Astro Max (NDAA/Blue)
Astro Max (NDAA/Blue)
Pick your payload!
Product Details
Astro Max is Freefly’s ultimate compact industrial drone platform. This model has special hardware and software making it both NDAA compliant and DIU Blue approved.
Freefly understands the need for quality tools. For more than 10 years, Freefly aircraft have carried high end imagers for industry and high-end productions around the world. It carries valuable payloads in high-pressure situations. We understand the need for flexibility, so Astro’s interface specs are open, making it a flexible and reliable tool to get your new ideas in the air.
Each Astro Prime (NDAA/Blue)* includes the the basics of your DIU compliant drone kit, ready to mount a variety of payloads:
-
Astro Max Drone
- Ships in Astro Compact Travel Case with pre-installed: Astro Isolator, folding landing gear, and props
- Includes simple tools, proptectors, and some spare bits
- Ships with Standard Remote ID enabled**
- NDAA and DIU approved firmware
- Ships with Standard Remote ID enabled**
-
Freefly Pilot Pro controller
- Internal battery and options for external power
- Doodle Labs RF, NDAA and DIU Blue 2.4 GHz radio
- Ships inside Astro Compact Travel Case
-
Compact Travel Case
- Fits Astro (folded), 1 pair of batteries/chargers, Pilot Pro and the LR1 Payload
- Telescoping handle and fixed wheels
*Pilot skill with Manual Mode is required for Emergency Procedures. Learn more **Contact Freefly Support if you have an FAA waiver or other exemption to the FAA Remote ID rule. We can issue an override code to disable Remote ID.
- Astro Max (NDAA/Blue)
- Up to 39 minutes flight time
- 28 minutes with LR1 Payload
- 18 minutes with max payload (3kg)
- See Wiki for additional details
- 3kg max payload
- Booms fold up to ½ the diameter
- Alternate payload attachments sold separately:
- Integrator Vibration Isolator (non-electronic)
- Freefly Smart Dovetail Kit (hard mount)
- Standard Remote ID enabled - contact support with FAA waiver or other exemption to have it disabled
- Optional LTE connectivity (North America only) Learn more
- Additional specs in the Astro wiki
- Up to 39 minutes flight time
- Pilot Pro Controller
- Freefly Pro Pro controller
- High resolution rockers for precise camera / gimbal control
- Modular to accept a variety of radio transmitters, ships with:
- Doodle Labs RF, NDAA and DIU Blue (2.4 GHz)
- Internal battery with external power inputs to support hot-swapping for maximum uptime
- Emergency kill-switch
- Discreet physical buttons for all key user actions
- Includes custom configured, pre-installed 8" Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 tablet
- Realtime drone and gimbal speed limits
- Custom padded neck strap
- Astro Compact Travel Case
- Holds everything needed to fly Astro
- Astro with 2 SL8 batteries* installed and legs folded
- Pilot Pro radio controller
- LR1 Payload (sold separately)
- Pair of SL8 Chargers
- Set of spare props (1 each CW & CCW)
- Basic tools
- Custom cut foam, tested to protect against drops from 1 meter
- Submersible and dust tight (MIL-STD 810G)
- Airline checkable (overweight)
SKB Rolling Case - 3i-2217-10
- Case dimensions: 24.52" x 19.5" x 12.22" / 62.28 x 49.53 x 31.04 cm
- Weight of Astro in case:
- As shipped/checked (no SL8s): 36.16 lbs / 16.40 kg
- Full kit (with two SL8s*): 40.66 lbs / 18.44 kg
- Holds everything needed to fly Astro
- Batteries
- SL8-Air Batteries*
- Astro uses two SL8-Air batteries per flight
- Voltage: 21.6 V (6S)
- Capacity: 7.3 Ah, 157 Wh
- Weight: 2.25lbs
- Chemistry: Lithium-Ion
- Auxiliary output: USB-C Power Delivery
- Chargers
- SL8 Fast Charger*
- One charger charges one Freefly SL8-Air battery at a time
- Approximate charge time for one SL8-Air battery, from 0%: 90 mins
- Input: 100 / 240 VAC
- Output: 200 Watts
- Supplied with North America power cable (NEMA 1-15 ungrounded, Type A).
- Power cable is replaceable (IEC320 connector).
Designed and Assembled in USA. NDAA and DIU Blue approved.
*Batteries and chargers needed for flight not included, sold separately
- Qty 1 - Astro Compact Travel Case:
- Qty 1 - Astro Max (NDAA/Blue)(with folding landing gear, props, and Astro Isolator)*
- Qty 1 each - Hex drivers, 1.5 mm, 2 mm, 2.5 mm
- Qty 4 - Proptectors
- Spare parts
- Qty 1 - Extra Proptector
- Qty 4 - Spare isolators
- Qty 2 - Rubber hole grommet
- Qty 1 - Pilot Pro Controller
- Qty 1 - Samsung Active Tab (pre-configured and installed into controller)
- Qty 1 - Doodle Labs RF (NDAA and DIU Blue) 2.4 GHz radio
- Qty 1 - Custom padded neck strap
*Batteries and chargers needed for flight not included, sold separately
RGB Sensors
- Freefly LR1 Payload (NDAA/Blue)
- Lenses we've tested with LR1
- Sigma 24mm F3.5 (included with LR1 payload)
- Sony FE 35mm F2.8
- Sony FE 50mm F1.8
- Samyang 75mm F1.8
- Sentera 65R Sensor (NDAA)
- Freefly Mapping Payload (A7R IV) (NDAA/Blue) - Discontinued
Thermal Sensors
- Freefly LR1 Thermal Upgrade* (NDAA)
- Sentera 6X Thermal Sensor (NDAA)
- Sentera 6X Thermal Pro (NDAA)
- Freefly Wiris Pro Payload (Thermal) (NDAA/Blue) - Discontinued
Multispectral Sensors
- Sentera 6X Multispectral Sensor (NDAA/Blue)
Distance Sensors
- LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade* (NDAA)
LiDAR
- Freefly Flux L1
- Freefly Flux O1
- Freefly Flux H1
- Emesent Hovermap ST-X (Not NDAA)
RTK
- RTK GPS Ground Station, through a user-supplied ground station computer
For a full list of sensors and payloads that have been integrated or operated with Astro, check out our Drone Payloads page, and filter by "Astro" and "NDAA Compliant."
*The LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade (910-00841) and LR1 Thermal Upgrade (910-00840) are modules for the LR1 Payload and cannot be used on Astro without the LR1.
- Standard Remote ID - YES
- Ships with Remote ID preinstalled and configured for Standard Remote ID FAA compliance
- Compliant for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS)
- If you are exempt from FAA RID rules, you can contact Freefly Support to provide documentation and get an override code to disable Remote ID on your aircraft.
- NDAA - YES
- Astro - Compliant
- Pilot Pro Controller - Compliant
- Doodle Labs radio link - Compliant
- DIU Blue - YES
- Astro - Compliant (with Remote ID disabled, contact support for override code)
- Pilot Pro Controller - Compliant
- Doodle Labs radio link - Compliant
Astro Max (NDAA/Blue) comes with:
- Astro Compact Travel Case
- Astro (with landing gear, props, Smart Dovetail)
- Spare parts & basic tools
- Pilot Pro Controller (NDAA/Blue)
- Spare parts & USB charger
Power
Batteries and chargers not otherwise included.
SL8-Air Batteries
Recommended quantity: 4
Battery with integrated BMS and an OLED display
You'll need at least two SL8-Air batteries to fly this Astro. By default Astro does not ship with batteries.
SL Fast Charger
Recommended quantity: 2
200W charger for Freefly SL8 batteries
Unless you already have SL8-Air Chargers, you'll need these on your order. By default Astro does not ship with SL8 chargers.
SL8 Travel Case
Recommended quantity: 1
Travel case for 8 SL8 batteries and 2 chargers, or up to 14 SL8s
Freefly Integrated Payloads (NDAA)
LR1 Payload
Lightweight 65MP Sony RGB Payload (NDAA/DIU Blue)
Sony FE 50mm f1.8 Lens
Inspection lens for LR1 Payload
LR1 Thermal Upgrade
Thermal add-on module for LR1 Payload (NDAA/DIU Blue)
LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade
LRF add-on module for LR1 Payload (NDAA)
Freefly LiDAR & OGI Payloads (NDAA)
Ventus OGI Payload
Compact Optical Gas Imaging Payload (NDAA)
Flux O1
Compact Ouster LiDAR (NDAA)
Pre-Order Shipments
October 2025 ($32,995.00)
- October 2025 ($32,995.00)
- November 2025 ($32,995.00)
- December 2025 ($32,995.00)
3rd Party Payloads
Sentera 6X Multispectral Sensor with Gimbal
Compact Multispectral Sentera Payload (NDAA)
Sentera 6X Thermal Sensor Pro with Gimbal
Compact Thermal Sentera Payload with Boson 640 (NDAA)
Spares, Extras & Add-ons
Astro includes 2 sets of installed props & 4 landing gear legs
Astro Spare Parts Kit
Assortment of spare parts
Astro Max Spare Propeller Set
1 each, clockwise and counter-clockwise props
NDAA FPV System for Astro
First Person View camera and USB memory relocation kit
RTK Ground Station
Centimeter-level location accuracy with user-supplied ground station computer
Freefly Armor
Exclusive protecion plan for your Freefly drone
Freefly Armor
Double your factory warranty, pre-pay for an annual check-up and get 10% off training and service.
Training
Astro Training
Learn the basics and advanced skills on the Astro platform.
Date
1-Day Astro Training (Freefly HQ, Date TBD) ($1,200.00)
- 1-Day Astro Training (Freefly HQ) October 17th ($1,200.00)
- 1-Day Astro Training (Freefly HQ, Date TBD) ($1,200.00)