DENVER, Colorado - April 9, 2015 ” Silent Falconâ„¢ UAS Technologies (SFUAS), a former subsidiary of Bye Aerospace, Inc., working in close collaboration with Ascent Solar, has commenced initial low rate commercial production of the Silent Falconâ„¢ unmanned aircraft system to fill its first commercial orders. “Silent Falconâ„¢ is the first solar-electric aircraft to enter commercial production. Its solar-electric design gives it unmatched performance and value in its class. Silent Falconâ„¢ is taking and filling its initial customer orders,” said John Brown, President of SFUAS.
The patent-pending Silent Falconâ„¢ is a solar-electric, all composite, modular small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) with an interchangeable wing configuration designed for commercial, public safety and defense applications. In 2010 Bye Aerospace created what is now SFUAS, capitalizing the company with a prototype electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and initial design work on solar electric hybrid propulsion. The combination of efficient aerodynamic design, lightweight composite construction and advanced solar energy collection gives the 30 lb. Silent Falconâ„¢ UAS a remarkable 8+ hour flight endurance.
In 2012 SFUAS selected Ascent Solar Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ASTI) to be a development partner and provide the solar cells on the Silent Falconâ„¢ wings.
“We are extremely pleased with the Silent Falconâ„¢ aircraft’s capability,” said Joe Armstrong, CTO of Ascent Solar. “Its solar wings, based on our in-production, flexible, monolithically integrated CIGS photovoltaic product, are performing well, giving the propulsion system a significant source of lightweight electric energy and enabling the aircraft’s unprecedented endurance. We are honored to be the supplier chosen for the production vehicles.”
“Customer flight demonstrations are underway today. We believe Silent Falconâ„¢ UAS has a large and growing military and international commercial market. Sales exceeding several hundred units per year are possible. Customers now have access to the remarkable capability of the Silent Falconâ„¢ UAS for the first time,” said George Bye, Chairman of Silent Falcon UAS and CEO of Bye Aerospace.
