KORTHOS / ECOSYSTEM / PRODUCT

VAPOR 55 MX

About

About VAPOR 55 MX

VAPOR 55 MX is AeroVironment's all-electric unmanned helicopter for tactical sensing and payload missions. Its vertical-takeoff design supports runway-free deployment, tool-free assembly and interchangeable mission equipment.

AeroVironment lists roughly 90 minutes of endurance, payloads up to about 5.4 kilograms and a 15-metre-per-second ground-speed limit. Configurations can carry electro-optical, infrared, laser-designation or communications payloads; range and endurance vary with payload, radio and operating conditions.

01 JUN 2026

Robotics developments — 1–5 June 2026

Capabilities

Source-backed capabilities

  • Capability areas: Remote operation
  • Workflows: Tactical ISR mission, Drone ISR, Tactical ISR drone
  • Operating environments: Defence operational environment
  • Deployment model: Operator-controlled VTOL UAV for military and security users.
  • ISR and tactical support

    Claimed - AeroVironment presents VAPOR 55 MX for VTOL ISR, communications relay and tactical payload missions.

    Source
  • Communications relay

    Claimed - AeroVironment presents VAPOR 55 MX for VTOL ISR, communications relay and tactical payload missions.

    Source
  • Load carrying

    Claimed - AeroVironment presents VAPOR 55 MX for VTOL ISR, communications relay and tactical payload missions.

    Source

Context

Market context

VAPOR 55 MX is an AeroVironment unmanned helicopter UAS for payload-carrying missions that need vertical takeoff and landing.

  • Target environment: Defence field operations, maritime support missions and constrained launch areas.
  • Workflow context: Remote piloting, aerial ISR, payload carriage and vertical takeoff operations.
  • Deployment model: Operator-controlled VTOL UAV for military and security users.
  • Commercial maturity: Commercial defence UAV platform available for tactical ISR and payload missions.
  • Adoption constraints: Requires rotorcraft UAV maintenance, payload integration, trained operators and tactical communications.
  • Market position: VTOL ISR platform for defence missions that need rotorcraft launch flexibility and payload carriage.
  • Adjacent products: Helicopter-style unmanned aircraft for tactical ISR, remote operation and field payload missions.

Comparable Systems

  • Ghost

    Anduril Industries - UAV

  • Ghost-X

    Anduril Industries - Tactical Isr UAV

  • VAPOR CLE

    AeroVironment - Tactical Isr UAV

Related Systems