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Puerto Rico-based Red Cat, via its Australian-based distributor Criterion Solutions, will provide a fleet of 12 FlightWave Edge 130 Blue unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for the Royal Australian Navy.
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The contract was secured through Criterion Solutions, an Australian-based distributor of intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) and information technology solutions.
FlightWave, an industry-leading provider of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, sensor and software solutions, was acquired by Red Cat in September 2024. The acquisition brought FlightWave’s flagship drone, the Edge 130 Blue, into its family of low-cost, portable unmanned reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems.
The size of the FlightWave system, including its weight and vertical take-off capabilities, makes the platform ideal for maritime operations and littoral environments.
Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat, welcomed this contract announcement, saying, “We are excited to expand our partnership with the Australian defence forces through this initial tranche of Edge 130 units. Their investment in small ISR and precision strike drones is vital for enhancing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The Edge 130 Blue is a UAS-certified military-grade tricopter for long-range mapping, inspection, surveillance, and reconnaissance.
Designed specifically for government and military applications, the Edge 130 Blue can be assembled and hand-launched in just one minute by a single user to capture high-accuracy aerial imagery with medium-range autonomy.
“Our mission is to equip warfighters around the globe with cutting-edge sUAS technology. The Edge 130 Blue, with its advanced long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, offers a significant advantage in maritime and other challenging environments,” Thompson said.
Weighing in at only 1,200 grams, the Edge has a 60+ minute flight time in forward mode, an industry-leading endurance among all other Blue UAS-approved drones available.
Red Cat is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations.
Through two wholly owned subsidiaries – Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace – Red Cat has developed a bleeding-edge family of ISR and precision strike systems, including the Teal 2, a small unmanned system offering the highest-resolution thermal imaging in its class, the Edge 130 Blue Tricopter for extended endurance and range, and FANG, the industry’s first line of NDAA compliant FPV drones optimised for military operations with precision strike capabilities.
