In a bold step for Brazil’s defense and aerospace industries, Nest Design Aerospace has officially introduced the ATD-150 — the first 100% domestically designed jet-powered unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in the country’s history. Developed as an advanced aerial target drone, the ATD-150 is intended primarily for the Brazilian Armed Forces but is also being marketed to international users seeking realistic, high-speed threat emulation in training scenarios.
Nest Design Aerospace revealed the ATD-150 at LAAD 2025, Latin America’s largest defense and security exhibition, held in Rio de Janeiro. The system’s unveiling marks a significant milestone for Brazil’s aerospace sector, highlighting its growing capability to produce high-performance defense technology independent of foreign platforms.
Designed, engineered, and assembled entirely within Brazil, the ATD-150 represents a strategic effort to establish self-reliance in critical military technologies. According to Nest Design Aerospace, the project demonstrates the country’s ability to create a high-speed, jet-powered unmanned aircraft system capable of simulating modern aerial threats with high fidelity. The aircraft’s primary mission is to serve as a target drone during training and weapons testing exercises, providing the military with a dynamic and adaptable platform to prepare for real-world engagements.
The ATD-150 is specifically built to challenge air defense crews, pilots, and radar operators by mimicking the performance and radar signatures of enemy aircraft and cruise missiles. This capability addresses a long-standing gap in the Brazilian Armed Forces’ training infrastructure, which until now has depended on propeller-driven UAVs or imported solutions to simulate jet-powered threats.
The ATD-150’s specifications suggest a versatile and capable airframe. With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 150 kilograms and a payload capacity of 15 kilograms, the aircraft operates at altitudes between 10,000 and 15,000 feet, with a service ceiling of 20,000 feet. The platform reaches cruise speeds of Mach 0.6 under standard atmospheric conditions at FL150 (approximately 15,000 feet) and ISA+35 temperature settings — placing it squarely within the performance envelope of many subsonic fighter jets and cruise missiles.
Powering the UAV is the TM TJ-200 turbojet engine, a domestically developed propulsion system from Brazilian manufacturer Turbomachine. This engine operates on Jet A-1 or aviation kerosene, aligning with global fuel standards. Nest Design Aerospace has emphasized that the ATD-150’s configuration enables high-speed, complex threat simulation that supports a wide range of defense training objectives.
The ATD-150’s design supports a broad array of mission types relevant to modern defense operations:
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Air strike training
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Air-to-air engagement drills
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Air defense system testing and validation
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Cruise missile threat emulation
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Electronic warfare and missile intercept exercises
The drone also supports intelligence and data collection roles during live-fire evaluations, offering key insights into weapon system performance. Its suite of onboard systems includes programmable waypoint navigation, smoke generators for visual tracking, automated evasive maneuvers, and a Miss Distance Indicator (MDI) that records the proximity of intercepts.
Additionally, the drone is equipped with passive RF signal enhancement, infrared (IR) signature generation, and real-time video transmission. Operators can choose between manual, semi-autonomous, or fully autonomous control depending on mission complexity and environmental conditions.
What sets the ATD-150 apart is not just its performance, but its origin. Nest Design Aerospace has emphasized the indigenous nature of the platform, built entirely within Brazil’s defense industrial base. The company sees this project as part of a broader national ambition to reduce reliance on imported military technology and increase Brazil’s presence in the international defense market.
The ATD-150 is also a modular system, allowing for configuration changes that match different training requirements. This flexibility enhances its export potential, as international clients can adapt the UAV to suit their specific operational doctrines and system compatibility needs.
LAAD 2025 served as the public launchpad for the ATD-150, where Nest Design Aerospace showcased the drone to military officials, industry representatives, and potential clients from across Latin America and beyond. The aircraft reportedly drew significant attention, with many attendees already familiar with the platform thanks to the company’s pre-event promotional campaign and growing industry reputation.
Nest Design Aerospace stated that the event helped advance strategic conversations with potential partners, suppliers, and defense agencies. These engagements are part of the company’s broader plan to internationalize the ATD-150 and elevate Brazil’s profile in the competitive global UAV market.
According to Nest Design Aerospace, the ATD-150 is nearing its initial operational readiness phase. All major development steps — including structural integration, system testing, and performance evaluation — are reportedly progressing smoothly. The company has released promotional videos and technical material highlighting the UAV’s development journey and expects to release detailed performance footage in the coming months.
This trajectory positions the ATD-150 for near-term fielding by the Brazilian Armed Forces, with potential test campaigns to validate its effectiveness in real-world training scenarios.
The ATD-150 is not Brazil’s first foray into jet-powered unmanned aviation, but it is the first to reach near-operational status as a fully national system. The earliest documented attempt was the CBT BQM-1BR, developed in 1983 by Companhia Brasileira de Tratores (CBT) in partnership with the Department of Aerospace Science and Technology. Though innovative for its time, the project was short-lived. Only two aircraft were built, and political and economic instability led to its cancellation.
More recently, Brazil has explored advanced air-breathing propulsion through projects like the 14-X scramjet, developed by the Institute of Advanced Studies (IEAv). Flight-tested in 2021 as part of the PropHiper program, the scramjet reached altitudes over 160 kilometers, reflecting Brazil’s continued interest in cutting-edge propulsion and aerospace autonomy.
While the ATD-150 is a first in the jet-powered category, Brazil has a growing history of UAV development.
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SantosLab Carcará – A hand-launched, portable UAV for reconnaissance used by the Navy.
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FT Sistemas FT-100 Horus – A tactical drone with a range of up to 15 kilometers, used by both the Army and Navy. Exported to an African military in 2015.
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Caçador UAV – A MALE (Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance) drone developed through a technology partnership with Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI), capable of 40-hour missions.
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XMobots Apoena and Nauru series – Civilian-oriented UAVs with endurance up to 8 hours, including the first private UAVs certified for experimental flight by ANAC.
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Avibras Falcão and Stella Tecnologia Atobá XR – Larger UAVs for ISR and strike roles, with advanced sensor integration and endurance exceeding 16–35 hours.
These projects highlight a diverse UAV ecosystem in Brazil, ranging from tactical field units to complex surveillance platforms. However, none have matched the ATD-150’s combination of domestic design, jet propulsion, and training-focused mission set.
With the ATD-150, Brazil positions itself among a small group of nations capable of producing high-speed target drones—an increasingly relevant market as air defense systems and combat aircraft become more sophisticated.
Export prospects are strong, particularly among nations seeking cost-effective alternatives to U.S., European, or Israeli-built target drones. By emphasizing local production, competitive pricing, and operational flexibility, Nest Design Aerospace aims to appeal to buyers in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and potentially NATO-aligned countries looking for supplemental training assets.
The unveiling of the ATD-150 marks a pivotal moment for Brazil’s aerospace industry. It is not only a technical achievement but also a statement of intent: that Brazil can and will build advanced defense systems tailored to its strategic needs and export ambitions.
