Archytas UAS enters flight testing phase in Greece

The Archytas unmanned aerial system (UAS) development program, led by the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (HAI), is transitioning from the design and construction phase to flight testing. Classified as a Class II UAS, the drone has a maximum weight of 180 kg, a payload capacity of up to 30 kg, and an endurance of approximately nine hours.

Designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, the Archytas features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capabilities. This allows the system to operate from areas without runways, a feature specifically noted for its utility in island environments.

The program began in 2021 through a memorandum of cooperation between HAI and several academic institutions, including the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the Democritus University of Thrace, and the University of Thessaly. Funded by the Ministry of Finance, the initiative aims to build domestic expertise in the design and production of complex unmanned systems. The project is named after Archytas of Tarentum, the ancient Greek engineer credited with inventing the first autonomous flying machine.