No battery-powered flight needed: a new autonomous helicopter-style drone arrives in the U.S.
Arizona-based Iveda unveiled its IvedaAir line of autonomous rotor-wing drones on August 26. The headline model, the gas-powered GX10-F100, is built to stay airborne for more than 150 minutes—about five times longer than a conventional battery-operated quadcopter. The aircraft measures 72 inches (roughly 180 cm) in length, with a rotor diameter of the same 72 inches.
The GX10-F100 can carry loads up to 9 kg and runs on a fuel tank with a capacity of around five liters. It reaches a top speed of 110 km/h and has a flight range of 30 kilometers. Operations are managed by Iveda's proprietary IvedaAI software, which handles waypoint-based navigation, target tracking, and live video streaming. Intended uses span:
- military logistics
- reconnaissance
- communications relay
- maritime safety
- public safety
- emergency response
- infrastructure monitoring
The IvedaAir portfolio also includes the electric EX10-E variant. Iveda says it plans to study whether retired full-size helicopters can be retrofitted into autonomous aerial platforms. In a separate development, Airbus announced in June 2026 that it is working on the U145, an uncrewed version of its H145 helicopter. A first flight with a safety pilot is planned before the end of that year, and Airbus is targeting operational use early in the next decade. This broader push reflects a growing interest in long-endurance, uncrewed aircraft for both defense and civilian missions.
Operators of critical missions have had to operate within the limits of drone systems that were never designed for the environments where they are used. This new helicopter line was created to solve that exact problem.
David Lee, Iveda representative
The introduction of autonomous aircraft such as the GX10-F100 could significantly alter how military and civilian teams carry out a wide range of tasks. As security, monitoring, and emergency-response needs grow, these technologies could open up fresh options for operational units. The expanding drone market also points to a wider shift away from manned aircraft and toward autonomous solutions, which could bring major changes to transportation and logistics.