UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has strengthened its collaboration with Ekolot Aerospace & Defense (EAD) to integrate its advanced flight control system into EAD’s ZEUS fixed-wing Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platform.
The ZEUS family integrates UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s advanced autopilot systems, providing precise flight control and a wide range of capabilities for dual-use unmanned missions.
The system delivers reliable performance in GNSS-denied environments through high-precision inertial navigation and the Visual Navigation System (VNS), supporting operations in complex and contested scenarios.
The partnership combines UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía’s expertise in Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC) with EAD’s vision for a new generation of modular unmanned aircraft.
Modular Fixed-Wing VTOL Platform
The ZEUS family of unmanned aircraft is designed to bridge the gap between small tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and heavy MALE-class systems, offering a versatile solution for civil, defense, and security missions in remote and challenging environments.
These platforms cover a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) range of 100-250 kg, combining the aerodynamic efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft with the operational flexibility of VTOL.
A key feature of the ZEUS family is its modular and convertible architecture. A single base airframe supports both VTOL and Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL) configurations through dedicated conversion kits. The platform supports multiple MTOW options:
- VTOL variants: 150 kg, 200 kg, and 250 kg
- CTOL variants: 250 kg to 350 kg
Payload capacities range from 30-120 kg for VTOL versions and up to 150 kg for the CTOL ZEUS G variant. The platform is designed to deliver endurance between 12 and 24 hours, with a modular, payload-agnostic configuration to meet diverse mission requirements.
Expanding International Presence
From the outset of the relationship, UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía and EAD have maintained close cooperation built on trust and a shared vision to deliver robust unmanned solutions to the global market.
EAD emphasizes the importance of partnering with a provider that delivers not only critical flight control systems but also expert technical support across unmanned platforms and projects.
Edgardo Zapata, CEO at Ekolot Aerospace & Defense, commented “For EAD (Ekolot Aerospace & Defense), working with UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía means ensuring quality and reliability in one of the most critical components of our platform. This collaboration allows us to look to the future with confidence, exploring new opportunities and joint projects.”
The strengthened partnership aims to reinforce both companies’ presence in the Polish market while supporting EAD’s expansion across the LATAM region. Upcoming work includes further development of the ZEUS G and ZEUS CTOL platforms, long-endurance, high-payload CTOL variants designed to expand operational capabilities and meet increasingly demanding mission requirements.
This project marks the beginning of a new phase of collaboration, with both companies exploring additional applications and international opportunities in support of advanced unmanned aviation systems.
