Stella Tecnologia conducts test flight of turbine engine-based UAV
The Albatroz tactical UAV fitted out with a combustion engine, seen here at Stella's plant in March 2025. (Victor Barreira)
Brazilian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) specialist Stella Tecnologia conducted its first test flight of a turbine engine-based propulsion system for its Albatroz fixed-wing tactical multimission UAV, the company announced on 22 January.
The flight of the Albatroz Vortex, incorporating the ATJR 15-5 turbine, took place on 17 December 2025 at the Santa Cruz Air Base of the Brazilian Air Force.
This new configuration of the Albatroz UAV enables the aircraft to reach a top speed of 250 km/h, according to Stella.
Brazilian AERO Concepts developed the ATJR 15-5 featuring a 500 N thrust capability, with funding by the Brazilian state-owned Funding Authority for Studies and Projects, and technical contributions by the Institute of Aeronautics and Space of the Brazilian Air Force's Department of Aerospace Science and Technology , according to AERO Concepts.
Stella will continue flight-testing the Albatroz Vortex in early February, the company's president Gilberto Buffara Junior told Janes on 23 January.
The development and testing of the Albatroz Vortex took place as part of a Technology Development Cooperation and Partnership Agreement signed in November 2025 with the Brazilian Air Force. Stella Tecnologia has worked on integrating the ATJR 15-5 turbine into the Albatroz UAV since April 2024, when a co-operation agreement with AERO Concepts was formalised.
The Albatroz was originally equipped with a modified 215 hp Desert Aircraft DA215 twin-cylinder 2-stroke engine, which achieved approximately 50 flight hours, Gilberto Buffara Junior told Janes.
Go beyond the headlines - with direct links to interconnected entities
Get full access to validated equipment, military capabilities, and market insights.
