This New US-Manufactured Heavy Lift Drone is Built Different

Ascent AeroSystems Introduces SPARTAN UAV at Commercial UAV Expo

New heavy weight coaxial platform builds on NX30, offering rugged reliability and long flight endurance

At the Commercial UAV Expo 2025 in Las Vegas, Ascent AeroSystems unveiled SPARTAN, the next generation of its proven NX30 coaxial UAV platform.

Ascent has emerged as a leading U.S. manufacturer of drone platforms for both government and commercial markets. With a focus on rugged, portable, and long-endurance aircraft, the company’s coaxial designs stand apart from conventional multirotors. The unique cylindrical form factor makes Ascent platforms easier to transport, highly reliable, and suited for mission-critical operations in demanding environments.

Building on the NX30

SPARTAN was designed as a heavy weight drone for defense, public safety, industrial, and agricultural use. It delivers improvements in endurance, range, speed, and payload capacity while retaining Ascent’s modular, all-weather cylindrical airframe.

Key advancements include:

• 70+ minutes of endurance supporting up to 24 miles of A-B range and coverage of 1,800 square miles

• Payload capacity up to 15.3 lbs

• Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) compatibility with “quick-connect” payload integration

• FAA-compliant lighting systems for night operations and real-time aircraft status monitoring

• IP54-rated weatherproofing for reliability in rain, snow, sand, and winds over 40 mph

Peter Fuchs, Cofounder and CEO of Ascent AeroSystems, highlighted the company’s mission-driven approach: “Innovation is at the core of everything we do at Ascent. As we introduce SPARTAN, we’re delivering the cutting-edge capabilities integrators and operators need to confidently complete mission-critical operations in virtually any environment while laying the foundation for what’s next.”

Designed for Long-Range Applications

Amy Romano, Ascent AeroSystems’ Vice President of Marketing and Communications, said the design reflects direct customer feedback: “As an evolution of the NX30, Spartan is the next level of functionality based on customer feedback. IT really is designed to provide reliable, all weather, long flight performance for people who need to be in the air for a long time – whether that’s for crop monitoring or long range surveillance applications.”

The platform ships standard with the Doodle Labs Mesh Rider® Dual-band 2.4Ghz radio. It is available in two configurations: the SPARTAN Base Kit at $24,999 and the fully NDAA-compliant SPARTAN Base Kit PRO at $32,499. Initial deliveries are expected in October 2025.

The Coaxial Advantage

Coaxial drones offer several advantages over conventional multirotors. Ascent’s cylindrical design delivers greater portability, higher durability, and better dispatch reliability. This makes them especially valuable for operators who must fly in challenging conditions such as adverse weather, remote environments, or extended missions.

With features like modular payload integration and long endurance, SPARTAN continues Ascent’s track record of delivering aircraft-grade performance for real-world needs.

SPARTAN and Ascent’s full lineup of coaxial platforms are currently on display at Commercial UAV Expo 2025 in Las Vegas. The event brings together leading manufacturers, service providers, and industry stakeholders to showcase the latest innovations in uncrewed technology.

Read more:

• Ascent’s SPIRIT™ Gains Dual Blue UAS Clearance, Highlighting U.S. Drone Innovation
• Ascent AeroSystems Introduces HELIUS™: A 249g Coaxial Nano UAV Designed for Durability and Performance
• Inside Ascent AeroSystems: A Revolutionary Approach to Drones