Red Cat to supply FlightWave Edge 130 Blue systems to RAN

Puerto Rican drone technology company Red Cat Holdings Inc has announced a new contract and order for 12 of FlightWave Edge 130 Blue medium reconnaissance system from the Royal Australian Navy. The contract was secured through Canberra-based Criterion Solutions Pty Ltd, an Australian-based distributor of Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Information Technology (ISR IT) solutions.

FlightWave is an industry-leading provider of VTOL drone, sensor and software solutions and was acquired by Red Cat in September 2024. The acquisition brought FlightWave’s flagship drone, the Edge 130 Blue into Red Cat’s family of low-cost, portable unmanned reconnaissance and precision lethal strike systems, the company says. FlightWave’s size, weight and vertical take-off capabilities makes it ideal for maritime operations and littoral environments, it adds.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with the Australian defence forces through this initial tranche of Edge 130 units. The Edge 130 Blue, with its advanced long-range surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, offers a significant advantage in maritime and other challenging environments,” stated Jeff Thompson, CEO of Red Cat. The RAN’s investment in small ISR and precision strike drones. “is vital for enhancing security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” he added.

The Edge 130 Blue is a UAS-certified military-grade tricopter for long-range mapping, inspection, surveillance, and reconnaissance needs. Designed specifically for government and military applications, the Edge 130 Blue can be assembled and hand-launched in just one minute by a single user to capture high-accuracy aerial imagery with medium-range autonomy. Weighing in at only 1.2Kg, the Edge has a 60+ minute flight time in forward mode, an industry-leading endurance among all other Blue UAS-approved drones available.