Knysna, South Africa-based unmanned aerial systems (UAS) designer and manufacturer, ALTI has officially announced its transition to a fully electric fleet, starting with the launch of its Transition e-VTOL UAS.
The company said this aircraft represents a significant leap forward in sustainable aerial technology, catering to military, security, and conservation missions.
The Transition is ALTI’s first fully electric vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL) aircraft, designed to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and minimise environmental impact. Its all-electric propulsion system eliminates emissions while significantly lowering operational and maintenance expenses, it said. The aircraft has a three-hour flight endurance, a 100-kilometer range, and a cruise speed of 40 kilometres per hour.
Duran De Villiers, Founder and Director of ALTI Unmanned, noted the importance of this shift, stating that the “stems from the need to meet our clients’ evolving demands. We’ve focused on delivering an aircraft that’s as close to 100% reliable as possible, safe, cost-effective, and virtually undetectable. Our clients, whether in surveillance, reconnaissance, or conservation, require an aircraft that’s not only efficient but also silent and stealthy.
“While going all-electric, we continue to lead the way with best-in-class endurance, achieving over three hours of flight time, fully equipped with payload. Moving into an all-electric future allows us to ensure that we continue to meet these needs while offering the most advanced, dependable solutions available.”
The aircraft’s low operational cost, estimated at under ten dollars per hour, makes it a practical and sustainable choice for long-range missions, ALTI said.
The company’s UAV range stands out due to its ability to take off vertically using rotors and then transition to horizontal flight – this does away with the need for runways or complex launch and recovery methods.
ALTI has shipped more than 1 000 unmanned aircraft to over a dozen countries since 2012. In 2021, Israel’s Avnon Group concluded an agreement to acquire a substantial stake of equity in ALTI, with UAV co-production to take place in Israel.
