UAV Navigation teams with Ekolot to advance Zeus fixed-wing VTOL aircraft
UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía will integrate its flight control system into Ekolot Aerospace and Defense’s new Zeus fixed-wing VTOL platform.
The tie-up links UAV Navigation’s guidance, navigation and control technology with Ekolot’s push to build a new family of unmanned aircraft. Zeus is designed as a range of platforms with maximum take-off weights from 100 kg to 250 kg. It combines fixed-wing aerodynamic efficiency with vertical take-off and landing capability. That mix is aimed at civil, defense and security missions in remote or difficult environments.
Ekolot positions Zeus between small tactical drones and heavier MALE-class systems. The aircraft uses a modular and convertible concept built around a common base airframe. Operators can fit VTOL or conventional take-off and landing conversion kits. The platform supports multiple weight classes, including 150 kg, 200 kg and 250 kg in VTOL form, and 250 kg to 350 kg in conventional configuration. Payload capacity ranges from 30 kg to 120 kg for VTOL variants and reaches 150 kg for the conventional Zeus G version. Endurance is listed at 12 to 24 hours. UAV Navigation’s autopilot adds precise flight control and dual-use mission functions, including operation in GNSS-denied conditions through high-precision inertial navigation and a visual navigation system.
The companies said the expanded collaboration is intended to strengthen their position in Poland and support Ekolot Aerospace and Defense’s expansion into Latin America. For the wider UAV market, Zeus targets a growing gap between lightweight tactical platforms and large long-endurance systems. If the program delivers as outlined, it could give operators a more flexible option for missions that need longer endurance, higher payloads and deployment from areas with limited infrastructure.