Freefly’s New Astro Max Can Carry It’s Own Weight

Freefly recently launched the Astro Max, a high-end professional drone made for industrial use cases.

The Astro Max is a souped-up new version of Freefly’s flagship Astro drone.

It has 60% more thrust than the Astro, and it can carry double the weight of the Astro—6.6 pounds to the Astro and Astro Prime’s 3.3.

And even though it can carry double the weight of the other Astros, it doesn’t weigh any more than them.

That’s right. The Astro Max weighs 6.8 pounds, just like the Astro and Astro Prime.

But where those two prior drones could carry 3.3 pounds—not too shabby at 50% of their weight—the Max can carry 6.6 pounds, which is just about exactly what it weighs.

What Is the Astro Max For?

The Max starts at $20,000. That’s for the drone and the Pilot Pro controller, a carry case, and spare parts.

The Freefly Astro Max

The Astro Max is made for a range of industrial use cases, including inspections and mapping. Given its price and value as an all-around, high-quality commercial drone, its closest competitors are:

• Skydio’s X10—Priced at around $20,000.
• Wingtra’s WingtraOne Gen II—Priced at around $30,000.
• DJI’s Matrice 350 RTK—Priced between $10,000 and $20,000, depending on payload and add-ons.

The Astro, Skydio X10, and WingtraOne Gen II are all on the Pentagon’s Blue UAS list, meaning they’re approved for U.S. government operations due to compliance with strict security and performance standards.

The Matrice, of course, is not on that list, since it’s made in China (a country that automatically excludes it from eligibility for Blue UAS).

Astro Max Use Cases

The Astro Max is a multi-purpose professional drone.

It comes with a high-quality visual camera—the Sony LR1 61—and can carry a range of other sensors, including LiDAR, thermal, and multi-spectral cameras.

Here’s a list of the main use cases for the Astro Max:

• LiDAR scanning. The drone’s compatibility with advanced LiDAR systems like the AP LIDAR 1 makes it ideal for high-accuracy 3D mapping, even in GPS-denied environments.
• Photogrammetry. Equipped with the Sony LR1 61-megapixel camera payload, it’s a solid platform for creating detailed 2D and 3D models.
• Infrastructure inspection. The drone’s high-resolution imaging capabilities, including thermal options, make it a good option for inspecting power lines, pipelines, and other critical infrastructure.
• Leak detection. Specialized sensors allow the Astro Max to identify liquid or gas leaks from above.
• Mapping and surveying. The drone’s long flight times and high payload capacity support extensive aerial mapping missions.

The Freefly Pilot Pro Controller

Wondering what industries the Astro Max is made for? Here are the top ones:

• Public safety and defense. Freefly makes NDAA-compliant and Blue UAS-approved versions of the Astro Max, making it appealing for government applications.
• Construction. The Max’s advanced imaging capabilities can help support various aspects of construction work.
• Mining. Its ability to operate in challenging environments makes it suitable for surveying and monitoring mining operations.
• Oil and Gas. The Astro Max can be used for inspections and monitoring in the energy sector.

Main Differences Between the Three Astro Drones

Freefly makes two drone series: the Astro and the Alta.

The Alta is its heavy-lift line. It was originally known for high-end cinematography, but it’s now used in a range of sectors, including inspections and mapping.

The Freefly Alta X

The drones in the Astro series, on the other hand, are smaller, more compact professional platforms made specifically for industrial use cases. So far there have been three drones in the Astro series—the Astro, the Astro Prime, and now the Astro Max.

When the Astro Prime came out last summer it improved on the original Astro with a better camera, gimbal, props, motor control, and remote controller.

The Astro Max builds on the upgrades found in the Prime by doubling the drone’s payload capacity, allowing it to carry almost the equivalent of its own weight.

This is accomplished through the use of bigger 21″ propellers and more powerful custom-designed motors and advanced control systems, allowing the Astro Max to fly more efficiently  and achieve a huge increase of 60% thrust over the original Astro.

Here’s a chart showing the main differences between the three Astros:

Feature	Astro	Astro Prime	Astro Max
Weight	6.8 pounds	6.8 pounds	6.8 pounds
Payload capacity	Up to 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)	Up to 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg)	Up to 6.6 lbs (3 kg)
Flight time	Up to 38 min. (no payload)	Up to 37 min (no payload)	Up to 39 min (no payload)
Camera	Sony Alpha 7R IVA (61 MP)	LR1 Payload (61 MP)	LR1 Payload (61 MP)
Sensor compatibility	RTK, PPK mapping cameras, LiDAR	RTK, PPK, LiDAR, thermal	LiDAR, thermal, multi-spectral
Remote controller	Freefly’s Skynode	Pilot Pro Controller	Pilot Pro Controller

Astro Max First Drone to Integrate with Esri’s Arc-GIS

One of the biggest developments surrounding the launch of the Freefly Astro Max is its integration with Esri’s ArcGIS Flight application.

This marks the first time Esri has officially supported a drone within its GIS ecosystem, providing seamless mapping and surveying capabilities.

This is a huge deal because Esri is the market leader in GIS software. And where Esri goes, thousands of customers follow.

For Freefly to score the first ever drone integration with ArcGIS marks a huge win for the company, and could exponentially expand its user base.

Here’s an overview of the new integration:

• First drone to integrate with ArcGIS Flight—And it’s Blue UAS-approved and NDAA-compliant, ensuring secure and government-approved operations.
• Seamless GIS workflows—Automated flight planning, real-time image capture, and advanced geospatial data processing.
• Built for government and enterprise users—Meets stringent security and operational requirements.

Learn more about the Esri-Freefly partnership.

Freefly’s Evolution

Freefly has been around since way back in 2011, which is basically forever in the drone industry.

To put that in perspective, DJI didn’t launch the first Phantom until 2013, and the first Mavic came out in 2016.

The DJI Phantom 1

What started 14 years ago as a company focused on aerial cinematography has grown into one of the leading American drone manufacturers, expanding its lineup to serve sectors like mapping, surveying, infrastructure inspection, and public safety.

While many U.S.-based drone companies have struggled to compete in a market dominated by DJI, Freefly has continued to innovate, evolving to maintain its place as a trusted drone manufacturer.

And the launch of the Astro Max marks another step in that evolution. With its Blue UAS approvals and NDAA-compliance, not to mention top-tier professional platforms, Freefly is one of the few companies leading the way in shaping the future of American-made drones.