Wingcopter 262 Debuts as All-Electric Tactical Reconnaissance eVTOL for Defense Users

A New Tactical Reconnaissance Platform

Wingcopter unveiled the Wingcopter 262 on September 14, 2026, in Düsseldorf, presenting it as an all-electric vertical take-off and landing fixed-wing aircraft aimed at defense and security customers. The platform takes its name from its 262-centimeter (103-inch) wingspan and is built for reconnaissance across extended tactical areas.

Performance and Payload

The aircraft offers a tactical range of 150 kilometers (93 miles), flight endurance of up to six hours and a maximum takeoff weight of 10 kilograms (22 pounds). It carries AI-enabled electro-optical and infrared cameras, data and video links, and positioning technology proven in Ukraine operations. Modular quick-swap batteries cut ground turnaround time, and a single operator can prepare a mission within minutes without launch infrastructure.

Engineering and Navigation

The 262 draws on more than a decade of Wingcopter development. Its patented tilt-rotor architecture and proprietary software manage transitions between vertical and cruise flight, while resilient navigation allows operation in GNSS-denied environments. The design supports integration with open architectures of existing battle management systems.

Defense Business and Ukraine Cooperation

The launch follows the creation of Wingcopter Security and Defence (WSD), which extends the company's logistics and surveying work into the defense sector. WSD also offers the Wingcopter 198, a sub-25-kilogram platform for logistics, reconnaissance and surveying. Wingcopter is cooperating with TAF Industries under the "Build with Ukraine" initiative for mass production of Ukrainian reconnaissance drones and delivery of the 262 to Ukraine. The company employs over 150 staff in Germany and has raised more than €120 million from European and international investors.