Angolan Navy reported to receive six ANAVIA HT-100 Naval uncrewed helicopters
The Angolan Navy has reportedly received six HT-100 Naval uncrewed helicopters built by Swiss manufacturer ANAVIA. FlightGlobal reported the delivery on September 10, citing completion of customer acceptance. Other reporting, also citing ANAVIA, said each aircraft underwent individual flight testing and verification during the acceptance process in Luanda.
The aircraft are intended for Angola’s three BR71 MK II Combattante corvettes, with two systems assigned to each ship. EDGE Group said in March that ANAVIA’s naval rotorcraft would be integrated with the corvettes’ combat-management systems and equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors. The first vessel, NRA Ekuikui II, was launched in Cherbourg, France, in March.
ANAVIA describes the HT-100 Naval as a 120kg-class, turbine-powered unmanned helicopter with intermeshing main rotors and no tail rotor. The manufacturer lists maximum endurance of six hours and payload capacity of up to 60kg. It also says the maritime version has corrosion protection, flotation equipment and an autonomous deck-landing system. These specifications and mission claims are manufacturer statements.
Why it matters
The reported acceptance moves a shipborne uncrewed-helicopter element closer to service within Angola’s corvette program. If integration proceeds as announced, the systems could give each vessel an organic airborne sensor platform without embarking a crewed helicopter. Operational deployment, shipboard flight activity and in-service performance have not been independently confirmed.
Sources: FlightGlobal report; African Press Agency report; EDGE Group corvette program announcement; ANAVIA HT-100 Naval product page
