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Robinson partners with Skyryse to develop uncrewed R66 helicopter. Published on: June 25, 2026 at 1:44 AM CEST Aimed at the defence market, the R66 based UAS will be integrated with Skyryse's SkyOS software to enable autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and air-launched effects (ALE) missions. Announced on Jun. 24, 2026, the partnership between Skyryse and Robinson - both based in Southern California within 30 miles of each other - aims to link Robinson's experience with large scale, time critical manufacturing to Skyryse's emerging expertise in advanced flight automation software. "Defense agencies need autonomous aircraft that are reliable, affordable and available now, not years from now," said Skyryse Founder and CEO Mark Groden. "Robinson gives us the production infrastructure to deliver at scale and at a cost point that meets real-world, time-critical needs. This partnership accelerates our ability to put proven, SkyOS-powered autonomous aircraft into the hands of defense operators." "Manufacturing the SkyOS-powered, R66-based 4 UAS is a natural extension of what Robinson does best - producing reliable, high-quality aircraft at scale," said David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. "By integrating SkyOS into Robinson's production ecosystem, we're helping bring advanced autonomy to a proven aircraft platform while creating a scalable pathway for future operational capabilities." The team-up will focus on the development of a rotary wing uncrewed aerial system (RWUAS) variant of the Robinson R66, a turbine powered development of the earlier piston powered, and incredibly popular, R44. Robinson has the theoretical capacity to produce 1,000+ aircraft per year - averaging around three per day - though the company has settled their regular operations at around 300 per year. The R66 usually represents around a third of this production figure. Though primarily targeted at the civilian market, the R66 has attracted interest from military customers. Most notably, the R66 is now used to train U.S. military pilots through the U.S. Navy's Contractor Operated Pilot Training - Rotary (COPT-R) program, for which it was given the designation TH-66 Sage. The R66 has also been put forward as an option for the U.S. Army's next helicopter trainer. This will not be Skyryse's only experience with the R66 platform. The company already offers its SkyOS avionics as a retrofit option for R66 customers. Skyryse calls the resulting product the Skyryse One. Unlike the base model R66, the Skyryse One features fly-by-wire controls (with triple redundancies). Skyryse says their system allows pilots of all skill levels to safely get behind the controls, claiming that Skyryse One is the 'safest helicopter in aviation'. Equally, Robinson's UAS division - Robinson Unmanned - has already in 2026 announced a partnership with Sikorsky to produce a utility-focused RWUAS variant of the R66 called TURBINETRUCK. Unlike the Sikorsky offering of a cargo drone for civilian and military functions, Skyryse's ambition appears to take aim at the growing market for RWUAS as an ISR and weapons/launched effects platform. In this regard, it would be closer to aircraft like the MQ-8 Fire Scout or Leonardo's Proteus. Skyryse. Aviation start-up Skyryse was founded in 2016, and has since secured partnerships with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire), Mitsubishi Corporation, United Rotorcraft, and the U.S. Army. Over $605 million has been injected into the business by a variety of investors, including Bill Ford of Ford Motors, and the Qatar Investment Authority. Its SkyOS platform is designed to be adaptable for any aircraft type, including both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. Aiming for increased safety, SkyOS features an automatic engine failure management system, air restart, and always-on flight envelope protections. Its automation capabilities include touchscreen controls for engine startup and automated take-off and landing. A single flight control stick replaces the traditional joystick, cyclic, and rudder pedals of a helicopter - the system's software is designed to interpret the pilot's inputs and operate the aircraft accordingly. Of course, this means adaptation of a SkyOS-equipped aircraft into an uncrewed platform would be relatively simple, as all of the programming for physically controlling the aircraft is already in place. For military customers, although in many cases pilots will indicate a preference for more direct control of an aircraft and an ability to override computer systems where necessary, an advanced autopilot system like SkyOS would have powerful applications in reducing the workload of pilots in high intensity environments. A pilot who can rely upon the aircraft to keep itself flying safe is a pilot who can simultaneously operate and direct other systems, be they weapons, ISR sensors, or drones. In 2025, Skyryse demonstrated the flight of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that had been configured with the SkyOS system. This will no doubt be a key part of any future collaboration with the aforementioned partners CalFire and the U.S. Army. SkyOS has also been integrated on a Robinson R44, which was trialed by law enforcement agencies. A Cirrus SR-22 became the first fixed wing SkyOS aircraft in October 2025. Plans are in place for future integration onto the Pilatus PC-12, as well as Bell 407, Airbus H-125, and H-130 helicopters. Kai is an aviation enthusiast and freelance photographer and writer based in Cornwall, UK. They are a graduate of BA (Hons) Press & Editorial Photography at Falmouth University. Their photographic work has been featured by a number of nationally and internationally recognised organisations and news publications, and in 2022 they self-published a book focused on the history of Cornwall. They are passionate about all aspects of aviation, alongside military operations/history, international relations, politics, intelligence and space. Stay connected. 188kFollowersLike 107kFollowersFollow 285kFollowersFollow 11.3kSubscribersSubscribe TelegramFollow 9.9kFollowersFollow

Robinson to deliver R66-based UAS with Skyryse SkyOS. 24-Jun-2026 Skyryse(R), a leader in aviation automation and simplified flight controls, announced today a partnership with Robinson Helicopter Company, through its UAS subsidiary Robinson Unmanned, to integrate SkyOS(TM) into the Robinson R66 and develop a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for defense applications. The collaboration combines SkyOS' autonomy system with Robinson's proven production capabilities to deliverable a scalable, cost effective Group 4 UAS capable of supporting a wide range of defense missions, including collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), air-launched effects (ALE), manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). "Defense agencies need autonomous aircraft that are reliable, affordable and available now, not years from now," said Skyryse Founder and CEO Mark Groden. "Robinson gives us the production infrastructure to deliver at scale and at a cost point that meets real-world, time-critical needs. This partnership accelerates our ability to put proven, SkyOS-powered autonomous aircraft into the hands of defense operators." "Manufacturing the SkyOS-powered, R66-based 4 UAS is a natural extension of what Robinson does best - producing reliable, high-quality aircraft at scale," said David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. "By integrating SkyOS into Robinson's production ecosystem, we're helping bring advanced autonomy to a proven aircraft platform while creating a scalable pathway for future operational capabilities." With facilities within 30 miles of each other in Southern California, Robinson and Skyryse are positioned to rapidly advance integration, flight demonstrations, and production. Robinson's manufacturing model, in which more than 85% of aircraft components are produced domestically, provides defense partners with a platform that reduces reliance on foreign supply chains and supports long-term fleet sustainability. About Skyryse, Inc. Founded in 2016, Skyryse(R) is an aviation hardware and software company ushering in a new era in flight safety. Its core technology, SkyOS(TM) is a universal operating system for flight - which powers its first aircraft, the Skyryse One(TM)- giving pilots greater control by simplifying the management of an aircraft during standard flight operations, inclement weather, and emergencies. Skyryse has secured partnerships across every major aviation sector - including Air Methods, Ace Aeronautics, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Mitsubishi Corporation, United Rotorcraft, the US Army and more. To date, Skyryse has raised more than $605 million from leading investors, including Autopilot Ventures, Fidelity Management & Research Company, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides Management LP, BAM Elevate, Baron Capital Group, Inc., Durable Capital Partners, Positive Sum, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management (US) LP, Woodline Partners and Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company. For more information on Skyryse and SkyOS, visit skyryse.com or visit YouTube to see Skyryse in action. About Robinson Helicopter Company For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Company has focused on making helicopter missions accessible, reliable, and safe. By maintaining a vertically integrated manufacturing foundation in the United States, Robinson provides global operators with practical tools for modern missions. From its top-selling R22, R44, R66 helicopters, to an expanding portfolio including the 10-seat R88. With the addition of its new business unit, Robinson Unmanned, the company offers both small and large autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft (UAS) for civil, commercial, or defense missions. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient helicopters in the industry. Learn more at www.robinsonheli.com and www.RobinsonUnmanned.com.

Skyryse partners with Robinson Helicopter Company to deliver skyos-powered, r66-based UAS. June 24, 2026 The partnership delivers a scalable, cost-effective autonomous platform combining the SkyOS(TM) autonomy system with Robinson's proven rotorcraft production capabilities. EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 24, 2026 /PRNewswire/ - Skyryse(R), a leader in aviation automation and simplified flight controls, announced today a partnership with Robinson Helicopter Company, through its UAS subsidiary Robinson Unmanned, to integrate SkyOS(TM) into the Robinson R66 and develop a Group 4 unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for defense applications. The collaboration combines SkyOS' autonomy system with Robinson's proven production capabilities to deliverable a scalable, cost effective Group 4 UAS capable of supporting a wide range of defense missions, including collaborative combat aircraft (CCA), air-launched effects (ALE), manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). "Defense agencies need autonomous aircraft that are reliable, affordable and available now, not years from now," said Skyryse Founder and CEO Mark Groden. "Robinson gives us the production infrastructure to deliver at scale and at a cost point that meets real-world, time-critical needs. This partnership accelerates our ability to put proven, SkyOS-powered autonomous aircraft into the hands of defense operators." "Manufacturing the SkyOS-powered, R66-based 4 UAS is a natural extension of what Robinson does best - producing reliable, high-quality aircraft at scale," said David Smith, President and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. "By integrating SkyOS into Robinson's production ecosystem, we're helping bring advanced autonomy to a proven aircraft platform while creating a scalable pathway for future operational capabilities." With facilities within 30 miles of each other in Southern California, Robinson and Skyryse are positioned to rapidly advance integration, flight demonstrations, and production. Robinson's manufacturing model, in which more than 85% of aircraft components are produced domestically, provides defense partners with a platform that reduces reliance on foreign supply chains and supports long-term fleet sustainability. About Skyryse, Inc. Founded in 2016, Skyryse(R) is an aviation hardware and software company ushering in a new era in flight safety. Its core technology, SkyOS(TM) is a universal operating system for flight - which powers its first aircraft, the Skyryse One(TM)- giving pilots greater control by simplifying the management of an aircraft during standard flight operations, inclement weather, and emergencies. Skyryse has secured partnerships across every major aviation sector - including Air Methods, Ace Aeronautics, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), Mitsubishi Corporation, United Rotorcraft, the US Army and more. To date, Skyryse has raised more than $605 million from leading investors, including Autopilot Ventures, Fidelity Management & Research Company, ArrowMark Partners, Atreides Management LP, BAM Elevate, Baron Capital Group, Inc., Durable Capital Partners, Positive Sum, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), RCM Private Markets Fund managed by Rokos Capital Management (US) LP, Woodline Partners and Bill Ford, Executive Chair, Ford Motor Company. For more information on Skyryse and SkyOS, visit skyryse.com or visit YouTube to see Skyryse in action. About Robinson Helicopter Company For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Company has focused on making helicopter missions accessible, reliable, and safe. By maintaining a vertically integrated manufacturing foundation in the United States, Robinson provides global operators with practical tools for modern missions. From its top-selling R22, R44, R66 helicopters, to an expanding portfolio including the 10-seat R88. With the addition of its new business unit, Robinson Unmanned, the company offers both small and large autonomous and remotely piloted aircraft (UAS) for civil, commercial, or defense missions. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient helicopters in the industry. Learn more at www.robinsonheli.com and www.RobinsonUnmanned.com. SOURCE Skyryse