Airbus Helicopters and Voyageur Aviation have signed the first purchase order for the Airbus U030 Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system in Canada, making Voyageur the platform’s Canadian launch customer, according to Airbus.
The agreement was signed at the Farnborough International Airshow on 21 July, and follows a memorandum of understanding between the two companies concluded at CANSEC in May, aimed at supporting Canada’s defence objectives.
Cory Cousineau, President of Voyageur, said: “This purchase represents a significant advancement in Voyageur’s ISR strategy and an important first for the Canadian market.”
He added: “As the first Flexrotor operator in Canada, Voyageur is well positioned to introduce and operationalise this new technology within the realities of Canada’s operating environment. Voyageur’s long history of aircraft operations, maintenance, training, and sustainment expertise provides a solid foundation to support the safe and effective operation of this new technology.”
Dwayne Charette, President of Airbus Helicopters in Canada, said the deal “underscores Airbus’ commitment to delivering next-generation tactical capabilities to the region.”
He continued: “As operational requirements continue to evolve, operators need systems that deliver greater reach, persistence, and situational awareness. Flexrotor’s advanced design and its potential to support crewed-uncrewed teaming represents a critical shift in how complex ISTAR missions can be executed.”
The U030 Flexrotor is a tactical vertical take-off and landing system built for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance work across military, parapublic and commercial roles. It has a maximum launch weight of 25kg and, according to Airbus, delivers an operational flight endurance of more than 12 hours in standard configurations.
The system is designed for expeditionary use with a minimal footprint, conducting fully autonomous launch and recovery from land or sea within an area of 3.7 by 3.7 metres. Airbus says its payload capacity integrates electro-optical systems and advanced sensors, allowing it to cover requirements ranging from Arctic ice navigation and forest fire surveillance to infrastructure monitoring and law enforcement.
The company describes the Flexrotor as already mission-proven through deployments in harsh, high-threat and GPS-denied environments.
The Flexrotor was developed by Aerovel, the American company founded by Tad McGeer, who had earlier pioneered the Insitu ScanEagle. Airbus acquired Aerovel in 2024, adding the system to its uncrewed portfolio and subsequently redesignating it under the U030 name. The type’s small launch and recovery footprint has made it of particular interest for shipborne operations, where it can be flown from vessels without flight decks or arrestor equipment.
Voyageur Aviation, headquartered in North Bay, Ontario, operates a fleet of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft on contract and specialist mission work, and forms part of Chorus Aviation. Airbus Helicopters in Canada is headquartered at Fort Erie, Ontario.
