Talisman S25
Flight-Tested. Autonomous. Proven.
Overview
The UAV That Started the Talisman Legacy
First Flight: 2015
The TS-25 was Elytron Aeronautica's first operational unmanned aircraft and the technological foundation upon which the Talisman family was later developed.
Designed as a conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft, the TS-25 combined long endurance, autonomous operation and exceptional payload capability within a compact and efficient airframe.
More than a prototype, the TS-25 became a foundational technology and development platform for autonomous flight technologies, payload integration and mission validation, laying the foundations of Elytron's UAV expertise and future development programs.
Designed as an aircraft
The TS-25 was conceived as a true aircraft from the very beginning.
Its development focused on delivering the efficiency, reliability and endurance of conventional aviation while integrating the advantages of modern autonomous flight systems.
The aircraft was engineered around:
Conventional Take-Off and Landing (CTOL)
Autonomous Navigation
Tandem-Wing Aerodynamic Architecture
Modular Payload Integration
Long-Endurance Operations
Rapid Field Deployment
This approach resulted in a UAV capable of performing demanding missions while maintaining operational simplicity and low operating costs.
Tandem-Wing Configuration
The TS-25 employed Elytron's proprietary tandem-wing configuration.
Unlike conventional layouts, the tandem-wing architecture utilizes two lifting surfaces working together to generate lift, stability and control.
Key advantages include:
High Lift Efficiency
Enhanced Stall Resistance
Reduced Wing Loading
Increased Internal Volume
Excellent Low-Speed Handling
Compact Overall Dimensions
The aircraft incorporated proprietary laminar airfoils specifically developed for the configuration, contributing to the system's efficiency, stability and endurance.
The same engineering philosophy would later evolve into the larger Talisman family, preserving the core aerodynamic principles validated on the TS-25.
Flight-Tested and Validated
The TS-25 accumulated extensive flight experience through numerous flight campaigns conducted from its maiden flight in 2015 onwards.
The aircraft was used to validate:
Aircraft Performance
Mission Planning
Autonomous Flight Functions
Flight Control Algorithms
Payload Integration
Operational Procedures
Navigation Systems
The knowledge gained through these activities directly contributed to the engineering methodologies later applied across the Talisman product family.
UAV Navigation Case History
The maturity of the TS-25 attracted the attention of UAV Navigation during the development of Elytron's autonomous flight capabilities.
In 2018, the aircraft was selected for a dedicated VECTOR Flight Control System integration and adaptation campaign performed onsite at Elytron Aeronautica's facilities in Italy.
Despite its non-conventional tandem-wing architecture, the aircraft demonstrated excellent flight qualities throughout the adaptation process.
The complete integration, configuration and tuning campaign was successfully completed in less than two weeks.
Following the campaign, the aircraft became fully capable of:
Autonomous Take-Off
Autonomous Landing
Autonomous Navigation
Fully Automated Mission Execution
According to UAV Navigation's published case history, the aircraft demonstrated excellent flight behaviour and quickly achieved stable autonomous operation despite its unconventional aerodynamic layout.
The successful collaboration established the foundation for a long-term technical relationship and validated the TS-25 as a professional autonomous UAV system.
This collaboration provided independent validation of the aircraft's flight performance, controllability and autonomous capability, further confirming the maturity of Elytron's tandem-wing architecture.
HIGH PAYLOAD CAPABILITY
One of the defining characteristics of the TS-25 was its exceptional payload-to-size ratio.
The aircraft was designed around a large and easily accessible payload compartment capable of accommodating:
EO/IR Sensors
Mission Computers
Mapping Systems
Communication Systems
Telemetry Equipment
Additional Fuel Capacity
More than 40% of the available fuselage volume was dedicated to fuel and mission equipment, enabling rapid reconfiguration for different operational requirements.
The spacious payload bay allowed the integration of mission-specific equipment while maintaining aircraft balance and endurance.
This payload flexibility laid the foundation for the modular mission architectures later adopted across Elytron's UAV platforms.
Engineered for Operational Flexibility
The TS-25 was designed around practical field operations.
The aircraft structure consisted of only three primary assemblies:
Fuselage
Front Wing
Rear Wing
This modular architecture enabled rapid transportation, assembly and maintenance.
The landing gear was specifically designed to support operations from semi-prepared and unprepared surfaces, increasing operational flexibility while reducing infrastructure requirements.
Applications
The TS-25 was more than a technology demonstrator.
It was a versatile operational aircraft used to validate mission concepts and payload integration strategies that would later influence Elytron's future UAV developments.
Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance
Persistent Observation
Tactical Surveillance
Target Monitoring
Infrastructure Inspection
Pipelines
Power Lines
Industrial Facilities
Critical Infrastructure
Mapping & Survey
Aerial Photogrammetry
Environmental Monitoring
Geographic Data Collection
Public Safety
Search and Rescue
Civil Protection
Emergency Response Support
Technical Specifications
Aircraft ConfigurationFixed Tandem-Wing UAV with Pusher Propeller
First Flight2015
Length2.08 m
Wingspan3.00 m
Height0.75 m
Empty Weight13 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW)25 kg
Useful Load12 kg
Payload Bay Volume20,860 cc
Payload Bay Dimensions480 × 260 × 250 mm
Engine TypeTwo-Stroke Gasoline Engine
Maximum Power5.5 hp
Starting SystemElectric Starter
Propeller ConfigurationRear Pusher
Best EnduranceUp to 14 Hours
Minimum Operational Speed (@MTOW)53 km/h
Best Endurance Speed (@MTOW)94 km/h
Maximum Level Speed (@MTOW)155 km/h
Maximum Operational Altitude3,000 m / 12,000 ft
Flight Control SystemUAV Navigation VECTOR
Autonomous CapabilityAutomatic Take-Off, Navigation and Landing
Mission CapabilityISR, Mapping, Inspection and Monitoring
Airframe ConstructionComposite Structure
Operational CategoryEASA Open / Specific Category
Development RoleTechnological Foundation of the Talisman Family
Performance values are configuration dependent and may vary according to payload, mission profile and operational environment.
A Foundation for Future Programs
The TS-25 represents a significant milestone in Elytron Aeronautica's development history.
The lessons learned through its design, manufacturing, autonomous flight integration and operational testing directly contributed to the creation of the Talisman family and to the engineering methodologies that continue to drive Elytron's UAV programs today.
The aircraft demonstrated that advanced autonomous capabilities, long-endurance performance and operational flexibility could be achieved within a compact and efficient platform.
Its legacy continues in every Elytron unmanned aircraft developed since.
A foundation for everything that followed.
The TS-25 was more than Elytron's first UAV.
It was the aircraft that transformed concepts into operational flight experience.
Flight-tested.
Autonomous.
Proven.