Ascent AeroSystems launches 249-gram HELIUS nano UAV
Ascent AeroSystems has entered the sub-250-gram drone market with HELIUS. The coaxial nano UAV was unveiled at VERTICON in Dallas as the company’s first aircraft in the ultra-light category.
The American-made aircraft is aimed at law enforcement, emergency response, government and industrial operators. Ascent is positioning HELIUS as an affordable, AI-enabled and NDAA-compliant option for users seeking to upgrade or replace existing small drone systems.
HELIUS uses a compact coaxial airframe designed for portability and field durability. The system includes AI-enabled obstacle avoidance and object tracking, plus a 4K 12.3-megapixel electro-optical sensor with ultra-low-light performance and digital tilt, pan and zoom.
Ascent said the program brings its coaxial propulsion technology to a platform small enough to fit in a pocket while retaining the durability and reliability expected in public safety, emergency response and industrial missions. Robinson Helicopter Company, which acquired Ascent in April 2024, said HELIUS supports its strategy around teaming crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
HELIUS carries a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $4,499 and is available for pre-order now, with first shipments expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. The aircraft could give public agencies and industrial teams a more portable, secure and U.S.-made option for fast-response missions.