Skyryse and Robinson Advance R66-Based Group 4 UAS for Defense

Skyryse has formed a partnership with Robinson Helicopter Company’s Robinson Unmanned unit to equip an unmanned R66 with the SkyOS platform, creating a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system aimed at defense missions. ## Partnership Scope and Timeline The effort draws on Robinson’s established production infrastructure and places the two companies’ Southern California facilities, located within roughly 30 miles of each other, at the center of integration work. Skyryse founder and CEO Mark Groden noted that defense agencies require autonomous aircraft that are reliable, affordable, and available now rather than years in the future. Robinson President and CEO David Smith described the project as a natural extension of the company’s existing capabilities in producing reliable, high-quality aircraft at scale. The proximity of the partners’ facilities supports rapid progress on integration tasks while leveraging Robinson’s existing production base to reach scale without new airframe development. ## Mission Applications The resulting aircraft is intended to support collaborative combat aircraft operations, air-launched effects, manned-unmanned teaming, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance tasks. Group 4 UAS are defined as weighing more than 1,320 pounds, operating below 18,000 feet, and carrying no speed restriction. The U.S. military has awarded manufacturing contracts to General Atomics and Anduril for related CCA designs designated FQ-42 and FQ-44, with plans to acquire approximately 1,000 such systems. These parameters position the R66-based platform within established military UAS categories already populated by systems such as the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-8B Fire Scout. ## SkyOS Capabilities SkyOS combines hardware and software to simplify aircraft control and introduce automation across normal flight, weather-related situations, and emergencies. The same operating system underpins Skyryse’s Skyryse One aircraft, which Robinson has identified as the first fly-by-wire helicopter operated through a single control stick and a pair of touchscreens. Robinson separately continues development of the R66 Turbinetruck, an automated heavy-lift cargo variant that relies on cameras, sensors, and algorithms for navigation and flight-path generation. Integration of SkyOS therefore extends an existing automation architecture already demonstrated on crewed R66 variants into the unmanned domain. ## Production Advantages More than 85 percent of Robinson aircraft components are produced domestically, a factor the company states will reduce reliance on foreign supply chains and support long-term fleet sustainability. The proximity of the partners’ facilities is expected to accelerate integration, flight demonstrations, and eventual production of the SkyOS-powered R66-based UAS. This domestic manufacturing emphasis aligns with defense priorities for supply-chain resilience while drawing on Robinson’s proven ability to deliver rotorcraft at volume through its established assembly processes. ## Why it matters for AeroLink pilots Pilots tracking rotorcraft autonomy programs can follow how an existing production line is being adapted to deliver Group 4 UAS platforms without requiring entirely new airframe development, providing a concrete example of how proven helicopter designs are transitioning into defense unmanned roles.