RapidFlight, designer and mass producer of unmanned plane techniques (UAS) for the worldwide protection trade, hosted Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01), Vice Chairman of the Home Armed Providers Committee, at its headquarters in Manassas, Virginia, final week.
RapidFlight gave Congressman Wittman an replace on its skill to instantly disrupt the trade with inexpensive, mission-customizable drones that may present 5 instances the potential in vary and endurance at a fraction of the unit worth in comparison with conventional small UAV techniques obtainable in the present day. The corporate’s method, known as AgileAviation, contains greater than 20 customizable UAV designs to this point and a proprietary software-hardware stack that takes intention at guaranteeing that the U.S. will compete with abroad manufacturing in nations corresponding to China.
Throughout a two-hour go to, RapidFlight demonstrated its method to cracking the UAV code, together with a tour of its mass manufacturing facility that employs dozens of native employees and its skill to fabricate on the tactical edge with its Cellular Manufacturing System (MPS), launched earlier this yr. RapidFlight’s method begins with the mission in thoughts after which builds an airframe across the payload, serving to create simpler unmanned techniques personalized to finish the particular mission at hand. RapidFlight’s AgileAviation method means its UAVs can flexibly combine variants together with the propulsion, navigation, payload, and communication techniques in assist of the US and its allies.
Throughout the go to, Wittman asserted the wants of the U.S. Armed Forces and its allies for revolutionary, mass produced but shortly customizable ready-now options to handle an more and more difficult international surroundings.
“We get so wrapped up in doing science challenge after science challenge, however you’ve got to have the ability to scale it and have an operational impact,” mentioned Wittman, discussing the present state of Pentagon expertise growth.
Earlier this yr, Congressman Wittman performed an integral function in incorporating the American Safety Drone Act inside the 2024 Nationwide Protection Authorization Act (NDAA). The act helps promote American superiority and competitiveness inside the drone market whereas defending in opposition to IP theft and knowledge safety violations by adversaries. Now, Congressman Wittman is visiting established home drone producers, corresponding to RapidFlight, which might be bringing superior, inexpensive, and mission-adaptable U.S. drone manufacturing for protection wants at scale.
After Congressman Wittman familiarized himself with RapidFlight and its versatile manufacturing capabilities at its Virginia industrial facility and on the tactical edge by means of its MPS program, he took questions from RapidFlight workers about the way forward for protection expertise, international affairs, and subsequent steps for the sector.
“Our nice women and men in uniform want instruments to get the job performed,” mentioned Wittman, in the course of the question-and-answer session with RapidFlight personnel. “Thanks for being the innovators and creators we’d like.”
“Congressional engagement with firms like RapidFlight is crucial to nationwide protection. Congressman Wittman might help facilitate revolutionary options from rising producers geared toward bolstering our nationwide protection technique,” mentioned Mike Uffelman, Director of Development at RapidFlight. “We’re excited to work with our elected officers on Capitol Hill to supply our service members with the instruments they should accomplish the mission.”
About RapidFlight
Primarily based in Manassas, Virginia, RapidFlight is a design, expertise, and manufacturing firm able to producing 1000’s of personalized, low-cost, mission-ready, unmanned techniques each centrally and on the tactical edge. The corporate’s superior digital design and manufacturing processes, known as AgileAviation, and skilled staff of trade professionals are setting new requirements in plane customization and mass manufacturing. RapidFlight addresses the dynamic challenges and stringent timelines crucial to nationwide safety.
For extra particulars, go to www.rapidflight.aero