
- 30 Jun 2025 11:30 AM
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Ascent AeroSystems: Big Value, Small Package
By Robert W. Moorman
Vertiflite, Jul/Aug 2025
Robinson’s new subsidiary reveals breakthrough microdrone, Helius.
Ascent AeroSystems was acquired in April 2024 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Torrance, California-based Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), but retains its influence and autonomy in producing uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) of varying size, according to Peter Fuchs, cofounder and CEO of Ascent AeroSystems.
“One of the things that drove the conversation [toward RHC’s eventual acquisition] was that Robinson’s new CEO David Smith presented a different perspective from the vision of the Robinson family,” said Fuchs. “Smith is looking at an evolving aerospace and rotorcraft world where there is new technology — electrification, automation, crewed and uncrewed teaming — that is not part of Robinson’s expertise, but part of our domain. We think this is a good match.”
Industry analysts note the significant change in Robinson’s business strategy and how Ascent will play a significant role in the continued evolution of the company.
“The acquisition of Ascent AeroSystems reflects a new era in Robinson’s business model and strategy,” said Grant Holve, lead analyst, commercial aerospace, Forecast International. “The company is in growth mode and actively seeking to enter new markets that complement its helicopter products or expand its reach in the civil rotorcraft and unmanned aerial systems sectors.” Robinson’s recent launch of the R88 (see “Robinson Helicopter — Onward and Upward,” Vertiflite, March/April 2025) further highlights this drive for expansion, added Holve.
Founded in 2014, the Wilmington, Massachusetts-based company unveiled its latest UAS, Helius, in March at the Verticon trade show (formerly Heli-Expo). Helius marks Ascent’s entry into the sub-250-g (0.55-lb) micro-UAS sector, an important dividing line for drone regulations. The aircraft is billed as a rugged, all-weather, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled drone that’s compliant with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) restrictions on foreign content, suitable for various roles. Ascent is touting its US manufacturing capability as a principal selling point for its UAS products.
Smith described the acquisition of Ascent AeroSystems as a “strategic move” to evolve the UAS sector. “Helius is a key step in realizing that vision,” he said.
Buyers can purchase Helius directly from Ascent or through RHC dealers, which are also authorized Ascent resellers. Sydney, Australia-based Heliflite will provide local sales, support and integration services for all Ascent products through New Zealand and Australia.
Past and Present
Vertiflite posed several questions to Fuchs during a lengthy interview on Ascent’s affordable UAS and how the company came to be owned by RHC. The research and development of the now-combined company continues in Massachusetts, while the manufacturing side is transitioning to California.
Fuchs, a licensed pilot, had a varied career before moving into the UAS world. He’s flown business jets. He’s worked for Delta Air Lines, Sikorsky Aircraft, on-demand private jet charter company XOJET (now XO), multinational professional services network KPMG, and other companies.
In the 2000s, Fuchs became a drone hobbyist, which led to the eureka moment that drones of varying size “were going to be huge.” It was just a matter of time before the full potential of these autonomous aircraft was realized.
Drones have been around for years, but the move toward miniaturization for various roles in the civil and military sectors is relatively new and competition is heating up. Teaming with RHC adds heft to the combined company.
Not long after, Fuchs cofounded Ascent with twin brothers Nathaniel (Nate) and Jon Meringer. Nate is vice president and chief engineer, and Jon is vice president and chief technical officer.
“Drones are good for two things,” said Fuchs. “Moving things from A to B or collecting information. When collecting information, smaller is better and cheaper.”
He added, “We will approach the move toward miniaturization, from both sides, from our largest system NX30 to the mission-specific Helius.”
The NX30 can achieve speeds over 60 mph (nearly 100 km/h) and flight times of up to 65 minutes. An enhancement and name change of the NX30 will be announced this fall.
Adding Helius to the Ascent family expands the product line and marketability. Fuchs said, “Helius is the drone we’ve wanted to make from the beginning; small enough to fit in your pocket but powerful enough to meet the rigorous demands of public safety, emergency response and critical industrial missions.”

Ascent’s flagship drone, Spirit — produced since 2018 — has a maximum takeoff weight of 12.5 lb (5.7 kg) and is described as very modular. Spirit offers various payload integration options, one or two battery configurations and up to 53 minutes of flight time.
All of Ascent’s products use coaxial contra-rotating rotors, with cyclic and collective pitch control, like a helicopter. Fuchs said the coaxial aircraft is a unique platform and remains “a focus of our business. We like to say the laws of aerodynamics and physics favor the coaxial.” The company will continue to refine its coaxial design for smaller UAS.
Because of Helius’ stealth-like capabilities, some industry observers might be surprised by Ascent’s plan to mine the civil market before entering the military sector. Fuchs said the decision to go civil first was a practical one.

“The government has very unique requirements, which are not always well defined,” said Fuchs. “For a company like ours, it is very difficult to design a product on spec and deliver it to the government. It is a risky proposition because it will almost never meet their requirements.”
He added, “We believe Helius will have much broader adoption opportunities in the civil market. If the government likes what it sees for the military, they can then define what the mission equipment needs to be [for Helius] and we can integrate it at their request. That is the approach we will take.”
The Helius represents a small system that can be leveraged with lots of mission equipment, said Fuchs. The first civil version, which will have cellular connectivity, is suitable for several civil applications that include public safety, reconnaissance, search and rescue, security, aiding law enforcement and use as a firefighting tool.

This initial version will include different communications packages and different payloads requirements for specific markets. These systems will cost more than the standard model, said Fuchs. Since it has cellular connection in its initial configuration, its not suitable for the defense market, he added.
Business Partners
A principal benefit of the RHC’s acquisition of Ascent is a “credible US manufacturing capability not currently found in the UAS space,” according to Ascent.
To strengthen and expand business, Ascent is partnering with Data Blanket, a drone AI-technology company specializing in wildfire management. In February 2024, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approved both companies to fly numerous UAS in beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations to help firefighters combat wildfires.
Ascent will be introducing a series of new sensor integrations for the Spirit this summer.
In May, Ascent signed an agreement with Vietnamese company Gremsy, a leading provider of advanced UAS gimbals and payloads. This follows Ascent’s integration of Gremsy gimbals in the past, and will further explore ongoing product integration solutions, identify potential sales and marketing collaboration opportunities, and introduce and market innovative solutions to expand their respective global reach.
The company also announced a partnership with Wichita, Kansas-based AgEagle Aerial Systems, Inc. to introduce the RedEdge-P high-resolution, multi-spectral and color camera that will advance the Spirit’s capabilities in the growing agricultural drone space.
Ascent is now also integrating the Android Team Awareness Kit (ATAK), a software application that ensures enhanced situation awareness by enabling user, team and agency-level coordination in a centralized environment. It supports tactical collaboration by allowing users to share maps, locations and communication channels over a single unified interface. The Ascent Spirit is now ATAK compatible.
Civil UAS are not subject to FAA certification, but the company is prepared for such a requirement. Fuchs concluded, “When that time comes, and we believe it will, we are well positioned as part of Robinson to not only achieve type certification but also meet any FAA production and airworthiness requirements.”
For now, Ascent will forge ahead with its varied portfolio of autonomous aircraft designed to fill numerous roles in the civil and, eventually, the military arena, while evolving as an important unit of RHC.
About the Author
Robert W. Moorman is a freelance writer specializing in various facets of the fixed-wing and rotary-wing air transportation business. With more than 35 years of experience, his writing clients include several of the leading aviation magazines targeting the civil and military markets.
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