Orbital UAV
Orbital UAV (ASX: OEC) designs and manufactures integrated heavy-fuel engine systems for military unmanned aerial vehicles, serving defence OEMs such as Boeing Insitu, Textron, Northrop Grumman, and Dynauton via co-engineered and COTS propulsion solutions plus through-life sustainment services.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersPerth, Australia
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Orbital UAV does
Orbital Corporation Limited (ASX: OEC, trading as Orbital UAV) is an Australia-based aerospace propulsion company founded in 1988 that designs and manufactures integrated heavy-fuel engine systems for military-grade unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The company's product line spans four core engines — the 50HFE (50cc/3.6 hp), 75HFE (75cc/5.1 hp), 150HFE (150cc/11.9 hp), and 350HFE (350cc/28.4 hp) — together with a Power Management System (PMS), engineered into Integrated Propulsion Systems (IPS) that pair the engine, FlexECU engine management, mounts, pumps, harness, and propeller. All products share the proprietary FlexDI air-assisted direct injection technology that atomises fuel to ~8 µm droplets versus ~120 µm in conventional systems, delivering >30% cruise fuel reduction, multi-fuel compatibility (JP-5, JP-8, Jet A/Jet A-1, gasoline), and operation from sea level to 20,000 ft altitude across –30 °C to 55 °C extremes with MIL-STD-810H qualification.
Orbital serves Tier 1 defence prime contractors and OEM UAV manufacturers globally, with named customers including Boeing Insitu (ScanEagle), Textron Systems (Aerosonde 4.7HQ and 4.8HQ), Northrop Grumman, and Dynauton Systems (CHEEL VTOL UAV in India). The company operates from a manufacturing headquarters in Balcatta, Western Australia, with an aftermarket and customer-support office in Hood River, Oregon, USA.
The business operates three commercial engagement models: a Strategic Partnership Programme for co-engineered bespoke IPS solutions; Mission-Ready Engines (COTS configurations) for faster deployment at lower price; and Mission Assurance Support for through-life sustainment (spares, repairs, health monitoring, overhaul, field service). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of Integrated Propulsion Systems to OEM defence customers, with an aftermarket services tail via Mission Assurance. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is structured deal-by-deal through a direct enterprise field sales motion with dedicated commercial and technical contacts. Recent executive turnover — CEO Stephen Pearce (May 2025), CFO Mark Wege (December 2024), and Chairman Kyle Abbott (December 2025) — is positioning the company for broader commercial and geographic expansion.
Orbital UAV firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Orbital UAV
- Legal name
- Orbital Corporation Limited
- Website
- https://orbitaluav.com
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Orbital UAV (ASX: OEC) designs and manufactures integrated heavy-fuel engine systems for military unmanned aerial vehicles, serving defence OEMs such as Boeing Insitu, Textron, Northrop Grumman, and Dynauton via co-engineered and COTS propulsion solutions plus through-life sustainment services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Orbital UAV is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Perth
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices2 records
Markets served
Orbital UAV business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Heavy-Fuel Engine Sales (50HFE, 75HFE, 150HFE, 350HFE): Sale of integrated propulsion systems including engines, ECU, mount, pumps, harness, and propeller. Revenue from initial equipment sales to OEM UAV manufacturers. TBO rated at 500 hours per engine.
- Power Management System (PMS) Sales: Sale of advanced power management systems for UAV critical systems power conditioning and management.
- Mission Assurance Support: Ongoing through-life support including spares, repairs, health monitoring, engine overhaul, and field support. Service packages tailored to customer operating tempo, creating recurring revenue relationships.
- Strategic Partnership Services: Co-engineered propulsion system development with OEM customers through the Strategic Partnership Programme, from requirements capture through flight testing and ongoing support.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
Orbital UAV product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Orbital UAV designs, manufactures, and supports integrated heavy-fuel propulsion systems (engines, ECUs, mounts, pumps, harnesses, propellers, and power management units) specifically engineered for military and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles. The company offers a tiered product portfolio from 50cc to 350cc engines plus a complementary Power Management System, delivered through three engagement models: co-engineered Strategic Partnerships, standardised Mission-Ready COTS configurations, and recurring Mission Assurance Support for through-life sustainment.
Product overview
Orbital UAV offers an integrated propulsion systems portfolio consisting of five heavy-fuel engines (50HFE at 50cc/3.6hp, 75HFE at 75cc/5.1hp, 150HFE at 150cc/11.9hp, and 350HFE at 350cc/28.4hp) plus a Power Management System (PMS). All engines share the proprietary FlexDI air-assisted direct injection technology and FlexECU engine management system. The engines range from 5.2kg to 16.7kg integrated propulsion systems and are designed specifically for UAV duty cycles, offering multi-fuel compatibility (JP-5, JP-8, Jet A/Jet A-1, gasoline) and operation from sea level to 20,000 ft altitude across extreme temperature conditions (-30 to 55 deg C). The PMS complements the engine lineup by managing power distribution for avionics and payload systems. The company offers two engagement models: Strategic Partnership Programme for co-engineered propulsion and Mission-Ready Engines for standardized COTS configurations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FlexDI: Proprietary air-assisted direct injection system that atomises fuel to ~8 µm droplets for improved combustion efficiency in UAV engines.
- FlexECU
- OptiProp
- Dynafocal
Products and services
- 50HFE Heavy-Fuel UAV Engine
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 40% reduction in specific fuel consumption at cruise via FlexDI
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Orbital UAV
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Orbital UAV technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Orbital UAV partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.
- Dynauton Systems (Dynamatic Technologies Ltd)coreDynauton Systems, a subsidiary of Dynamatic Technologies Ltd, selected Orbital's 150HFE heavy-fuel engine for the CHEEL VTOL UAV platform. The CHEEL is a next-generation Long Range, High Endurance VTOL UAV for tactical reconnaissance, mapping, and persistent surveillance. Orbital's engine supports deployment in challenging terrain including high-altitude Himalayan borders and dense forested zones.
- Boeing InsitucoreLong-standing strategic partnership with Boeing's Insitu division. Boeing Insitu ScanEagle UAV uses Orbital's 50HFE Integrated Propulsion System. This partnership highlights Orbital's performance and reliability required by Tier 1 Defence customers in tactical reconnaissance and surveillance applications.
- Textron SystemscoreStrategic partnership with Textron Systems. The Aerosonde 4.8HQ uses Orbital's 150HFE IPS and Aerosonde 4.7HQ uses Orbital's 75HFE IPS. Orbital worked closely with Aerosonde team to design and engineer propulsion systems meeting exacting performance and reliability standards for Tier 1 defence operations.
- Northrop GrummanstrategicStrategic partnership contributing to critical defence programs and national security initiatives. Orbital has established strategic partnerships with industry leaders including Northrop Grumman for UAV propulsion systems.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Orbital UAV competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hirth Engines: German manufacturer of high-performance 2-stroke and Wankel engines for unmanned aerial vehicles and small aircraft. Closely comparable to Orbital in technology basis (piston engines, small/UAV displacement class) and target use case (small/medium UAV propulsion).
- LiquidPiston: US-based developer of rotary heavy-fuel engines for UAS, robotics, and portable power. Targets similar heavy-fuel UAV propulsion niches with an alternative engine architecture, directly overlapping Orbital's defense/UAV propulsion focus.
- Williams International: US manufacturer of small turbojet and turbofan engines used on cruise missiles, tactical UAS, and loitering munitions. Comparable as a propulsion-only specialist serving the defense tactical UAV/cruise missile market alongside Orbital's piston IPS offerings.
Broad incumbents
- Pratt & Whitney: Large military and commercial aerospace engine OEM with a portfolio that includes small engines for tactical/larger UAS (e.g., PW100 family). A broader incumbent that competes for adjacent UAS propulsion programs and brings substantially greater R&D and capital resources.
- Honeywell Aerospace: Major aerospace propulsion and avionics supplier offering small turbojet/turboprop engines for UAS platforms plus integrated avionics. Overlaps with Orbital in the broader military UAV propulsion market from a much larger, diversified portfolio.
- Safran: French aerospace group whose Microturbo and helicopter/tactical engine businesses supply small turbojet and turboprop engines to UAS such as the Patroller. Comparable end-market overlap with Orbital across defense tactical UAV propulsion.
- BRP-Rotax: Austrian manufacturer of light-aircraft piston engines (2-stroke and 4-stroke) used in a wide range of light and unmanned aviation platforms. Orbital explicitly distances itself from 'repurposed motorcycle engines,' but Rotax remains an adjacent incumbent in the small-displacement UAV/light-aero engine category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Orbital UAV social profiles
Digital presenceOrbital UAV compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Orbital UAV financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Orbital UAV leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Orbital UAV funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Orbital UAV M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Orbital UAV
What does Orbital UAV do?
Orbital UAV designs, manufactures, and supports integrated heavy-fuel propulsion systems (engines, ECUs, mounts, pumps, harnesses, propellers, and power management units) specifically engineered for military and tactical unmanned aerial vehicles. The company offers a tiered product portfolio from 50cc to 350cc engines plus a complementary Power Management System, delivered through three engagement models: co-engineered Strategic Partnerships, standardised Mission-Ready COTS configurations, and recurring Mission Assurance Support for through-life sustainment.
Is Orbital UAV a public or private company?
Orbital UAV is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Orbital UAV founded?
Orbital UAV was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Orbital UAV based?
Orbital UAV is headquartered in Perth, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Orbital UAV make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Heavy-Fuel Engine Sales (50HFE, 75HFE, 150HFE, 350HFE) is the primary driver. The others are power Management System (PMS) Sales, mission Assurance Support and strategic Partnership Services.
Who are Orbital UAV's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hirth Engines, LiquidPiston and Williams International. Broad incumbents are Pratt & Whitney, Honeywell Aerospace, Safran and BRP-Rotax.
Does Orbital UAV have an API?
No public API is recorded for Orbital UAV.