Introducing the BushRanger 2M V1: A New Era in Conservation-Grade VTOL Surveillance

Final Flight Testing Underway for Next-Generation Modular UAS

[South Africa] – The Eye Above, in collaboration with Telluraves Aerospace, has entered the final flight-testing phase of the BushRanger 2M V1, a cutting-edge fixed-wing VTOL surveillance aircraft engineered specifically for the rugged and remote conditions of the Southern African Bushveld. Designed with wildlife crime prevention in mind, the BushRanger represents a breakthrough in modular, field-repairable unmanned systems.

The BushRanger is uniquely adaptable, capable of operating as a VTOL, STOL, CTOL, or quadcopter. Its modular airframe is over 90 percent 3D printed in durable PA12 nylon using HP Multi Jet Fusion technology. This construction approach makes it both impact-resistant and easy to repair on-site—crucial for missions in remote conservation zones.

The airframe’s rear-transition configuration features fixed front lift rotors aligned near the centre of gravity, along with offset tilting rear rotors that provide stable vertical lift and efficient forward thrust.
The BushRanger airframe will be officially unveiled at XPONENTIAL 2025 in Texas on 20 May, at the HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions stand.

Conservation Impact and Deployment Plans

The Eye Above plans to deploy 15 BushRanger units across South Africa, working in partnership with conservation organizations to create guidelines for UAS integration into conservation missions. The project also focuses on rural upliftment through training and employment of local pilots and maintenance crews.

This initiative is made possible through the generous support of industry-leading partners: Telluraves Aerospace, Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT), International Crane Foundation (ICF), Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks, HP Additive Manufacturing Solutions, Mecad Systems, Sony, Hitec Group USA, CubePilot, AOC, Flying Robot, and Wham Bam Systems.

BushRanger 2M V1 Specifications

Dimensions and Weight
Wingspan: 2195 mm (Optional 500 mm quick-swap wing extension coming soon)
Fuselage Length: 1607 mm
Maximum Take-off Mass (MTOM): 9.5 kg
Maximum Payload: 2.2 kg (higher capacity in development)
Performance
Cruise Speed: 22 m/s
Maximum Speed: 30 m/s
Stall Speed: Not applicable (due to propulsion layout)
Wind Tolerance:
Ground: 11 m/s
Air: 16 m/s
Flight Duration:
Up to 90 minutes in forward flight (depending on payload and hover time)
Up to 30 minutes in hover

Construction
Over 90 percent 3D printed in PA12 nylon (HP MJF)
Foldable or removable outer wings for compact transport and confined hover operations
Avionics and Systems
Autopilot: Orange+ CUBE (Ardupilot)
GPS: Here 4 (Single or Dual)
Collision Avoidance: PING RX ADS-B receiver
Telemetry and Video: Herelink (other options available)
Optional AI Processor: NVIDIA AGX GPU
Additional Systems: FPV camera, dual airspeed sensors, LIDAR

Payload Integration

Nose Mount: Supports Nextvision NightHawk 2UZ, Raptor, or similar (up to 50 mm base)
Internal Bay: Compatible with Sony ILX-LR1 or similar
Power
30Ah semi-solid-state battery

In Development

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR)

About The Eye Above NPC

A New Dawn in Conservation

To save an ecosystem, we understood we had to build a conservation ecosystem.

The Eye Above is a South African non-profit company committed to transforming wildlife protection through the intelligent use of technology, community empowerment, and cross-sector collaboration.
We introduced a groundbreaking drone platform, purpose-built for the challenges of Southern Africa’s vast, rugged bushveld. But the innovation doesn’t stop at hardware. Our mission extends to engaging with conservation stakeholders to develop new operational guidelines for unmanned aerial systems in the field, while simultaneously upskilling local communities and creating sustainable jobs for pilots and support crews.

Our model is built on forging strong, long-term partnerships with both major corporations and the public, ensuring every deployment contributes meaningfully to biodiversity protection and social impact.
The Eye Above is more than a project. It’s a movement.

Join us in shaping the future of conservation.

www.theeyeabove.co.za
[email protected]