Mayman Aerospace’s RAZOR drone completes first round of test flights
The full-scale RAZOR prototype being tested at a military base in southern California. (Photo: Mayman Aerospace)
The successful test flights of RAZOR were undertaken at a military base in southern California, where seven autonomous mission sets were completed. Additional test flights have been scheduled for later this year.
Mayman Aerospace has completed successful test flights of its RAZOR VTOL test bed drone. The full-scale prototype uses the same dimensions and weight as the RAZOR P100. The primary objective of these tests focused on the transition of engines moving out of hover mode – crucial for winged flight. It also tested avionics, thrust vectoring mechanisms, software and command and control (C2).
The company obtained a US DoD contract worth US$3.2 million to develop the aircraft in 2019 and has since tested five full-scale prototypes. The full-scale VTOL was first unveiled in May 2024.
The RAZOR drone has been designed for multi-role capabilities – as an ISR platform or on utility missions – and comes in various configurations depending on the payloads attached to the UAV. It is powered by a high-speed jet propulsion system, allowing it to fly at projected speeds up to 500mph.
Configuration possibilities include the option to extend the range of small air-to-air or air-to-surface missiles, such as Brimstone and Hellfire, or host ISTAR payloads. With a payload capacity of 45kg, it can also act as a cargo carrying drone, while its AI-guided C2/C3 enables precise payload delivery, offering defence commanders a cost-effective alternative to cruise missiles.
Dr Manu Sharma, chief engineer at Mayman Aerospace, said that the test flights were beneficial “to get additional autonomous flight time on the vehicle, take-off and landing in particular, to increase our confidence in the system as a whole”.
Mayman Aerospace claimed its RAZOR100 was fully scalable, with the company planning to develop the P500 and P1000 variants in due course. Manufacturing and sales of the P100 have been slated to start in 2025.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Thailand-bound AH-6i helicopter completes first flight]()
Thailand-bound AH-6i helicopter completes first flight
A total of eight aircraft will replace the Royal Thai Army’s ageing AH-IF Cobra fleet as part of a contract deal worth US$103.8 million.
-
![Czech Republic acquires two Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft]()
Czech Republic acquires two Embraer C-390 Millennium aircraft
The contract has been predicted to be signed in the coming weeks, with the first aircraft slated for delivery to the Czech Republic by 2025.
-
![Saab strengthens AEW&C bid with Korea Aerospace Industries agreement]()
Saab strengthens AEW&C bid with Korea Aerospace Industries agreement
Saab’s proposal for South Korea is its GlobalEye aircraft. This MoU between the two companies is the latest update in Saab’s bid for South Korea’s competition for a new airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft.
-
![Raytheon to develop Next-Gen Jammer upgrade for US navy under $192million deal]()
Raytheon to develop Next-Gen Jammer upgrade for US navy under $192million deal
The development of the Next-Generation Jammer Mid-Band system and its expansion upgrade will be a joint effort between the Royal Australian Air Force and US Navy to meet emerging electronic warfare threats.
-
![Pratt & Whitney granted $1.3 billion for F135 core upgrade]()
Pratt & Whitney granted $1.3 billion for F135 core upgrade
The contract award followed on from the preliminary design review of the F135 Engine Core Upgrade in July 2024. Work on the upgrade will be expected to be completed by March 2028.
-
![Lockheed Martin bags $3.2 billion US Air Force contract for JASSM and LRASM]()
Lockheed Martin bags $3.2 billion US Air Force contract for JASSM and LRASM
Lockheed Martin will supply the missile systems to the militaries of Japan, Finland, Poland and the Netherlands, with work carried out at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Orlando until mid-2032.
