R550 Sprayhawk

Automated Spray Helicopter. From $525,000*.

*As a retrofit conversion for Robinson R44 helicopters (available in the second half of 2025). Prototype aircraft shown.

Up to 240 acres per hour of spray production

110 Gallons of spray capacity and lower operating costs than any comparable aerial application aircraft.

Equipped ready-to-work

Retrofit conversion includes installation of 33 ft spray booms, a 110 gallon tank, and all onboard equipment needed for row crop aerial application.

Fully-automated spraying

Sprayhawk integrates state-of-the-art spray path planning from AG-NAV to spray automatically and precisely at a full 65 ft swath width.

Advanced obstacle detection

Sprayhawk is equipped with five cameras, a radar altimeter, and a LIDAR for powerful wire and obstacle sensing capabilities.

Gas powered

A powerful Lycoming IO-540 6-cylinder aviation engine provides long flight time with no need for generators or on-site electrical charging infrastructure.

Easy to deploy

Transport on-road without disassembly and set up in less than 15 minutes. Sprayhawk can be deployed quickly and easily to any field.

2-person crew

Operate Sprayhawk from startup to shutdown with just a remote pilot and visual observer using a portable ground control station.

COST AND PERFORMANCE Comparison

Sprayhawk
Robinson R44
2x DJI Agras T40
Air Tractor AT-502B
Cost per Acre
$2.00 / acre
$3.27 / acre
$4.87 / acre
$3.23 / acre
Useable Capacity
110 gallons
60 gallons
2x 10 gallons
500 gallons
Productivity
240 acres / hr
193 acres / hr
42 acres / hr
255 acres / hr
Direct Operating Cost
(incl. pilot and crew)
$480 / hr
$630 / hr
$203 / hr
$825 / hr
Autonomous Spraying
Yes
No
Yes
No
Fuel Type
100 LL
100 LL
Battery / Diesel Generator
Jet-A
Purchase Price
From $525,000
As a retrofit conversion for Robinson R44 helicopters.
$750,000
$60,000
$1,200,000

How it works

1

Flight planning

Sprayhawk integrates with AG-NAV's mission management software to plan the flight and the chemical application.

2

Transport and setup

Tow the Sprayhawk on-road with the included transport trailer and set up in under 15 minutes. No aircraft unfolding or assembly needed.

3

Get set and go

Automated missions follow pre-programmed routes with minimal pilot intervention.

4

Cover 50+ acres per refill

Sprayhawk’s 110 Gallon useful capacity means you’ll make short work of large fields, covering hundreds of acres an hour.

5

Refuel and refill

Precision landing capability means you can use your existing tank truck to refuel and refill with ease.

6

Post-flight review

Analyze system logs and camera recordings to verify application success and safeguard against liabilities. 

THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IS HERE

“The Sprayhawk is going to be the future of aerial application. AG-NAV is excited to work with Rotor to bring our state-of-the-art navigation and planning solution to the platform.”

Fred Ramirez
President, AG-NAV

“The future of agricultural aviation is unfolding right now, Rotor is positioned to make a huge impact on productivity and safety.”

Lukas Koch
Chief Technology Officer, Heinen Bros.

“Since it can perform a wide range of missions, from agriculture to entertainment, with high efficiency and safety, there's little doubt that we will see more of these aircraft in the future.”

Kurt “Cyber Guy” Knutsson
Fox News

Gallery

Specifications

R550 Sprayhawk

Automated Spray Helicopter

From $525,000

Available in the second half of 2025 as a retrofit conversion for Robinson R44 helicopters.

Max Gross Weight
2,500 lb (1,134 kg)
Useful Load
110 Gal (416 L)
Fuel Capacity
12.5 Gal (47.3 L)
Endurance
50 min
Operating Range
> 50 mi (80 km)
BVLOS capable, subject to regulatory restrictions
Max Operating Altitude
3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL
14,000 ft (4,300 m) MSL
Flight Control System
Full authority fly-by-wire
Sensors
1x Forward Camera
2x Side Cameras
1x Downward Camera
1x Tail Camera
1x Terrain Following LIDAR
1x Radar Altimeter
Communications
1x 2.4 GHz LOS Radio
2x LTE
1x Starlink Mini
Available Autopilot Modes
Stability Augmented (Always-on)
Attitude Control Velocity Hold (ACVH)
Waypoint Following
Terrain Following
Autonomy Functionality
Automated Spray Pattern Following
Emergency Return-to-home
Recommended Crew
1x Remote Pilot
1x Visual Observer
1x Spray Loader
Regulatory Approval
Experimental Certificate in the U.S.
Commercial approval in Brazil and other countries
Export License
(Outside US)
Not required for Australia, Canada, UK

FAQs

Can you convert my Robinson R44 into an R550?

Yes, the R550 is offered as a retrofit conversion for all models of Robinson R44. Factory conversions are available now at Rotor's facilities in Nashua, NH and Rotor is working with service centers to perform retrofit conversions around the world beginning in 2025.

For more information how to convert your R44 or to become a service center, please contact us.

Can I use the R550 to carry people?

Rotor's UAVs are heavy lift drones designed for utility missions like agriculture and firefighting. They are not certified to carry people.

What licenses do I need to fly the R550?

At present, a commercial helicopter license is required to operate the R550, in addition to completing Rotor's factory training course. Rotor is working with regulatory authorities worldwide to enable Remote Pilots in Command (RPIC) to operate the aircraft by holding only a Part 107 remote pilot license.

How many acres can it spray in an hour?

The Sprayhawk can spray up to 240 acres an hour, carrying a payload of 110 gallons and spraying at 50 to 60 knots with a 65 ft swath width and a 2 gallon per acre application rate. The number of acres per hour will also depend on terrain, chemical application rate, altitude, winds, obstacles and other factors.

What is your relationship with Robinson?

Rotor is an independent company from Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC). However, we collaborate closely with RHC on engineering, certification, and supply chain. You can read more about this here.

How is flight planning and navigation performed with the Sprayhawk?

The Sprayhawk’s piloting and navigation system currently integrates with AG-NAV, a commercial spray mission and navigation and flight planning system. Please see here for more information on Rotor's partnership with AG-NAV.

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