At the DSEI 2025 defense exhibition in London, Dutch UAV manufacturer High Eye unveiled its latest iteration of the HEO2 rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Designed to meet growing demand for autonomous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities in complex operational environments, the HEO2 offers vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL), modular payload integration, and extended endurance. The system targets both military and civil applications where fixed-wing drones may be unsuitable due to terrain or space constraints.
HEO2 Design Overview and Capabilities
The HEO2 is a gasoline-powered rotary-wing UAV with a maximum takeoff weight of approximately 55 kg. It features a single main rotor configuration with a tail rotor for stability—mirroring traditional helicopter dynamics but scaled down for unmanned operations. The platform is optimized for autonomous or semi-autonomous flight profiles with waypoint navigation via ground control station.
Key performance specifications include:
- Endurance: Up to 4 hours flight time
- Operational range: Up to 100 km line-of-sight (LOS)
- Cruise speed: ~75 km/h
- Payload capacity: Up to 5 kg
This endurance places the HEO2 among the higher-tier tactical VTOL drones in its weight class. Its ability to hover and operate from confined areas makes it particularly useful for naval ISR missions (e.g., from patrol vessels or OPVs), border surveillance, disaster response coordination, or forward-deployed military units operating without runway access.
Sensor Suite and Payload Flexibility
The HEO2 supports modular payload integration via a stabilized gimbal mount located under its fuselage. At DSEI 2025, High Eye showcased the drone equipped with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor turret capable of day/night imaging and target tracking. The system is compatible with third-party sensors including:
- HD daylight cameras with optical zoom
- Thermal imagers with digital zoom
- Laser rangefinders or designators (optional)
The open architecture allows operators to swap payloads depending on mission requirements—ranging from maritime surveillance to infrastructure inspection or search-and-rescue support. According to company representatives at DSEI, SIGINT or RF detection payloads are under consideration for future configurations.
Tactical Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios
The primary advantage of the HEO2 lies in its VTOL capability combined with long endurance—enabling persistent overwatch in areas where fixed-wing platforms cannot operate due to space limitations or terrain obstruction. This makes it well-suited for deployment by special operations forces (SOF), border guards operating in mountainous regions, naval crews aboard small vessels lacking hangar facilities, or expeditionary units requiring organic ISR assets.
Potential military use cases include:
- Tactical reconnaissance ahead of maneuver elements
- BDA (battle damage assessment) post-strike missions
- Civil-military operations such as humanitarian aid delivery monitoring
Civilian applications extend into offshore oil rig inspection support, wildfire monitoring in remote forests, pipeline surveillance across rugged terrain, and law enforcement overwatch during high-risk operations.
Sustainment Model and Ground Control Infrastructure
The HEO2 system includes a ruggedized ground control station (GCS) designed for single-operator use. The GCS provides real-time telemetry feedback and video feed via encrypted datalink within LOS ranges up to approximately 100 km. Mission planning software allows pre-programmed routes as well as dynamic retasking during flight.
The airframe has been engineered for ease of maintenance with modular components that can be replaced in field conditions. The gasoline engine offers logistical advantages over electric platforms by enabling rapid refueling without reliance on charging infrastructure—a key benefit in austere environments.
A standard deployment package includes:
- 1x air vehicle with EO/IR gimbal payload
- 1x GCS with antenna array & mission software suite
- Spares kit & maintenance tools
- Optional transport case & launch/recovery platform if needed on ships or vehicles
Status of Development and Market Positioning
The original High Eye HEF32 platform has been operational since circa 2018–2019; the HEO series represents an evolutionary upgrade featuring improved avionics integration and longer endurance through optimized fuel consumption. As of Q3–Q4 2025, the company is pursuing NATO-standard certifications for interoperability within alliance forces.
No formal procurement contracts have been announced yet by national militaries; however, according to statements made at DSEI by High Eye executives, several European border security agencies have conducted trials of earlier variants under pilot programs funded by EU internal security grants. Additionally, interest has reportedly come from Southeast Asian navies seeking shipborne ISR solutions that do not require catapult launchers or arrestor gear.
Differentiators Among Tactical VTOL UAVs
The tactical VTOL UAV market is increasingly crowded—with entrants such as Schiebel’s CAMCOPTER S-100 (~200 kg MTOW), UMS Skeldar V-200 (~235 kg), Alpha Unmanned Systems’ A900 (~25 kg), and various quadcopter-class drones like AeroVironment’s VAPOR series competing across different tiers.
The HEO2 occupies a niche between micro-VTOL systems (<25 kg) used primarily by infantry units—and larger shipborne systems requiring more complex logistics chains. Its gasoline engine gives it superior endurance compared to battery-powered multirotors while maintaining compactness relative to heavier platforms like Skeldar V-200 which require more robust deck handling equipment.
Key differentiators include:
- Simplified logistics due to gasoline propulsion vs electric recharge cycles
- Austere environment compatibility—no need for runways or launch rails
- Semi-autonomous navigation & dynamic retasking mid-flight via GCS interface
Limitations:
- Lighter payload capacity compared to heavier rotary UAVs (>10 kg)
- No onboard AI processing advertised yet—dependent on ground-based analytics unless upgraded later
Outlook: Incremental Growth Through Modular Expansion?
If successfully adopted within European homeland security frameworks—or integrated into naval ISR concepts—the HEO series could serve as a scalable platform family supporting future enhancements such as AI-assisted target recognition modules or multi-UAV swarm coordination features.
The current model appears mature enough for limited operational deployment but will likely need further validation through field exercises before entering large-scale procurement pipelines. Given NATO’s increasing emphasis on distributed ISR capabilities at battalion level and below—as seen in Ukraine conflict lessons—the demand signal may grow if supported by favorable cost-performance ratios compared to heavier legacy systems.
