The 17 kg module is installed on large air transport and drones, and its sensors cover an actual area of 16 square meters. km at an altitude of 3.6 km.
Logos Technologies, the US subsidiary of Elbit Systems, unveiled its new BlackKite IR module that enables large-scale video transmission for military drones for the first time at the EDGE 23 event. Shephard Media spoke about this project.
According to the developers, the BlackKite IR module is capable of displaying, tracking and recording hundreds of moving targets in an area the size of a city – at an altitude of 3.6 km, the displayed area is 16 square meters. km. The module itself is a suspended “gondola” weighing about 17 kg for installation on airplanes, helicopters and heavy drones.
It was used in various experimental missions to detect and identify objects during a demonstration at the Yuma test site in Arizona (USA). BlackKite IR is provisionally installed on a US Group 4 UAV serving as future Air Launched Effects (ALE) UAVs. Drones in this class weigh more than 600 kg and rise to a height of more than 5.5 km.
“We showed how our lightweight BlackKite module can be used for long-range detection of enemy vehicles and air defense systems,” said Doug Rombow, Logos Technologies VP of Business Development. “While the Group 4 UAV is only intended to replace the ALE, we also demonstrated that our BlackKite module is platform independent and can work with full-fledged Group 4 UAVs.”
In December 2022, the MQ-9A Reaper drone with NATO Pod capsule passed the first tests. This module consists of a variety of sensors designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, and also allows for the introduction of technologies developed outside of the United States.
In April, they wrote that the Teal 2 drone could help the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroy Russian troops. Representatives of the Red Cat manufacturing company met with NATO officials to discuss the transfer of such UAVs to the Ukrainians.
Source: Focus
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