The SD-150 Hero is a rotary-wing VTOL unmanned helicopter developed by Sistemi Dinamici (now fully owned by Leonardo), offering long endurance and substantial payload for ISR, border control and maritime surveillance.
| Country | Italy |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | VTOL / Hybrid |
| Subtype | Rotary-wing VTOL UAV (helicopter UAV) |
| Role | ISR / surveillance |
| Class | Group 3/4 (rotary) |
| Classification | Rotary-wing tactical UAS |
| Mission | ISR, border control, maritime surveillance, disaster assessment, law enforcement |
| Datalink | Separate C2 and payload data links |
| Variants | SD-150 Hero |
| MTOW (kg) | 150 |
| Operators | Italy / development customers |
| Frame type | Helicopter / single-rotor |
| Propulsion | Piston/heavy-fuel engine |
| Combat-proven | No |
| Export status | Export marketed |
| Launch method | vertical takeoff (VTOL) |
| Autonomy level | Autonomous flight, triple-redundant flight control |
| Endurance (min) | 360 |
| Recovery method | vertical landing (VTOL) |
| Year introduced | 2016 |
| Max payload (kg) | 35 |
| Standard sensors | EO/IR (L3 Wescam MX-8), Leonardo Gabbiano SAR, AIS/IFF |
| Production status | Development/limited production |
| Service ceiling (m) | 3050 |
| Airframe / lift type | Single-rotor / helicopter |
| Control / autonomy level | Semi-autonomous (human-on-the-loop) |
| Domain | Aerial (UAV/UAS) |
| Mission / use case – civil | Public safety / SAR |
| Mission / use case – military | ISR |
| Origin / supply chain | Military-grade |
| Propulsion | ICE – heavy fuel |
| Range / endurance | Close range (5–50 km, 1–6 hrs) |
| Signature / detectability | RCS – medium, RF-emitting |
| Threat vector | Surveillance / reconnaissance |
| Weight / class | Class II – Tactical (150–600 kg), FAA >25 kg (Part 137 / waiver) |