Vantage Robotics brought its Vesper and Trace Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to the forefront of tactical ISR at AUSA 2026, with the company’s recent selection for the US Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) programme providing a strong foundation for its continued pursuit of defense opportunities.
Vantage Robotics has been down-selected for the US Army SRR programme and has successfully passed its Manufacturing Readiness Assessment (MRA), demonstrating the company’s progress towards delivering scalable unmanned systems for demanding military requirements. This achievement added significant momentum to Vantage Robotics’ defence portfolio as the company showcased its technology to the defense community.
Vesper portable multirotor micro UAS.
At the heart of this offering are Vesper and Trace UAS, two Blue UAS Cleared and NDAA-compliant platforms designed to provide troops with rapidly deployable aerial reconnaissance capabilities while addressing different tactical requirements.
Vesper combines a compact quadcopter design with 55 minutes of flight time of flight time and ultra-low acoustic signature provides an endurance-focused and tactical stealth option for persistent aerial surveillance and, providing an endurance-focused option for persistent aerial surveillance and reconnaissance. Its 3-axis stabilized, field-swappable gimbal incorporates dual 4K Electro-Optical (EO) sensors and a thermal imager, while its exceptional low-light camera supports imaging down to 10 mLux. Equipped with a hexa-band radio and long range antennas to enable flights in contested environment, Vesper is the product of choice for extended ISR missions reaching up to 10km.
Designed for operational flexibility, Vesper can be equipped with shrouded rotors for indoor operation and missions near personnel, or a reconnaissance rotor set optimised for increased speed, endurance and stealth. The 750g system can be transported in a rugged field case and deployed in under 90 seconds.
Trace pocket-sized multirotor UAS.
For missions where size and discretion are paramount, Trace delivers a highly portable ISR capability in a compact-size weighing just 153g. Its 2-axis stabilized EO/IR gimbal supports covert reconnaissance, complemented by an industry leading low acoustic noise signature (unseen and unheard above 50ft against the terrain) and AI-assisted autonomy for object detection and tracking.
Combined with the Vision2 ground control station, Trace forms a backpackable system weighing 175g in its IP67-rated carrying case, providing a lightweight reconnaissance capability for dismounted forces.
With its SRR programme progress and a portfolio spanning endurance-focused and ultra-portable ISR, Vantage Robotics entered AUSA with technologies designed to support the evolving requirements of the US Army and global defense market.
