 kph | 89 kts
Max Speed

14,009 ft
4,270 m | 3 miles
Service Ceiling

621 miles
1,000 km | 540 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Leonardo AWHERO Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS).

0
(UNMANNED)
Crew

12.1 ft
3.70 m
O/A Length

13.1 ft
(4.00 m)
O/A Width

3.9 ft
(1.20 m)
O/A Height

265 lb
(120 kg)
Empty Weight

441 lb
(200 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Leonardo AWHERO Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS) .

None. Mission payload restricted to optics (chin blister) and cargo loads (fuselage sides).

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Leonardo AWHERO family line.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Leonardo AWHERO. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units
Contractor(s): Leonardo-Finmeccanica - Italy

[ Italy (probable) ]

1 / 1

Image from official Leonardo-Finmeccanica marketing materials.

Going Further...
The Leonardo AWHERO Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS) appears in the following collections:

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