According to Armyrecognition, the test flight took place from Santa Cruz Air Force Base, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil). The Albatroz Vortex aircraft successfully took off with an ATJR 15-5 jet engine manufactured domestically by Aero Concepts - a Brazilian aviation technology company. This is the first time a Brazilian-made unmanned aerial vehicle has test-flown with a domestic jet engine system.
The test flight aims to test the operating capacity of the turbine engine in actual flight conditions and assess the level of integration between the propulsion system and the aircraft frame. Test results show that the parts related to the engine operate stably throughout the flight, not only in ground tests.
Albatroz Vortex is a jet version of the Albatroz drone line, with a maximum take-off weight of about 150 kg, belonging to the tactical UAV group. The use of a jet engine helps the aircraft reach higher speeds and operate at higher altitudes than the piston engine version.
The ATJR 15-5 engine has a thrust of about 500 N, developed entirely in Brazil. The project is the result of a cooperation between Stella Tecnologia and Aero Concepts, with the support of the Brazilian Ministry of Defense and Air Force.
After the first flight, Albatroz Vortex will continue to be tested to expand the flight range and assess overall performance. Project partners also aim to gradually build domestic small jet engine production capacity, serving both civil and military needs of Brazil.
