Iveda unveils gasoline-powered drone with claimed 150-minute endurance for military missions

The GX10-F100 is 72 inches long with a rotor span of 72 inches, comparable to a compact helicopter. It features a semi-symmetrical carbon-fiber airframe for coastal, remote and high-wind operations. The aircraft carries up to 19 pounds (9 kilograms) of cargo, reaches speeds of 68 mph and has an advertised operational range of 19 miles. A 1.43-gallon fuel tank supplies the engine.

Iveda says its onboard autonomy software supports live video, route guidance and object tracking without continuous manual control. The company lists coastal patrols, emergency services, infrastructure inspection, public safety and architectural work among possible uses.

"Mission-critical operators have been forced to work within the limitations of drone systems that were never designed for the environments they operate in. This new helicopter line was built to solve that problem," said David Ly, CEO and founder of Iveda.

Approved emergency response agencies, infrastructure companies and military pilots can purchase the aircraft. Iveda says governments can obtain it through GlobalMed under a federal logistics arrangement, while qualified pilots may buy units directly. The GX10-F100 complies with federal procurement requirements for defense acquisitions and agreements governing eligible commercial suppliers, meaning some governments blacklisted for national security will not be eligible.

Iveda has not provided independent endurance testing showing whether the 150-minute figure holds under maximum payload. The gasoline engine adds logistical considerations absent in battery systems. The company also disclosed plans to convert retired full-size helicopters into autonomous aircraft, though that would be a larger class of unmanned aviation.