The Business Monthly

American Dynamics Flight Systems (ADFS) of Jessup won’t have a finished product to exhibit when it attends the world’s largest air show next month in Farnborough, England, but it does have a vision: By this time next year, the advanced technology development company plans to develop and flight test the most capable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in the world.

“We believe that … the European market is ripe for a high-speed VTOL UAS,” said ADFS President Wayne Morse. Closer to home, ADFS has set its sights on a more specific target – the United States Marine Corps’ (USMC) Tier III VTOL contract, which is expected to be released for proposals sometime next year.

The U.S. Coast Guard’s deep water program could also provide a potential niche for the aircraft.
Designated the AD-150, ADFS’s next generation aircraft is maritime capable and uses proprietary High Torque Aerial Lift (HTAL) technology to provide lift, thrust and directional control.

“The tilt duct design we use improves on the usual tilt rotor by using a ducted fan instead of a rotor,” resulting in increased thrust, said ADFS Director of Technology Development Paul Vasilescu.