Honeycomb Aerospace HC-545

History

The Honeycomb Aerospace HC-545 is a Chinese medium-sized vertical-takeoff-and-landing fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle. It combines fixed-wing flight with a VTOL arrangement intended to permit operation without a conventional runway.

The aircraft is designed with modular structures and a configurable payload architecture. Honeycomb Aerospace offers the HC-545 for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communications and mapping missions.

By August 2026, the HC-545 had reached a confirmed physical evaluation milestone when the Indonesian Navy conducted land-based trials of the aircraft at its air base in Pasuruan. The evaluation was reported as successful, although no procurement decision was disclosed.

Indonesian Navy evaluation

In August 2026, the Indonesian Navy evaluated the China-made HC-545 at its air base in Pasuruan. Frengky Mahulette, a member of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, confirmed the trials and stated that they were successful. Rear Admiral Mulyatna, chief of the Indonesian Navy's Research and Development Service, attended the evaluation.

No details were disclosed about the wider evaluation programme, and there was no confirmation that the Indonesian Navy was considering or preparing a procurement contract. The August 2026 evaluation was reported by Janes.

Design

Airframe

Honeycomb Aerospace describes the HC-545 as a medium-sized VTOL fixed-wing UAV using a high-wing compound aerodynamic configuration. The aircraft is constructed primarily from carbon-fibre composite materials.

The wings, tail booms and VTOL assemblies are modular. This arrangement is intended to simplify transportation and allow rapid deployment in the field.

Propulsion and operating configuration

The HC-545 uses a petrol-powered propulsion system. Honeycomb Aerospace states that the aircraft can be configured for operation in both lowland and high-altitude environments.

Payloads and data links

The aircraft has a modular payload architecture intended to support different mission equipment. Stated mission applications include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communications and mapping.

Encrypted data-link configurations are offered with stated operational ranges of 50 km, 100 km or 150 km. The appropriate range depends on the selected configuration.

Program status

The HC-545 was undergoing evaluation by the Indonesian Navy in August 2026. The available information confirms a land-based trial but does not establish that Indonesia has ordered the system or selected it for operational service.

Specifications (HC-545)

General characteristics

• Type: VTOL fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle
• Primary construction: Carbon-fibre composite materials
• Payload: Up to 50 kg
• Propulsion: Petrol-powered system

Performance

• Endurance: Up to 8 hours with payloads of up to 50 kg
• Data-link range: 50 km, 100 km or 150 km depending on configuration

Mission equipment

• Payload architecture: Modular
• Supported mission roles: Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, communications and mapping