This is the first case worldwide in which an LUC certificate has been issued for a European fixed-wing aircraft. Overall, it is the fifth certificate in Europe, with the previous ones covering rotary-wing aircraft. The company’s LUC authorization enables it, within the scope of the certificate, to carry out flight operations with internal operational approval at company level. It is the highest authorization that can be obtained under current European regulations. The company intends to use the certificate, within approved operational scenarios, for development, test, and training flights, as well as for inspections of the state’s critical infrastructure and other activities.
The company’s CEO and founder considers the certificate clear proof of the high level of both the company and the Primoco UAV One 150 aircraft: “We worked on obtaining the certificate for eighteen months, and thanks to the high standards of our company, we did not have to make any major changes to our internal processes in order to obtain it. In preparing the documentation for the certificate, we made use of our seven years of experience, including the operation of the aircraft in several European countries. I would like to thank all our employees who contributed to obtaining the certificate, the Ministry of Transport, which provided us with the necessary support, and our shareholders, who trusted us and understood the importance of this document for our further development. Primoco UAV is the only company in the world that develops and manufactures a tactical unmanned aircraft, has also obtained authorization for the design and production of military aviation equipment, holds the civilian LUC operational authorization, is undergoing certification according to the NATO STANAG 4703 military standard, owns its own factory airfield, and is traded on a stock exchange. We still have one major goal ahead of us: to significantly increase our market share from the current 4% of global sales.”
Almost 35,000 operators of unmanned systems are registered in the Czech Republic, of which more than three hundred fall into the “Specific” category. Primoco UAV SE was the first Czech applicant for an LUC certificate and is the first entity to obtain it. In addition to the civilian LUC authorization, the company is also approved as a design and production organization under the EMAR 21 military standards, and the Primoco UAV One 150 aircraft is undergoing certification according to the NATO STANAG 4703 standard. With these authorizations, the company is the only one in the world able to offer its aircraft in a form that can be recognized by aviation authorities worldwide. Given the legal framework governing the operation of unmanned aircraft, certification is the only way to ensure compliance with the requirements of international aviation regulations.
The Czech company Primoco UAV manufactures the One 150 civil and military unmanned aircraft, which it developed itself. These aircraft are capable of flying fully independently according to programmed flight plans, including fully automatic take-off and landing. One of the aircraft’s key features is its exceptional endurance, which allows it to remain airborne continuously for more than 15 hours at a cruising speed of 100–150 km/h, representing a range of up to 2,000 km. With a maximum take-off weight of 150 kg and a payload capacity of 30 kg, the One 150 aircraft can be used for a wide variety of deployments in both civil and military operations. The company’s aircraft are currently used on three continents, for example for inspections of pipelines and distribution networks in the energy sector, border and coastal security, fire monitoring, and search-and-rescue operations. Primoco UAV SE is a publicly traded company on the Prague Stock Exchange.