EDGE Woos Brazil With ANAVIA HT-100 Autonomous Helicopter
Emirati defense firm EDGE has brought the ANAVIA HT-100 unmanned helicopter to Brazil in a bid to make the country its latest customer in Latin America.
The company showcased the HT-100’s capabilities at the Army Activities Centre in Restinga da Marambaia, Rio de Janeiro, with representatives from the Brazilian Armed Forces in attendance.
During the live demo, the autonomous chopper achieved a 15-minute readiness time, from system activation and pre-flight checks to takeoff.
It then executed a complex flight profile, including hovering, low-speed maneuvers, figure-eight patterns, and circular orbits at low altitude.
The HT-100 also demonstrated its beyond-visual-line-of-sight capabilities and enhanced situational awareness through real-time mapping.
“For the defense and public security requirements in Latin America, the HT-100 offers a key solution across a range of operational contexts tailored to the region’s unique challenges,” said Tiago Silva, CEO of EDGE’s Latin America office.
‘A New Standard’
Developed by EDGE’s Swiss-based entity ANAVIA, the HT-100 is a rapidly deployable alternative to manned rotorcraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
It is regarded as a product of European engineering and a leap forward in vertical takeoff and landing technology.
The HT-100 features an interconnected rotor system and an industrial-grade turbine engine capable of supporting flights of up to six hours.
It also boasts a maximum payload of 60 kilograms (132 pounds), allowing for a wide array of ISR and communications payloads.
“With the HT-100, we are setting a new standard in unmanned rotary aviation,” ANAVIA CEO Jon Andri Jörg emphasized. “Our goal … is to offer armed forces and security agencies a reliable and highly capable platform that performs with precision, even in the most demanding environments.”
While no contracts have yet been announced, Silva said the demonstration drew interest from several potential partners “who could benefit significantly” from the unmanned system.
