AeroVironment (AV) has introduced the Vapor Compact Long Endurance (CLE) drone, the newest addition to its growing lineup of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platforms.
The Vapor CLE is a Group 2 all-electric unmanned aircraft system (UAS) built on a modular open systems architecture, allowing it to support over 26 mission payloads ranging from optical sensors and electronic warfare tools to communication relays.
It can be fitted with mortar rounds, grenades, and other guided munitions, giving units flexible options for strike missions.
Weighing just over 35 pounds (16 kilograms), the UAS is reportedly 50 percent lighter than previous Vapor variants. It can stay airborne for more than two hours, which AV claimed is double the endurance of other platforms in its class.
Although designed for fully autonomous operations, the Vapor CLE can also be controlled through the company’s AV_Halo Command tactical controller. It supports any frequency used worldwide and can send encrypted data over distances exceeding 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
“We built the Vapor CLE around what warfighters told us they needed most — more time over target, greater lift for mission-critical payloads, and a system rugged enough to survive the toughest environments,” AV Senior Product Line Manager Jason Wright said.
“Those upgrades mean troops can carry less gear, set up faster, and count on a single platform to perform multiple roles in the field.”
AI on Board
Vapor CLE draws its fully-autonomous capabilities from an ORIN onboard computer developed by tech giant NVIDIA.
Paired with the AV_Halo Vision software and an AI-powered processing suite, the VTOL UAS can independently detect and track targets in real time.
These enhancements were shaped by real-world mission demands, according to Jason Hendrix, Vice President of Small Uncrewed Systems at AV,
“We’ve transformed the system into a combat-ready tool that gives warfighters more capability in a smaller, more adaptable package,” he noted.
