✓ 100% NDAA Compliant ✓ Blue UAS Framework Ready ✓ American-Made

Longbow-8 | Group 1 Hybrid VTOL | NDAA-Compliant

Endurance

2-2.2 hours

Payload

2kg

Wingspan

2.43m

Talk to a Mission Specialist Compare Configurations

Systems are tailored to mission requirements. Investment includes platform, sensors, ground control, training, and support—configured for your operational environment.

Longbow-8

Compact Hybrid VTOL for Development, Testing & Training

The Longbow-8 is Forge & Flight Labs’ entry-level Group 1 development and payload testing platform — a man-portable hybrid fixed-wing VTOL delivering 120–134 minutes of endurance and 137–155 km of range in a tool-free, field-deployable airframe.

Designed for high-tempo iterative cycles, the Longbow-8 provides the flight time and payload capacity needed for meaningful development work at a fraction of the cost of the larger Aether, Vanguard, and Titan platforms. VTOL transition training on the Longbow-8 transfers directly to the Aether-10 and Vanguard-14 series.

VTOL configuration only. Part Number: FFL-UAS-LB08-VT.

The Longbow-8 Fills a Critical Gap

At $40,000 Basic, the Longbow-8 is the only NDAA-compliant hybrid fixed-wing VTOL platform in the US market designed specifically for payload testing and operator training at a price point accessible to university departments, small government agencies, and defense innovation cells operating under unit-level spending authority.

Payload and Sensor Evaluation: Before committing to a $300,000+ operational platform, organizations can validate sensor performance, vibration tolerance, power draw, and data quality on the Longbow-8. With a 280mm x 160mm x 110mm payload bay and 2kg capacity, it accommodates most compact EO/IR, multispectral, and SIGINT evaluation packages. Tool-free disassembly enables fast payload swaps between evaluation runs.

Operator Training: The Longbow-8 executes the same VTOL transition flight mode used by the Aether-10 and Vanguard-14 — hover, transition to fixed-wing cruise, transition back, and VTOL landing. Operators trained on the Longbow-8 bring directly transferable skills to larger platforms, reducing the per-operator training cost on high-value systems.

University Aerospace Programs: At $40,000, the Longbow-8 fits within many university departmental procurement authorities without triggering capital equipment review processes. Students gain hands-on experience with a professional-grade hybrid FW/VTOL system running ArduPilot — the same open-source autopilot used across the defense UAS ecosystem.

Defense Innovation Cells: SOCOM innovation units, service laboratory rapid experimentation programs, and SBIR awardees requiring a documentable, NDAA-compliant testbed platform find a purpose-built solution in the Longbow-8. Man-portable in a single transport case (1.25m x 0.34m x 0.49m), it deploys from any vehicle.

A Direct Upgrade Path

The Longbow-8 is designed as the entry point to the Forge & Flight platform ecosystem. Organizations that begin with Longbow-8 for training or evaluation have a documented, low-friction upgrade path to the Aether-10 (Group 2, 2–5hr) and Vanguard-14 (Group 3 AI-enabled, 6–12hr) when mission requirements grow and budget permits.

Operator Training

A platform without trained operators is hardware sitting in a case. Forge and Flight Academy — our wholly-owned training subsidiary — delivers platform-specific operator development programs built around exactly these systems.

The Longbow-8 is purpose-built for operator training. Organizations that purchase the Longbow-8 for training programs can pair platform delivery with structured operator development — building the proficiency that makes the hardware investment worthwhile.

Recommended courses for Longbow 8 operators: FFF-401 and FFF-201

View Academy Training Programs | Request a Training Proposal

NDAA Compliance

Manufactured in North Carolina with 100% domestic electronics sourcing. CAGE Code: 18VF2 | UEI: SUVKLZLPBJC1 | SAM Registration: Active.

Three Configurations for Different Operational Needs

Each tier delivers specific operational capabilities tailored to your mission requirements.

Capability	Basic Development & Training Platform	Professional Extended Range & RTK Navigation	Mission Full Development Suite
Platform & Sensors	NDAA-compliant airframe Hybrid FW/VTOL configuration All-electric propulsion 2x 6S 16,000 mAh batteries (series) Standard payload bay (280x160x110mm)	All Basic features Extended battery configuration (2x 6S 22,000 mAh series) RTK GPS navigation	All Professional features Enhanced PNT solution Ruggedized transport cases
AI Compute	None (Pixhawk/ArduPilot standard autopilot)	None (enhanced autopilot)	Basic AI integration suite Developer access & telemetry logging
Autonomy Level	Standard waypoint navigation VTOL transition automation Return-to-home Mission Planner / QGroundControl compatible	Enhanced waypoint navigation RTK-precision positioning Advanced mission profiles	All Professional autonomy Advanced telemetry analysis Custom payload integration support
Communications	Standard telemetry link Laptop-based GCS	Standard telemetry link Enhanced GCS	All Professional comms Enhanced encryption options
Training & Support	90-day warranty 48hr support response FAA registration assistance RemoteID compliant	1-year warranty 24hr priority support Annual onsite maintenance	2-year warranty 12hr Gold support Round-trip shipping covered
Documentation & Tools	Technical manuals Transport case (1.25m x 0.34m x 0.49m)	All Basic documentation STL files for payload bay customization Spare parts kit	All Professional docs Developer API access Custom payload integration support
Best For	Rapid prototyping cycles Payload integration testing Operator training programs University aerospace programs	Precision sensor evaluation Academic research programs Sustained development testing	Defense innovation cells University R&D programs Platform integration development
	Discuss Basic	Discuss Professional	Discuss Mission Ready

Investment Approach: Systems are configured to your mission requirements and operational environment. Our mission specialists work with your team to design the optimal configuration, integrate with your existing infrastructure, and provide training matched to your operator experience level. Both fixed-wing and VTOL variants available.

Technical Specifications

VTOL Variant

Endurance	120-134 minutes
Wingspan	2.43m (8.0 ft)
MTOW	13kg (28.7 lbs)
Payload Capacity	2kg (4.4 lbs)
Cruise Speed	19 m/s (43 mph)
Max Speed	22 m/s (49 mph)
Wind Resistance	Level 5 (18-24 mph)
Launch Method	Vertical takeoff and landing

All Configurations Include

Sensor: Customer-supplied payload (280x160x110mm bay)

Communications: RFD900x telemetry (40km+ range)

Autopilot: Waypoint navigation and geofencing

Propulsion: All-electric

Compliance: 100% NDAA Section 848, Blue UAS Framework ready

Mission Applications

Operator Training

VTOL transition training that transfers directly to Aether-10 and Vanguard-14
Reduces per-operator training cost on higher-value platforms
ArduPilot proficiency — the standard autopilot across the defense UAS ecosystem
FFF-401 and FFF-201 operator development programs available

Payload & Sensor Testing

Validate sensor performance before committing to $300K+ operational platform
EO/IR, multispectral, and SIGINT package evaluation
280mm x 160mm x 110mm payload bay, 2kg capacity
Tool-free payload swaps between evaluation runs

University & Academic Programs

Fits within most departmental procurement authority without capital equipment review
Hands-on hybrid FW/VTOL experience on a production-grade platform
Documentable, NDAA-compliant for federally funded programs
ArduPilot open-source autopilot — extensible for research modification

Defense Innovation & Development

SOCOM innovation units and service laboratory rapid experimentation
SBIR awardees requiring a documentable NDAA-compliant testbed
Man-portable in a single transport case (1.25m x 0.34m x 0.49m)
Direct upgrade path to Aether-10 and Vanguard-14 when requirements grow

Mission Economics

The Longbow-8 reduces the total cost of building a trained operator base and validating sensor payloads before higher-tier platform investment.

2-2.2 hours

Endurance per sortie — sufficient for payload evaluation and full training sequences

Group 1

Classification enables simplified airspace operations and unit-level spending authority

Direct

Operator skills transfer directly to Aether-10 and Vanguard-14 — no retraining on upgrade

Scalable

Ecosystem entry — upgrade path to Group 2 and Group 3 platforms as requirements grow

Total ownership cost includes acquisition, training, maintenance, and operational expenses over the system lifecycle. Our mission specialists can provide detailed cost modeling for your specific operational profile.

Operator Training Available

Platform delivery without trained operators creates a support dependency.

Forge and Flight Academy — our sister organization — offers operator training programs built specifically for the platforms in this ecosystem. FFF-401 (FPV Systems Integration), FFR-201 (Tactical RF), and FFF-402 (Master Trainer Certification) are purpose-built to close the gap between platform acquisition and organic operational capability.

View Training Programs

Request training proposal →

Ready to Discuss Your Mission Requirements?

Our mission specialists work directly with defense organizations, research institutions, and government agencies to design optimal UAS configurations for specific operational needs.

Talk to a Mission Specialist Compare All Platforms

What to expect: Initial consultation to understand your mission parameters, operational environment, and compliance requirements. We'll provide configuration recommendations, integration planning, and total ownership cost analysis.

Lead time: 10-14 weeks from contract signature to delivery, including platform configuration, integration, and pre-delivery testing.