ALTI Unmanned, based in South Africa, has announced a significant shift in its operations by transitioning to a fully electric fleet, marking a milestone in sustainable aerial technology. This move began with the launch of the Transition e-VTOL UAS, designed to cater to military, security, and conservation missions, reflecting a growing demand for eco-friendly and efficient unmanned aerial systems.
Features and Benefits
The Transition e-VTOL UAS is ALTI’s first fully electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, featuring an all-electric propulsion system that eliminates emissions and reduces operational and maintenance costs. It boasts a three-hour flight endurance, a 100-kilometer range, and a cruise speed of 40 kilometers per hour, making it suitable for long-range missions. Its low operational cost, estimated at under ten dollars per hour, enhances its practicality for extended operations. Additionally, its ability to take off vertically using rotors and transition to horizontal flight eliminates the need for runways, offering versatility in various terrains.
Client-Focused Design
Duran De Villiers, Founder and Director of ALTI Unmanned, emphasized that this transition addresses clients’ evolving needs for reliability, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The aircraft is designed to be virtually undetectable and silent, ideal for surveillance, reconnaissance, and conservation missions where stealth is crucial. This focus on being “as close to 100% reliable as possible” ensures it meets the demands of its diverse client base.
An unexpected aspect is ALTI’s established global presence, having shipped over 1,000 unmanned aircraft to more than a dozen countries since 2012. This is supported by strategic partnerships, such as the 2021 equity stake acquisition by Israel’s Avnon Group and a 2020 collaboration with US-based Argentech to supply the US government, highlighting ALTI’s international influence and credibility in the UAS market.
