AWHERO is the leading 200 kg class rotary UAS leveraging on Leonardo’s strength and extensive experience in rotorcraft development and system integration.
It is capable of providing operational superiority in complex roles and tasks ensuring maximum mission availability and effectiveness.
AWHERO is also at the forefront of Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming, channeling Leonardo expertise in rotorcraft and uncrewed systems. When operating alongside Leonardo’s helicopters, it significantly enhances mission’s operational efficiency and effects during land, littoral and blue-water operations.
Main Features
Flexible Military-Grade Capability
Armed Forces can trust the robust Military-Certified AWHERO to succeed in a wide spectrum of missions, including: Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR), force protection, combat support, route clearance, cargo re-supply, anti-piracy, maritime security, and Beyond Radio Line of Sight (BRLOS) communications relay.
Its operational flexibility comes also into support to Governmental Agencies and commercial Organizations in a range of utility roles including disaster relief, environmental monitoring, support to firefighting, pipeline and powerline monitoring. It is an ideal solution for security missions such as border control, surveillance and aerial monitoring of critical infrastructures.
Multiple and Modular Sensors
AWHERO is provided with two modular and high-capacity payload bays (nose and underbelly) capable of carrying multiple and interchangeable sensors among which: Electro-Optical /Infrared (EO/IR), Automatic Identification System (AIS), Electronic Support Measures, Sonobuoy Data Relay, Light Imaging Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) and the Leonardo Gabbiano TS Ultra-Light Maritime Radar for unmatched maritime surveillance.
Networking and data dissemination
AWHERO is equipped with a wide-band MeshNet data-link ensuring networked connectivity to naval, land and air assets. The data flow is fully compliant to the most relevant STANAG formats including Video, Metadata and Radar data. The dual redundant data-link architecture provides a robust and resilient data dissemination capability for persistent wide area situational awareness even at maximum range.
Ready for Embarked Maritime Operations
The fully marinized design of the AWHERO draws on Leonardo’s extensive experience in the development and deployment of naval rotorcraft.
System’s features include: full automatic deck takeoff & landing on moving vessels, heavy fuel engine, foldable blades, minimized logistics footprint in the hangar and Control Station designed for the integration with the ship’s Combat Management System in order to provide commanders with a comprehensive multi-domain FIND and FIX capability.
Technical data
MTOW
200kg (440lb) Class
ROTOR DIAMETER
4m (13ft 2in)
PAYLOAD CAPACITY
Nose: up to 20kg (44lb)
Belly: up to 40kg (88lb)
ENDURANCE
6 hours
DATA-LINK RANGE
100km (54NM)
ENGINE
Heavy Fuel