Pipistrel, a division of Textron eAviation, announced that its new NUUVA V300 hybrid-electric unmanned VTOL aircraft successfully completed its first flight on January 31, 2025, in Gorizia, northeastern Italy, next to the Slovenian border.
The NUUVA is an unmanned aerial system (UAS) designed to carry 300 kg of cargo (the equivalent of three euro-pallets) over distances of up to 300 km.
Its propulsion is hybrid, since it is equipped with eight electric motors which provide lift for vertical takeoff, as well as a conventional fuel-powered engine for the cruise phase of the flight. The electric motors are powered by batteries which have been developed in-house by Pipistrel.
The NUUVA V300 uses an automatic Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) system which allows it to reach its destination by following a pre-determined flight plan.
During its flight, the aircraft is monitored by a ground operator using technology developed by Textron Systems, which, like Pipistrel, is another Textron group company. This first aircraft was controlled using a Honeywell fly-by-wire flight control system with triple-redundancy built-in.
Although the primary intended use of the NUUVA V300 is cargo delivery, Pipistrel is also aiming to market it for a variety of other missions, including search and rescue and defense applications.
A second NUUVA V300 aircraft will soon be ready to join the testing program, which will carry on throughout 2025.
