Albatroz Vortex conducts inaugural flight with 100% Brazilian-developed jet turbine
January 22, 2026 – Albatroz Vortex, a high-performance unmanned aerial vehicle fully developed in Brazil, successfully completed its first test flight at Santa Cruz Air Base in Rio de Janeiro. The trial marks a significant advance for the national aerospace industry by demonstrating, for the first time, the in-flight operation of a Brazilian drone equipped with a jet turbine also developed in the country, resulting from the integration between Stella Tecnologia’s platform and the propulsion system developed by AERO Concepts.
The flight was supported by the Ministry of Defense and the Brazilian Air Force (FAB), under the Technology Development Cooperation and Partnership Agreement signed in November 2025. The agreement provides for research, development, and production of propulsion systems of up to 5,000 N for unmanned aerial vehicles, meeting the strategic demands of the FAB.
Conducted on December 17, the test validated the turbine’s operation under real flight conditions and the integration between the propulsion system and the aircraft—one of the main challenges in the development of drones in this class.
Albatroz Vortex is an unmanned aerial platform with a Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) of approximately 150 kg, developed by Stella Tecnologia based on its already well-established family of drones. The incorporation of jet propulsion expands the platform’s flight envelope, enabling higher speeds, operation at greater altitudes, and new application possibilities.
“The flight of Albatroz Vortex is the natural continuation of work that began with the development of Atobá—currently the largest unmanned platform ever created in the Southern Hemisphere—and the conventional Albatroz. The introduction of jet propulsion significantly expands the technological horizon of these platforms,” said Gilberto Buffara Jr., President of Stella Tecnologia.
The selection of Albatroz as the test platform reflects the maturity and reliability of the solutions developed by Stella. The domestically developed turbine integrated into the aircraft is part of an innovative hybrid propulsion project led by AERO Concepts, with support from FINEP. The initiative reinforces the partnership between the two companies in the continuous development of technologies aimed at meeting national and international demands in both the civil and military markets.
National Technology
Stella’s aircraft was powered by the ATJR 15-5, a jet turbine fully developed by AERO Concepts, a company based in São José dos Campos, São Paulo. The turbine was conceived based on market analysis and had its entire development carried out with the company’s own resources, covering the stages of design, prototype manufacturing, bench testing, and flight validation.
With a thrust of 500 N, the ATJR 15-5 becomes the first jet turbine developed in Brazil to operate in flight integrated into a drone, representing a significant advance in the country’s mastery of small-scale propulsion systems.
This technological milestone demonstrates that Brazil has joined a select group of countries capable of developing and integrating jet engines into unmanned aerial systems. In an increasingly restrictive international context, this capability is consolidated as a strategic factor for technological autonomy and expands the potential for partnerships and applications across different markets, strengthening the competitiveness of the Brazilian aerospace industry on the global stage.
“AERO Concepts was created to develop national jet propulsion with real-world applications. Seeing one of our turbines flying on a robust platform like Albatroz Vortex confirms the maturity of Brazilian engineering and validates a complete line of turbines ranging from 500 to 5,000 newtons,” said Alexandre Roma, Director of Operations and Engineering at the AERO Concepts Group.
In addition to the ATJR 15-5, the company maintains a line of turbines with thrust ranging from 500 to 5,000 N, aimed at different classes of unmanned platforms, expanding the potential applications of this technology in future projects.
Jet turbines offer advantages over conventional engines, such as higher speeds, better performance at high altitudes, the ability to generate high thrust, and lower vibration levels—factors that increase efficiency, range, and structural durability of aircraft.
Integration
The integration of the turbine into the Albatroz Vortex platform was made possible by the high level of technical maturity of Stella’s drones, which were already suitable for jet propulsion testing. Cooperation between Stella and AERO Concepts was formalized in 2024 during the FIDAE air show, when the teams began working jointly on defining the test strategy and adapting the turbine to the aircraft.
The choice of Albatroz, a reliable Stella platform, enabled AERO Concepts to conduct a hybrid propulsion project with support from FINEP, reinforcing the partnership in the continuous development of solutions aimed at national and international demands in both civil and military markets.
Next Steps
Following the inaugural flight, the program moves into progressive testing, focusing on expanding the flight envelope, performance evaluation, and system consolidation. Ongoing tests will allow for further refinement of both the platform and the propulsion system.
In parallel, AERO Concepts is advancing the consolidation of its production processes, aiming to fully master jet turbine manufacturing technologies in Brazil, including access to strategic raw materials and the reduction of external dependencies. With a focus on standardization and technological autonomy, the company seeks to meet the demands of the Navy, Army, and Air Force, expanding the use of platforms such as Stella’s in national strategic plans.
Simultaneously, Stella Tecnologia continues flight testing of Albatroz Vortex, focusing on expanding the operational envelope, refining onboard systems, and maturing the aircraft as a high-performance solution.
Technological Sovereignty
The flight of Albatroz Vortex highlights the capability of the national industry to integrate unmanned aerial systems with jet propulsion, consolidating strategic industrial competencies and strengthening the country’s technological autonomy.
“AERO Concepts has been consolidating its production processes with in-house structures to fully master the technologies involved and reduce external dependencies, focusing on the development of a national family of turbines. The partnership with Stella is essential—not only for flight testing, but also for the close collaboration between the teams at AERO, Stella, and the Armed Forces—ensuring applicable solutions with high quality and operational reliability,” emphasized Alexandre Roma.
photo courtesy Stella Tecnologia
