Israeli firm unveils first fully-electric unmanned helicopter

Israeli aerospace firm Steadicopter has unveiled its unique fully-electric unmanned helicopter for military and civilian uses.

According to a company news release, the newest Black Eagle 50 Electric, is powered by electric motors, and designed for a wide range of law enforcement, maritime, civilian and covert missions.

The Black Eagle 50 Electric is the first electrically-powered unmanned helicopter with a maximum takeoff weight of 50 kg and useful load weight of 30 kg, comprising payload and batteries, capable of up to two hours of flight time. This enables high performance and maximum operational flexibility for both security forces and civilian applications, such as search & rescue, cyber, intelligence, gas & oil rigs, and high-end naval missions.

The electrically-powered engine has significantly reduced the weight of the air vehicle, enabling additional, much required, payload capacity for a variety of missions. With an empty weight of only 20 kg as a platform, the Black Eagle 50 Electric has the capacity to carry additional batteries for longer flights, heavier payloads, and more. With a wide range of mission payloads, the system provides the highest level of mission versatility for covert operations.