LANDEURO 2025: Penguin C VTOL Drone that Masters Endurance with Vertical Agility.

At the 2025 edition of the LANDEuro exhibition, Edge Autonomy presented the Penguin C VTOL, a hybrid version of its fixed-wing drone integrating vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. This system is intended for armed forces and agencies requiring an adaptable and autonomous platform for operations in constrained or contested environments.
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The drone is built on an open and modular architecture, allowing rapid integration of specific sensors or tactical communication solutions such as Silvus radios (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Designed to meet multi-mission requirements, the Penguin C VTOL combines the extended endurance of a fixed-wing aircraft with the operational flexibility of VTOL, enabling more than 12 hours of autonomy and a communication range of up to 180 kilometers. It operates independently of ground infrastructure through fully automated vertical takeoff, eliminating the need for a runway, while remaining compliant with NATO Group 3 / Class I standards.

The drone is built on an open and modular architecture, allowing rapid integration of specific sensors or tactical communication solutions such as Silvus radios. The system also includes a secondary payload bay and an emergency parachute landing system. Key technical specifications include a wingspan of 4.12 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 41 kg, and an operational ceiling of 4,000 meters. The Penguin C VTOL cruises at over 30 knots and can reach a top speed of 65 knots, combining endurance with mobility across extended distances. It also features voice and data relay capabilities, and its MISB-compliant video stream facilitates integration into existing ISR networks.

The manufacturer highlights the system’s ease of deployment: two operators are sufficient to set up the drone, which can be disassembled and packed into several rugged containers. These can be transported by minivan, pickup, or helicopter, with assembly taking less than one hour. When equipped with advanced EO/IR payloads, the drone is suited for observation, surveillance, and inspection missions, including day and night object tracking and moving target detection.

Edge Autonomy, the company behind the Penguin C VTOL, was formed in 2022 from the merger of UAV Factory, established in 2009 in Latvia, and Jennings Aeronautics. The company operates from Latvia, California, and Virginia, offering a diverse range of light drones, payload systems, and energy solutions for autonomous aviation. The Penguin C is one of its main products, alongside other variants such as the electric-powered Penguin BE and the Penguin B VTOL.

The company has already gained institutional recognition, evidenced by a contract announced in 2022 with the US Department of Defense for an unspecified number of Penguin drones. While it bears some resemblance to the more widely known Bayraktar TB2, the Penguin C occupies a distinct niche due to its smaller size and more flexible deployment, while maintaining comparable endurance. With exports to more than 40 countries, Edge Autonomy demonstrates the global demand for ISR platforms that are intermediate, modular, and suited to the modern battlefield as well as internal security operations.