Freefly Alta X Gen2: Professional Heavy-Lift Drone With 33 lb Payload Capacity, Intelligent Autonomy, and NDAA-Compliant Configuration
The Freefly Alta X Gen2 is a professional heavy-lift multirotor built for operators who need maximum payload capacity, autonomous mission capability, and a modular payload architecture that can carry whatever the mission requires. It pairs the proven Alta X carbon-fiber airframe with the custom Skynode flight controller — the same flight stack that powers the Astro Max — and delivers up to 15.1 kg (33.3 lb) of payload capacity across a platform rated to IP43-equivalent weather resistance and a -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to +122°F) operating range. For operators who have been flying the original Alta X and need a platform that grows with their mission profile, the Gen2 is the answer.
The family comes in two configurations: the Alta X Gen2 (SKU 950-00173) with Herelink radio, and the Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) (SKU 950-00174) with Doodle Labs radio — the only version with full NDAA compliance across the entire system, including airframe, Pilot Pro controller, and radio link. Both variants are operationally identical in every other respect. For government agencies, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure operators whose procurement requirements mandate component-level compliance, the NDAA variant is the one that clears the review.
From the Alta X Airframe to a Skynode Mission Computer: How the Gen2 Was Built
The Alta X Gen2 is not a new aircraft from the ground up — it is a deliberate evolution of the original Alta X platform that replaces the flight controller with the same custom Skynode used in the Astro Max, adds the Smart Dovetail quick-connect payload interface, upgrades to AS150U smart batteries for improved flight time estimation, and integrates onboard LTE and Ethernet access through a removable chassis panel system. The carbon-fiber airframe, the folding design that collapses to half its deployed size, and the ActiveBlade-compatible propeller system all carry forward from the generation that established the Alta X's reputation in the field.
The Skynode brings the flight intelligence. Auterion Enterprise PX4 handles the flight stack. Auterion Mission Control handles planning and real-time operations. Auterion Suite handles fleet-level telemetry, mission logging, and battery tracking across multiple aircraft. The supported GNSS constellation — GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo across L1/L2 bands — gives operators positioning resilience in environments where a single constellation is insufficient. Five flight modes — Manual, Altitude Hold, Position Hold, Return, and Autonomous Mission — cover the full range of deployment conditions from manual close-quarters work to fully autonomous survey and inspection routes.
Alta X Gen2 Variants and Configuration Options
- Alta X Gen2 (SKU 950-00173): standard configuration; Pilot Pro with Herelink radio; FAA compliant; Standard Remote ID pre-installed; FAA BVLOS compliant; FCC DA 25-1086 compliant; NDAA status — airframe and Pilot Pro compliant, Herelink radio not NDAA compliant; DIU Blue — airframe in process, Pilot Pro compliant, Herelink not compliant
- Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) (SKU 950-00174): full system NDAA compliance — airframe, Pilot Pro, and Doodle Labs radio all compliant; Doodle Labs radio replaces Herelink; Standard Remote ID pre-installed; FAA 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 Modular Payloads, Accessories, and Ground Support Hardware
Modular field-swappable payloads
- Freefly LR1 Payload: 61MP Sony ILX-LR1 camera on a Freefly gimbal; 24mm lens included; Smart Dovetail mount; geo-tagged JPG capture; compatible with optional LRF and thermal add-on modules; sold separately
- Freefly LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade (SKU 910-00841): add-on distance sensor module for the LR1 Payload; user-installable via expansion port; live distance readout displayed in AMC; 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; 5,242,880 points/sec; dual returns; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6; exports LAS/LAZ; 64GB USB-C drive included; 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; 1,920,000 points/sec; triple returns; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6; exports LAS/LAZ; 64GB USB-C drive included; 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; 720,000 points/sec; triple returns; non-repetitive scanning mode for power lines, cables, and complex structures; 20MP Ximea RGB camera; GNSS PPK dual full-band L1/L2/L5/L6; exports LAS/LAZ; 64GB USB-C drive included; 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
What the Alta X Gen2 Delivers in the Field
- Skynode flight controller: Freefly custom-designed; runs Auterion Enterprise PX4; same flight stack as Astro Max; precise navigation with intelligent failsafes
- 15.1 kg payload capacity: carries heavy sensors, cinema rigs, and multi-payload stacks on 12mm rails; Smart Dovetail supports modular payloads up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) via quick-connect interface
- Smart Dovetail interface: quick-connect payload swap with power and data communication pathways for Freefly and compatible third-party modular payloads
- Internal payload bay: removable chassis panels expose an Ethernet-equipped, regulated-power integration space for custom sensor and compute stacks
- Dual voltage regulation: 12V and 24V onboard regulators supply consistent power to attached accessories and modular payload electronics
- Onboard LTE: North America connectivity for remote command, telemetry, and fleet management via Auterion Suite
- Multi-constellation GNSS: GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo across L1/L2 bands for positioning resilience across environments and geographies
- IP43-equivalent protection: weather-resistant design rated -20°C to +50°C (-4°F to +122°F) for year-round field deployment
- Folding carbon-fiber airframe: folds to half deployed size; fits in included travel case with Pilot Pro and spare props
- Five flight modes: Manual, Altitude Hold, Position Hold, Return, and Autonomous Mission for the full spectrum of operational conditions
- ActiveBlade propeller compatibility: 840 × 230 mm (33 × 9 in) folding carbon fiber reinforced nylon props; M4 fastener ActiveBlade sets supported
- Auterion Mission Control: autonomous mission planning, real-time flight operations, and payload control
- Auterion Suite: fleet telemetry, mission logging, and battery cycle tracking across multi-aircraft deployments
- Standard Remote ID: pre-installed and configured for FAA compliance; supports BVLOS authorization
- NDAA variant: Doodle Labs radio achieves full system NDAA compliance — airframe, Pilot Pro, and radio link all certified
Where the Alta X Gen2 Gets Deployed
- LiDAR surveying and mapping: Flux O1, H1, and L1 payloads on Smart Dovetail deliver point cloud data from corridor mapping, infrastructure inspection, and terrain survey missions
- Critical infrastructure inspection: utility corridors, transmission towers, wind turbines, and substations where payload capacity and autonomous routing matter
- Government and defense ISR: NDAA variant satisfies federal and DoD component-level procurement requirements across the complete system
- Aerial photogrammetry: LR1 Payload on Smart Dovetail supports 61MP geo-tagged survey capture with optional laser range finding
- Industrial inspection: tank farms, flare stacks, offshore platforms, and confined approach environments requiring a stable heavy-lift platform
- Cinema and broadcast: large cinema rig integration via 12mm rails and Payload Vibration Damper with Skyview Landing Gear configuration
- EO/IR surveillance and reconnaissance: Gremsy VIO F1 delivers simultaneous 4K EO, radiometric thermal, and laser range data from a single modular payload
- BVLOS corridor and inspection missions: Skynode autonomy, Standard Remote ID, and LTE connectivity support extended range operations
Auterion Mission Control, Suite, and the Flux LiDAR Workflow
The Skynode flight controller runs Auterion Enterprise PX4 and ships with two integrated software platforms. Auterion Mission Control handles pre-mission route planning, autonomous waypoint execution, real-time telemetry monitoring, and payload control during flight. Auterion Suite provides the fleet management layer — tracking mission logs, battery cycle counts, and aircraft health data across multiple units from a centralized cloud dashboard. Both are included through the Skynode and require no additional licensing.
For operators adding a Flux LiDAR payload, the workflow runs through the Freefly Flow app on an M-series Apple iPad. After landing, the USB-C drive is removed from the scanner, data is imported into Flow with a RINEX file from the GNSS base station for PPK processing, and a visualized point cloud is available on-site — typically within minutes of a completed flight. No desktop processing pipeline is required in the field. A full-band GNSS base station (L1, L2, L5, and L6) or equivalent NTRIP service is required; dual-band GNSS alone is not sufficient.
Matching the Right Alta X Gen2 Configuration to Your Mission
- NDAA compliance requirement: if your procurement mandate requires component-level NDAA compliance across the entire system — drone, controller, and radio link — select the Alta X Gen2 (NDAA) (SKU 950-00174); the standard variant's Herelink radio is not NDAA compliant
- LiDAR payload selection: choose Flux O1 for NDAA-compliant high-density scanning (5.2M pts/sec, 200 m range); Flux H1 for survey-grade accuracy (±1 cm, 300 m range); Flux L1 for extended range and non-repetitive scanning of power lines and complex structures (450 m range)
- EO/IR requirement: Gremsy VIO F1 delivers simultaneous 4K EO, 640×512 radiometric thermal, and laser range data without swapping payloads; note this payload is not NDAA compliant
- Payload weight class: Smart Dovetail isolated mount supports modular payloads up to 1.5 kg (3.3 lb); the pre-installed 12mm rail system supports the full 15.1 kg (33.3 lb) industrial payload capacity
- Battery and charger planning: two Tattu Plus 1.0 12S 16Ah AS150U batteries are required per flight; plan for six batteries and one TA3200 dual-channel charger as the minimum operational kit per aircraft
- Service coverage: Freefly Armor extends warranty coverage to two years and includes an annual checkup, a 10% service discount, and access to Freefly Fest; must be added at time of aircraft purchase
The Alta X Gen2 family gives operators who need the highest payload capacity in a field-deployable, autonomy-capable platform a clear path from airframe selection through payload configuration and into operational deployment — without substituting mission performance for ease of procurement.
DSLRPros carries the full Alta X Gen2 lineup including both the standard and NDAA variants, the complete Flux LiDAR payload range, the Gremsy VIO F1, the LR1 Payload, the LR1 Laser Range Finder Upgrade, flight batteries, the TA3200 charger, and Freefly Armor service plans. Contact our team to configure your complete system, or order directly through the DSLRPros store.
