Robinson Unmanned has secured a Foreign Military Sales contract to provide its Blue UAS Cleared SPIRIT small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) to the Nepali Army.
The firm-fixed-price award was issued through Naval Air Systems Command at Naval Air Station Patuxent River by Ascent AeroSystems, Robinson Unmanned’s contracting entity for U.S. defense programs. Under the agreement, the Nepali Army will receive National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) compliant SPIRIT base kits, payload kits, additional aircraft hardware, spare parts, extended warranty coverage, and comprehensive operator training.
Designed specifically for reliable operation in severe environments, the Group 1 platform combines a compact coaxial architecture within a rugged cylindrical body. Its modular open system architecture (MOSA) enables operators to rapidly integrate evolving hardware, software, and sensing or communications payloads around a single versatile airframe rather than fielding separate platforms for distinct operational requirements.
The system is particularly suited to Nepal’s varied and high-elevation terrain. Built to IP56 standards, the aircraft operates in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 130°F, tolerates sustained winds above 40 mph, and reaches a maximum operating altitude of 14,600 feet above mean sea level.
Paul Fermo, President of Robinson Unmanned, said, “For operators working in mountainous, remote and unpredictable environments, reliability isn’t optional. SPIRIT was designed to give operators a rugged aircraft they can depend on while retaining the flexibility to adapt payloads and capabilities as the mission changes. This award extends that capability to another international partner and reflects the growing role SPIRIT can play in supporting U.S. and partner-nation security objectives around the world.”
The contract marks a significant international expansion for the SPIRIT platform, which already sees growing adoption across U.S. defense and government entities. To meet rising domestic and global demand, Robinson Unmanned leverages the vertically integrated U.S. manufacturing infrastructure and five decades of aviation production experience of its parent entity, Robinson Helicopter Company.
Fermo added, “International operators are asking for many of the same things we hear from U.S. forces: systems that are reliable, adaptable, supportable and available when the mission demands them. Our goal is to make proven U.S.-built capability accessible not only to American operators, but to partner nations that need reliable, mission-ready unmanned systems for real-world operations.”
