Airbus, DSTA Demonstrate HTeaming with Flexrotor and H225M

Why It Matters

The demonstration proves that modular crew‑uncrewed teaming can enhance mission effectiveness and safety, signaling a shift toward mixed‑fleet operations in defense and emergency services.

Key Takeaways

• First HTeaming demo linking Flexrotor to H225M
• Real‑time UAS data extended helicopter visual range
• Flexrotor provides 12‑14 hour endurance, 25 kg payload
• H225M fleet exceeds 360 military units globally
• Demo validates crew‑uncrewed operational concepts for SAR

Pulse Analysis

The rise of crew‑uncrewed teaming reflects a broader industry push to blend human decision‑making with autonomous capabilities. Airbus’s HTeaming platform, designed as a plug‑and‑play module across its helicopter range, addresses the need for rapid integration of unmanned assets without overhauling existing fleets. By leveraging a common data‑link architecture, operators can command diverse UAS types from a single cockpit, streamlining training and maintenance while preserving the strategic advantage of human oversight.

During the Singapore airbase trial, the H225M Super Puma and Flexrotor UAS executed a coordinated search‑and‑rescue scenario. The Flexrotor’s 12‑14 hour endurance and 25 kg payload allowed it to loiter over the target area, feeding live video and sensor data to the helicopter crew. This real‑time situational awareness extended the aircraft’s visual horizon, accelerated decision‑making, and minimized exposure to hazardous environments—key performance indicators for modern SAR and combat missions.

The successful demonstration carries significant implications for defense planners and commercial operators alike. It validates a scalable model where legacy manned platforms gain extended reach and capability through modular unmanned add‑ons, reducing the need for entirely new aircraft programs. As more nations explore mixed‑fleet concepts, Airbus’s HTeaming could become a benchmark for interoperability, driving further investment in data‑link standards and joint operational doctrines across the aerospace sector.

Airbus, DSTA demonstrate HTeaming with Flexrotor and H225M

Credit: © Airbus.

Airbus and Singapore’s Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) have completed a demonstration of HTeaming technology at a Singapore airbase.

This flight demonstration marked the first time HTeaming has integrated an Airbus Flexrotor uncrewed aerial system (UAS) with the H225M helicopter of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

It follows an agreement signed between Airbus and DSTA in June last year to explore the impact of crewed‑uncrewed teaming on operational effectiveness.

HTeaming, developed by Airbus, is a modular system that allows compatibility across Airbus’s helicopter range and enables crews to control various uncrewed platforms during flight.

For this demonstration, the system was integrated into the H225M, including specialised data‑link solutions designed to provide seamless communication between helicopter crew and UAS.

During flight trials held in January, crews tested the integration of crewed and uncrewed aircraft using simulated scenarios.

The H225M helicopter and Flexrotor UAS were paired in a search and rescue mission, where the helicopter crew accessed real‑time information from the UAS.

This arrangement extended the helicopter’s visual range, provided live data directly to the flight crew, supported faster decision‑making, and reduced crew exposure to high‑risk environments.

The Flexrotor is a vertical take‑off and landing UAS with a launch weight of 25 kg. It is capable of operating for over 12–14 hours on intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions.

The H225M belongs to Airbus’s Super Puma family, with more than 360 units in service among military users worldwide, including Singapore.

Airbus led both the design of the HTeaming system and its integration into the aircraft as part of this collaboration with DSTA.

The work aimed to assess how joint operations between manned and unmanned systems could improve situational awareness and mission execution.

DSTA Air Systems director Ang Jer Meng said:

“The complexity of modern operations demands solutions that can adapt in real time. The successful flight demonstration underscores DSTA’s commitment to innovation and strong partnerships with industry to deliver cutting‑edge solutions.

It marks a positive step forward in teaming capabilities to enhance the RSAF’s mission effectiveness, while ensuring human decision‑making remains at the centre of operations. This achievement gives us confidence to move further to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible for more dynamic operations.”