Manned and Unmanned Convertible Copter
Anavia HT-750 Helicopter-Type UAV for Cargo Transport
Passenger configuration
Model of the passenger module on display
Anavia was founded in Switzerland several years ago and immediately began developing helicopter-type drones, as well as control systems and payloads for them. It regularly exhibited models and advertising materials at various exhibitions, but until recently its projects had not attracted much attention.
General view of drone with cargo modules
In November 2023, the United Arab Emirates Defense Industries Corporation EDGE Group acquired 52% of the shares of the Swiss company. Thanks to this, the Emirati company intended to gain access to advanced technologies and developments in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles.
In turn, the Swiss company could count on additional funding and orders. At the signing ceremony of the purchase contract, interesting news were said . It was then that it first became known that Anavia was developing a promising unmanned helicopter with a lifting capacity of 750 kg. However, the details of this project were not disclosed.
In February, the IDEX-2025 arms and equipment exhibition was held again in Abu Dhabi. EDGE and Anavia presented their main developments at the event, and also held the first demonstration of the HT-750 heavy drone. A full-size mock-up of the new drone was exhibited at their stand. The main characteristics were also revealed and rough plans for the future were formulated.
The promising HT-750 UAV was created as a multifunctional aerial platform. It will be able to carry various loads for one purpose or another. First of all, it is proposed to equip the drone with optical-electronic or radio-technical systems for observation, monitoring and reconnaissance. It is also planned to use it as an air transport vehicle.
Like other UAVs, the HT-750 will receive a control system that will allow it to fly both independently according to a preset program and according to the operator's commands. It will include navigation equipment, an autopilot and a communication system. The drone is capable of taking off and landing independently.
For now, however, let's talk only about advertising and promoting the product on the market. The advertised product is still in the design stage, and at the moment its creators can only present a full-size model. A real sample that can confirm the declared characteristics will appear no earlier than the end of the year.
However, the design of the HT-750 has some interesting features that should have a positive impact on the overall result. Therefore, the idea of a "fuselage" structure based on a frame and the suspension of payload modules on it is promising. Thanks to this, the creators of the drone managed to achieve the maximum possible volume for the cargo and improve its mass.
Passenger configuration
The Swiss company Anavia, with the support of the Emirates EDGE Group, is developing promising helicopter-type unmanned aircraft. Among its developments, a special place is reserved for the HT-750 project. It involves the construction of a heavy drone capable of lifting up to 750 kg of cargo. The project is currently in the development stage, but flight tests are expected to begin within a year.
Model of the passenger module on display
In a difficult class
Anavia was founded in Switzerland several years ago and immediately began developing helicopter-type drones, as well as control systems and payloads for them. It regularly exhibited models and advertising materials at various exhibitions, but until recently its projects had not attracted much attention.
General view of drone with cargo modules
In November 2023, the United Arab Emirates Defense Industries Corporation EDGE Group acquired 52% of the shares of the Swiss company. Thanks to this, the Emirati company intended to gain access to advanced technologies and developments in the field of unmanned aerial vehicles.
The situation became clear in January 2024 at the UMEX exhibition in Abu Dhabi. At the event, the UAE Ministry of Defense and EDGE Corporation signed a contract for the supply of 200 UAVs developed by Anavia. The agreement provides for the construction and supply of two types of devices: HT-100 and HT-750. The cost and delivery time of the equipment were not yet disclosed.
By the time the contract was signed, Anavia had already presented the HT-100 drone and exhibited it several times at various exhibitions. In turn, the HT-750 project was not previously known. At the same time, one might assume that this was what they had in mind several months earlier when they spoke about the activities of the manufacturing company.
By the time the contract was signed, Anavia had already presented the HT-100 drone and exhibited it several times at various exhibitions. In turn, the HT-750 project was not previously known. At the same time, one might assume that this was what they had in mind several months earlier when they spoke about the activities of the manufacturing company.
Premiere Screening
In February, the IDEX-2025 arms and equipment exhibition was held again in Abu Dhabi. EDGE and Anavia presented their main developments at the event, and also held the first demonstration of the HT-750 heavy drone. A full-size mock-up of the new drone was exhibited at their stand. The main characteristics were also revealed and rough plans for the future were formulated.
The promising HT-750 UAV was created as a multifunctional aerial platform. It will be able to carry various loads for one purpose or another. First of all, it is proposed to equip the drone with optical-electronic or radio-technical systems for observation, monitoring and reconnaissance. It is also planned to use it as an air transport vehicle.
The HT-750 project is currently in the development stage, which will take several more months. However, models and prototypes of both the drone itself and its individual components have already been created. Some of these samples were presented at a recent exhibition.
This year, Anavia and EDGE Group plan to complete the design and start building a prototype. Flight tests are scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Developers cannot yet say how long this stage will last. It is expected that the remaining work on the HT-750 will take several more years. Therefore, the customer, the UAE Army, will be able to receive the first UAVs of this type no earlier than 2027-28.
There is no information about interest from foreign buyers yet. At the same time, development companies are counting on commercial success. They believe that customers will be attracted by the high technical characteristics. Currently, the HT-750 is one of the heaviest and most capable helicopter-type UAVs in the world, and this fact will not go unnoticed.
The HT-750 drone is a traditional remote-controlled helicopter capable of carrying various tools and cargo. In the design of such a drone, several original ideas of various kinds were used, thanks to which it is expected to improve various characteristics. Thus, the problem of cargo placement was solved using a modular approach.
The base of the drone is a frame resembling a helicopter. It has a large front section with internal space for mounting cargo modules. The engine is located on the upper part of the frame, while in the rear part is the tail boom with the tail rotor. The drone is equipped with a frame consisting of four fixed struts of a characteristic shape.
The length of the drone along the fuselage reaches 6.7 m, the width of the fuselage is 1.67 m, the height is 3.35 m. The diameter of the main rotor is 7.5 m. The net weight of the structure is approx. 400 kg. The drone can carry up to 900 liters of fuel (depending on the tank configuration) and up to 750 kg of payload.
The HT-750 is powered by a single turboshaft engine and a reduction gearbox that distributes torque between the main and tail rotors. The type and parameters of the engine are unknown. Lift and horizontal flight are provided by a four-bladed main rotor. The declared maximum flight speed is 220 km/h and the maximum range is 900 km. The flight duration will reach 15 hours.
This year, Anavia and EDGE Group plan to complete the design and start building a prototype. Flight tests are scheduled for the first quarter of 2026. Developers cannot yet say how long this stage will last. It is expected that the remaining work on the HT-750 will take several more years. Therefore, the customer, the UAE Army, will be able to receive the first UAVs of this type no earlier than 2027-28.
There is no information about interest from foreign buyers yet. At the same time, development companies are counting on commercial success. They believe that customers will be attracted by the high technical characteristics. Currently, the HT-750 is one of the heaviest and most capable helicopter-type UAVs in the world, and this fact will not go unnoticed.
Modular design
The HT-750 drone is a traditional remote-controlled helicopter capable of carrying various tools and cargo. In the design of such a drone, several original ideas of various kinds were used, thanks to which it is expected to improve various characteristics. Thus, the problem of cargo placement was solved using a modular approach.
The base of the drone is a frame resembling a helicopter. It has a large front section with internal space for mounting cargo modules. The engine is located on the upper part of the frame, while in the rear part is the tail boom with the tail rotor. The drone is equipped with a frame consisting of four fixed struts of a characteristic shape.
The length of the drone along the fuselage reaches 6.7 m, the width of the fuselage is 1.67 m, the height is 3.35 m. The diameter of the main rotor is 7.5 m. The net weight of the structure is approx. 400 kg. The drone can carry up to 900 liters of fuel (depending on the tank configuration) and up to 750 kg of payload.
The HT-750 is powered by a single turboshaft engine and a reduction gearbox that distributes torque between the main and tail rotors. The type and parameters of the engine are unknown. Lift and horizontal flight are provided by a four-bladed main rotor. The declared maximum flight speed is 220 km/h and the maximum range is 900 km. The flight duration will reach 15 hours.
Like other UAVs, the HT-750 will receive a control system that will allow it to fly both independently according to a preset program and according to the operator's commands. It will include navigation equipment, an autopilot and a communication system. The drone is capable of taking off and landing independently.
A high-speed encrypted channel is used for two-way communication with the operator station. The direct communication range reaches 200 km. As an additional option, the installation of satellite communications is offered, which will increase the range.
The electronic complex may include optical and radio reconnaissance devices or other means. The developer company offers customers several payload options, each with its own characteristics and parameters.
The payload can be placed on the helicopter chassis or in removable container modules. The design of the HT-750 provides for the installation of three modules. One of them is distinguished by its larger dimensions and, when suspended in its usual position, forms the streamlined front part of the fuselage. Behind, on the sides, there are two more smaller containers.
The nose container can be used to transport large loads and even people. The other two modules can accommodate smaller devices, including reconnaissance equipment. In addition, the side modules can accommodate additional fuel reserves, which will increase the overall range and flight duration.
Anavia claims that its new heavy-lift UAV has a number of important advantages. First of all, it is worth mentioning the high load capacity of this displacement, which is almost a record for modern equipment of this class. In addition, they mention high flight characteristics, the ability to transport different loads and solve a wide range of tasks. It is interesting that in the advertising material there is a separate article about the “legendary Swiss quality”.
The electronic complex may include optical and radio reconnaissance devices or other means. The developer company offers customers several payload options, each with its own characteristics and parameters.
The payload can be placed on the helicopter chassis or in removable container modules. The design of the HT-750 provides for the installation of three modules. One of them is distinguished by its larger dimensions and, when suspended in its usual position, forms the streamlined front part of the fuselage. Behind, on the sides, there are two more smaller containers.
The nose container can be used to transport large loads and even people. The other two modules can accommodate smaller devices, including reconnaissance equipment. In addition, the side modules can accommodate additional fuel reserves, which will increase the overall range and flight duration.
Declared potential
Anavia claims that its new heavy-lift UAV has a number of important advantages. First of all, it is worth mentioning the high load capacity of this displacement, which is almost a record for modern equipment of this class. In addition, they mention high flight characteristics, the ability to transport different loads and solve a wide range of tasks. It is interesting that in the advertising material there is a separate article about the “legendary Swiss quality”.
For now, however, let's talk only about advertising and promoting the product on the market. The advertised product is still in the design stage, and at the moment its creators can only present a full-size model. A real sample that can confirm the declared characteristics will appear no earlier than the end of the year.
However, the design of the HT-750 has some interesting features that should have a positive impact on the overall result. Therefore, the idea of a "fuselage" structure based on a frame and the suspension of payload modules on it is promising. Thanks to this, the creators of the drone managed to achieve the maximum possible volume for the cargo and improve its mass.
It is not yet clear how exactly all these capabilities will be used. Anavia declares compatibility with various cargoes, but does not specify their type, purpose, configuration, etc. Such information should appear later, probably at one of the upcoming exhibitions or after the start of testing. Such data will significantly clarify the situation and allow us to draw conclusions.
Overall, this is an interesting project of a modern helicopter-type UAV that could attract the attention of potential customers. However, Anavia and EDGE still have to complete the work and confirm the characteristics and capabilities declared during the tests. If the already proven HT-750 shows its best side, then we can expect new orders. For now, the only buyer of such equipment remains the Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates.
Overall, this is an interesting project of a modern helicopter-type UAV that could attract the attention of potential customers. However, Anavia and EDGE still have to complete the work and confirm the characteristics and capabilities declared during the tests. If the already proven HT-750 shows its best side, then we can expect new orders. For now, the only buyer of such equipment remains the Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates.
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