CybAero Wins Order For Unmanned Helicopters To China

Swedish firm, CybAero gets unmanned helicopters order guarantee worth $104 million over eight years to China.

The order has been placed by a company in the Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) group, which develops and manufactures aircraft and various types of flying vehicles and has over 400,000 employees.

The order is dependent on an export permit being issued by the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls (ISP).

According to the agreement, AVIC has committed to purchasing at least 20 helicopter systems during the first three years and at least a further 50 systems during the following five years. Each system includes helicopters, ground stations and data links. The agreement also covers training and support.

Through the joint company, AVIC will entirely target the civil and commercial markets, namely customs and coastguard services, the energy sector, agriculture, mapping and rescue services, etc.

"The order is the largest ever anywhere in the world in the product segment within which CybAero operates, i.e. vertical take-off and landing unmanned aerial vehicles weighing less than 200kg.

"A condition of the order for AVIC is the granting of a permit by the Swedish Agency for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls, but we don't anticipate there being any problem with this at present," said Mikael Hult. The agreement and order will not give rise to any further financing requirements for CybAero. Payments will be made by AVIC on an ongoing basis as deliveries take place.

CybAero's unmanned helicopters have a range of 20 miles and a flying time of up to six hours.