Ascent AeroSystems designs and manufactures coaxial helicopter drones. Pictured: Ascent’s all-weather drone. Photo: Ascent AeroSystems
Robinson Helicopter Company has acquired Ascent AeroSystems, a developer of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), for an undisclosed sum.
Ascent AeroSystems is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Robinson Helicopters. Its cylindrical, coaxial helicopter drones are made for public safety, industrial, and defence applications. With this acquisition, Ascent will be able to scale the production of its Spirit and NX30 platforms at Robinson’s manufacturing facility in Torrance, California, while still keeping its headquarters in Massachusetts.
When appointed back in February, Robinson’s CEO, David Smith, announced that “exciting times” were ahead for the helicopter manufacturer.
This acquisition signals a change in direction for the manufacturer, which is best known for producing light utility helicopters such as the R22 and R44.
With this latest announcement, Smith said that the acquisition was in line with its vision to “broaden our offerings and meet increasing global demand for enhanced mission capabilities in law enforcement, public safety, firefighting, utility, and defence.”
Peter Fuchs, Ascent AeroSystems’ CEO, added, “Drones based on consumer-grade electronics will never be able to provide the safety and dispatch reliability needed to support operations at scale. With Robinson’s fifty years of experience, there is now no better domestic source for reliable, mission-critical UAV platforms.”
UAS integrations into helicopter operations are increasing in sectors as wide-ranging as public safety, agriculture, shipping, and defence. The acquisition of Ascent marks the second announcement of a major helicopter manufacturer investing in UAS producers in 2024, following Airbus Helicopters’ acquisition of Aerovel in January.
