Freefly Alta X Gen2: Enterprise Heavy-Lift UAV With 33 lb Payload Capacity, Autonomous Mission Control, and Full NDAA Configuration Available
The Alta X Gen2 represents Freefly's most capable production platform — a heavy-lift multirotor that combines the structural foundation of the proven Alta X airframe with a purpose-built mission computer, a modular payload architecture designed for rapid field reconfiguration, and enterprise fleet management tools built into the aircraft from the factory. Carrying up to 15.1 kg (33.3 lb) of modular payload on a carbon-fiber frame rated to IP43-equivalent weather resistance and a -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to +122°F) operating range, it is a platform built for the kind of mission load — in terms of both physical payload and operational complexity — that lighter aircraft cannot sustain.
The family ships in two configurations. The standard Alta X Gen2 (SKU 950-00173) uses a Herelink radio link and delivers full FAA compliance including Standard Remote ID and BVLOS authorization. The Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) (SKU 950-00174) replaces Herelink with a Doodle Labs radio link, achieving complete NDAA compliance across every component in the system — airframe, controller, and radio — making it the only configuration suitable for federal, defense, and critical infrastructure programs that require component-level procurement certification. Both variants operate identically in the field. The radio link is the only difference between them.
A Platform Architecture Built Around Payload Flexibility and Autonomous Operation
What separates the Alta X Gen2 from previous generations of heavy-lift UAVs is the integration of a full mission computer — the same custom Skynode flight controller used in Freefly's Astro Max — directly into the airframe. This is not a flight controller in the traditional sense. It runs Auterion Enterprise PX4, a professional-grade autonomous flight stack, and pairs it with Auterion Mission Control for pre-mission planning and real-time operations, and Auterion Suite for cloud-based fleet management, telemetry logging, and battery health tracking across multi-aircraft deployments. Both platforms are included through the mission computer at no additional licensing cost.
The airframe itself carries forward the design principles that made the original Alta X the reference platform for heavy-lift professional UAV work: a folding carbon-fiber structure that collapses to half its deployed size for transport, a weather-resistant build that handles field conditions without special handling requirements, and a prop system built around 840 × 230 mm (33 × 9 in) folding carbon fiber reinforced nylon blades. The upgrade to AS150U smart battery connectors brings improved flight time estimation and cleaner ground handling compared to the previous generation. The supported GNSS constellation — GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo across L1/L2 bands — provides positioning resilience across operating environments and geographies.
Alta X Gen2 Variants and Configuration Options
- Alta X Gen2 (SKU 950-00173): Pilot Pro with Herelink radio; Standard Remote ID pre-installed; FAA and BVLOS compliant; FCC DA 25-1086 compliant; airframe and Pilot Pro NDAA compliant; Herelink radio not NDAA compliant; DIU Blue — airframe in process, Pilot Pro compliant, Herelink not compliant
- Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) (SKU 950-00174): Pilot Pro with Doodle Labs radio; full system NDAA compliance — airframe, Pilot Pro, and Doodle Labs radio all compliant; Standard Remote ID pre-installed; FAA and BVLOS compliant; DIU Blue — airframe in process, Pilot Pro and Doodle Labs radio compliant; operationally identical to standard variant in all other respects
Alta X Gen2 Payload Architecture, Accessories, and Support Equipment
Modular field-swappable payloads
- Freefly LR1 Payload: 61MP Sony ILX-LR1 camera on Freefly gimbal; 24mm lens; Smart Dovetail mount; geo-tagged JPG capture; expansion port supports optional LRF and thermal modules; sold separately
- Freefly LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade (SKU 910-00841): distance sensor module for the LR1 Payload; user-installable via expansion port; live distance readout in Auterion Mission Control; distance data written to image metadata at capture; requires LR1 Payload and additional onboard app; sold separately
- Freefly Flux O1 (SKU 950-00182): Ouster OS1 scanner; NDAA compliant; FCC approved; DIU Blue in process; 633 g / 23.3 oz; ±3 cm accuracy / ±0.5 cm precision; ~200 m / ~656 ft range; 360° × 42.4° FOV; dual returns; 5,242,880 points/sec; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6 via dual U-blox X20; 64GB USB-C drive; exports LAS/LAZ; no software subscription; requires M-series iPad and full-band GNSS base station or NTRIP; Alta X Gen2 GNSS mount sold separately
- Freefly Flux H1 (SKU 950-00181): Hesai XT-32MX scanner; not NDAA compliant; 715 g / 25.2 oz; ±1 cm accuracy / ±0.5 cm precision; 300 m / 984 ft range; 360° × 40.3° FOV; triple returns; 1,920,000 points/sec; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6 via dual U-blox X20; 64GB USB-C drive; exports LAS/LAZ; no software subscription; requires M-series iPad and full-band GNSS base station or NTRIP; Alta X Gen2 GNSS mount sold separately
- Freefly Flux L1 (SKU 950-00180): Livox Avia scanner; not NDAA compliant; 715 g / 25.2 oz; ±5 cm accuracy / ±2 cm precision; 450 m / 1,476 ft range; 70° × 77° FOV; triple returns; 720,000 points/sec; non-repetitive scanning for power lines, cables, and hard-to-image structures; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6 via dual U-blox X20; 64GB USB-C drive; exports LAS/LAZ; no software subscription; requires M-series iPad and full-band GNSS base station or NTRIP; Alta X Gen2 GNSS mount sold separately
- Gremsy VIO F1: Sony Block 4K EO camera; FLIR Boson 640 radiometric thermal (640×512); integrated laser rangefinder 0–3,000 m @ 1Hz / 0–1,250 m @ 10Hz; 854 g / 1.88 lb; UART/Ethernet/SBUS control; Skynode compatible via Smart Dovetail adaptor; not NDAA compliant; assembled in USA
Batteries and chargers
- Freefly Alta X Gen2 12S Flight Battery (AS150U): Tattu Plus 1.0 12S 16Ah smart battery; AS150U anti-spark connector; two required per flight; sold separately
- Freefly Tattu TA3200 Dual-Channel Smart Charger (Alta X Gen2): dual-channel up to 3,200W / 60A; smart battery recognition; automatic balancing, temperature monitoring, and abnormal state alerts; purpose-built for Alta X Gen2 Tattu AS150U batteries
Service and warranty plans
- Freefly Armor — Alta X Gen2 (950-00173): two-year coverage; extends warranty from 1 to 2 years; 10% discount on non-warranty service and training; first annual checkup included; invite to Freefly Fest; must be purchased with new aircraft
- Freefly Armor — Alta X Gen2 NDAA (950-00174): same coverage applied to the NDAA variant
Core Capabilities That Define the Alta X Gen2's Operational Role
- Autonomous mission computer: integrated flight stack runs Auterion Enterprise PX4 with autonomous waypoint execution, return-to-home failsafes, and five flight modes — Manual, Altitude Hold, Position Hold, Return, and Autonomous Mission
- 15.1 kg modular payload capacity: 12mm rails carry the full payload allowance; Smart Dovetail isolated mount supports quick-connect modular payloads up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) with integrated power and data
- Smart Dovetail interface: field-swappable payload connection with power and data communication pathways, compatible with Freefly and third-party modular payloads built to the standard
- Internal integration bay: removable chassis panels expose an Ethernet-equipped, regulated-power space for custom sensor stacks, compute modules, and mission-specific hardware
- Dual onboard power regulation: 12V and 24V regulated outputs supply consistent power to modular payload electronics without external power management hardware
- LTE connectivity: onboard LTE module (North America) supports remote telemetry, live fleet status, and command relay via Auterion Suite
- Multi-constellation GNSS: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo across L1/L2 bands for positioning resilience in complex operating environments
- Weather-rated carbon-fiber airframe: IP43-equivalent protection; -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to +122°F) operating range; folds to half deployed size for transport in included travel case
- AS150U smart battery system: two Tattu Plus 1.0 12S 16Ah batteries per flight; improved flight time estimation over previous generation; AS150U anti-spark connectors
- Fleet management and mission logging: Auterion Suite tracks telemetry, mission history, and battery cycle data across multi-aircraft deployments from a centralized cloud dashboard
- Full NDAA system compliance: NDAA variant achieves certification across airframe, Pilot Pro controller, and Doodle Labs radio link — the only configuration that satisfies component-level federal and defense procurement requirements
- Standard Remote ID: pre-installed and pre-configured on both variants for FAA compliance and BVLOS authorization
Deployment Scenarios and Mission Applications
- Government and defense procurement programs: NDAA variant satisfies component-level compliance requirements across airframe, controller, and radio link for federal and DoD acquisition
- LiDAR survey and infrastructure mapping: Flux O1, H1, and L1 on Smart Dovetail cover corridor mapping, terrain survey, utility inspection, and dense urban scanning with on-site point cloud processing
- Photogrammetry and high-resolution imaging: LR1 Payload delivers 61MP geo-tagged survey capture; LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade adds distance metadata to every frame
- Multi-sensor EO/IR surveillance: Gremsy VIO F1 provides simultaneous 4K visual, radiometric thermal, and laser range data from a single modular payload without sensor swaps
- Critical infrastructure inspection: power transmission, oil and gas, wind energy, and industrial facilities where payload capacity, autonomous routing, and weather tolerance are non-negotiable
- BVLOS corridor operations: autonomous mission planning via Auterion Mission Control, Standard Remote ID, and onboard LTE support extended range and beyond-visual-line-of-sight authorization
- Cinema and large-format aerial production: 12mm rail system with Payload Vibration Damper and Skyview Landing Gear supports large cinema rig integration without airframe modification
- Multi-aircraft fleet operations: Auterion Suite enables centralized management, mission tracking, and battery health monitoring across multiple Alta X Gen2 deployments
Building a Complete Alta X Gen2 System: Configuration and Planning Guidance
Configuring an Alta X Gen2 program requires decisions across the aircraft variant, payload stack, battery and charging infrastructure, and service coverage. The variant decision is binary and must be made first: if NDAA component-level compliance is required, only the Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) qualifies. If compliance is not a procurement constraint, both variants are operationally equivalent.
Payload selection follows from mission type. Operators running LiDAR survey work need to identify whether NDAA compliance extends to the payload — in which case only the Flux O1 qualifies — or whether accuracy and range are the primary drivers, in which case the Flux H1 at ±1 cm accuracy or the Flux L1 at 450 m range may be the better fit. All three Flux sensors require a separately sold GNSS mount for use on the Alta X Gen2, and all three require a full-band GNSS base station or NTRIP service for PPK processing — dual-band GNSS is not sufficient.
Battery planning follows Freefly's recommendation of six batteries and one TA3200 dual-channel charger per aircraft as the operational minimum. Each flight consumes two batteries; each charger handles two batteries simultaneously. For programs requiring more than three consecutive flights without access to field charging, additional battery pairs should be added at the time of system configuration.
Freefly Armor must be added at the time of aircraft purchase and cannot be retrofitted. For organizations building a long-term platform commitment around the Alta X Gen2, the two-year warranty extension, annual checkup, and service discount represent meaningful operational value over the coverage period.
Dronefly carries the complete Alta X Gen2 system — both variants, the full Flux LiDAR lineup, the Gremsy VIO F1, the LR1 Payload and LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade, flight batteries, the TA3200 charger, and Freefly Armor coverage plans. Contact the Dronefly team to build your configuration, or order directly through the Dronefly store.
