Alpha Unmanned Systems
A Madrid start-up founded in 2014 builds small fuel-powered helicopter drones that now fly from coastguard cutters, border posts and warships, including those of the Hellenic Navy.
Alpha Unmanned Systems: the company and the aircraft that made its name
A helicopter, not a quadcopter
Most small drones are battery quadcopters or little fixed-wing aircraft. Alpha Unmanned Systems took a harder route: miniature unmanned helicopters with petrol and heavy-fuel engines, chosen for range and the ability to hover over a ship’s deck or a border crossing for long periods. The company was founded in Madrid in 2014 by Juan Luque, Álvaro Escarpenter and Eric Freeman. Escarpenter, the technical lead, came from the Spanish autopilot specialist UAV Navigation; Freeman, the chief executive, had spent decades building technology companies.
From Madrid to four continents
Development of the Alpha 800 began in 2017, and the larger A900, built to NATO STANAG standards, followed in 2019, with an A900T variant after it. Alpha also designs the subsystems around them: ground and ship-based control stations, tracking antennas, AIS transceivers and a heavy-fuel powerplant. The company says its helicopters fly in more than 14 countries across Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East, and names the Hellenic Navy, the Indonesian Coast Guard and Bulgaria’s border police among its customers, along with the US defence department.
Certified and partnered
In 2023 Alpha gained military certification in Spain and Germany, a significant step for a company of its size. In 2025 it announced partnerships with the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, with Airbus Helicopters España and with Turkey’s Havelsan, pointing its small helicopters towards naval integration. Its missions are maritime surveillance, border control, intelligence and reconnaissance, infrastructure inspection and aerial target work. Alpha is ISO 9001 certified and remains privately owned. Its customers range from navies to border police.
Alpha Unmanned Systems in numbers
The company
- In short
- Founded 2014
- Privately owned, based in Madrid
- Founded by Juan Luque, Álvaro Escarpenter and Eric Freeman
- ISO 9001 certified
Production
- Best known for
- A900 helicopter UAV
- Alpha 800, development from 2017
- A900 STANAG-compliant helicopter, launched 2019
- A900T variant
- Control stations, tracking antennas, AIS modules, heavy-fuel engine
Today
- Now
- Exporting to 14+ countries
- Military certification in Spain and Germany, 2023
- Partnerships with Navantia, Airbus Helicopters España and Havelsan, 2025
The numbers
- Countries with operations
- more than 14 (company figure)2026
Every notable Alpha Unmanned Systems aircraft
| Aircraft | Role | First flight | Built | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha 800 | Small unmanned helicopter | In production | ISR, relay, fire assessment, line inspection | ||
| Alpha A900 | Tactical unmanned helicopter | In production | STANAG compliant; fuel powered | ||
| Alpha A900T | Tactical unmanned helicopter | In production |
Alpha Unmanned Systems aircraft in the world’s air forces
1 air forces in the Order of Battle fly or flew Alpha Unmanned Systems types. 1 of them still have one in service.
| Air force | In service | Formerly flown |
|---|---|---|
| Hellenic Navy Air Service | Alpha Unmanned Systems A-900 |
Where Alpha Unmanned Systems built, who led it, what it achieved
People
- Eric Freeman · co-founder, chief executive
- Álvaro Escarpenter · co-founder, chief technology officer — Previously at UAV Navigation
Alpha Unmanned Systems, year by year
Founded in Madrid
Alpha 800 development starts
STANAG-compliant A900 launched
Military certification in Spain and Germany
Partnerships with Navantia, Airbus Helicopters España and Havelsan
Everything people ask about Alpha Unmanned Systems
What does Alpha Unmanned Systems make?
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Around Alpha Unmanned Systems
Every fact, checked
Verified 2026-10-03.