Dynetics Named Launch Customer
Dynetics, a Huntsville, Alabama defense contractor, is the launch customer for Spirit. Mark Miller, Dynetics’ Vice President and Division Manager of Missile and Aviation Systems, said “Dynetics has been using Ascent’s coaxial technology for more than a year, and we’ve been impressed by the performance and reliability of these vehicles. Not only is the cylindrical shape great for austere environments, it also makes it possible to launch the vehicle in ways that other configurations simply can’t do. This opens up an entirely new set of potential missions that can’t be met by conventional UAVs.”
Steve Norris, Dynetics’ Department Manager for Unmanned Systems, explained the company’s selection. “We have found that stability, maneuverability and speed of Ascent’s UAVs are excellent, and its lifting capability is outstanding for such a compact vehicle. We see a wide range of uses for this unique VTOL platform. The Spirit’s modular configuration also improves our ability to incorporate new technologies, so we can rapidly develop new payloads and demonstrate new capabilities to our customers in the defense and intelligence communities.”