UAVT’s Turbine Aerospace Systems are sized for drones ranging in take-off weight from 300 to 2,500 pounds. UAVT uses propellers to produce propulsion and can be configured for either horizontal or vertical flight.
The above video shows our Monarch 5 Engine serving as the prime mover for a 480lb take-off weight TigerShark drone.
UAVT’s Turbine Aerospace Systems power drones ranging from 350 to 2,500 pounds takeoff weight. Industry studies project microturbine engine demand for aerospace applications will exceed $4.6 billion by 2030.
While military and commercial drone markets increasingly favor runway-independent VTOL systems, fixed-wing drones remain essential for specific missions. UAVT provides propulsion solutions for both configurations, by either being the prime mover in a turboprop design or a hybrid range extender for battery powered drones.
Our advanced gearbox technology and recuperator enable long endurance missions. The gearbox accommodates variable pitch propellers, delivering superior climb rates and dash speeds compared to fixed pitch alternatives. Our heat-exchanger technology provides fuel efficiency equivalent to internal combustion engines.
The Monarch 5 engine demonstration with the 480-pound TigerShark drone platform validated our system’s capabilities. Flight tests confirmed significant performance improvements over reciprocating engines.
Our Technology
Since its formation, UAVT has focused exclusively on developing commercial and military products powered by micro-turbine engine systems. Turbine engines offer significant advantages over diesel and other internal combustion engines: superior reliability, durability, and fuel flexibility, plus lower operating noise and lower total cost of ownership.
While turbine engines have powered aircraft for 85 years, miniaturizing these systems presents extraordinary engineering challenges. Components like ignitors, pumps, combustors, and compressors cannot simply be scaled down—they require a complete redesign to function effectively at micro scale.
UAVT’s success stems from three critical factors: 15+ years of dedicated development, over $50 million in R&D investment, and a team of senior engineers with experience at NASA, Rolls Royce, Pratt & Whitney, Sikorsky, and GE Aviation.
Game Changing Development – Electrical Power Generation
While diesel systems dominate the generator market, UAVT’s compact, lightweight turbine engine has enabled the development of portable generators for two major market segments:
- Man portable ground power gensets for specialized needs, and…
- Electric aerospace applications that require an efficient range extender.
The UAVT core engine that has been used with a propeller for propulsion applications, anchors our Generator Set design. We use a proprietary generator in this configuration which operates at the same 100,000 RPM output as the engine. The resulting electrical power is easily conditioned to standard AC or DC output.
Man-Portable Generator
UAVT’s 25kW generator sets offer extraordinary size and weight advantages over traditional diesel units: 75% lighter and 50% smaller, delivering critical logistical benefits. Specialized military operations requiring substantial electricity and rapid mobility will be early adopters of UAVT’s APEX (Advanced Portable Expeditionary) generators.
Modern military strategy emphasizes small, highly mobile fighting units. Command posts and troops must relocate instantly, creating significant demand for compact, durable generators. First responders facing severe, widespread disasters require portable power solutions. Generator systems transportable without forklifts can mean the difference between life and death. The ability to connect multiple units into microgrids proves invaluable during disasters like Hurricane Helene. UAVT gensets transform both markets. Their compact design enables helicopters, aircraft, and trucks to transport 3-4 times more generators per load. Quiet operation provides tactical advantages in military environments and comfort in temporary living situations.
Subsequent to demonstrations for various US Department of Defense organizations, APEX prototypes will be field tested in late 2025.
Aerospace Range Extender
Battery-powered aircraft would be ideal for environmental and design simplicity reasons, but current battery power density and charging times make all-electric Group 3 and 4 drones impractical for most applications. The US Air Force (AFWERX) recently acknowledged that hybrid solutions are the only realistic near-term option.
Recognizing this power density limitation five years ago, UAVT developed a high-speed generator to replace the gearbox used in propeller applications.
The result is a high-power-to-weight ratio system that provides sufficient electrical power in a compact, lightweight package to serve as a hybrid range extender for larger drones that are required to carry meaningful payloads more than a short distance.
UAVT turbines’ fuel flexibility (including biofuels), quiet operation, long overhaul intervals, and reliability make them ideal solutions for this challenging application.
