TEKEVER and CRFS Unveil Advanced UAS Enhancing Goal Geolocation Capabilities
Global unmanned systems technology leader TEKEVER and ultra-sensitive RF receiver pioneer CRFS have achieved a big milestone of their collaboration. Together, they’ve introduced the primary sub-tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) equipped with highly sensitive RF sensors designed for precise geolocation of ground-based targets over long distances.
The TEKEVER AR5, boasting a 20-hour endurance range, a 50 kg payload capability, and a cruise speed of 100 km/h, now incorporates the CRFS RFeye Node. This lightweight and rugged RF receiver, featuring a 100MHz IBW and a frequency range of as much as 40GHz, enables the geolocation of ground-based targets beyond the horizon. The mixing significantly enhances intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Able to taking off from short, unpaved airstrips, the wide-area surveillance AR5 is well deployable. When coupled with ruggedized RF sensors optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP) with an IP67 form factor, the UAS provides unparalleled spectrum monitoring, detection, signal capture, and geolocation through time difference of arrival (TDoA) capabilities.
The partnership between TEKEVER and CRFS introduces a flexible asset for end-users, covering vast land or sea areas with applications spanning maritime surveillance, search and rescue, border monitoring, military ISR, and regulatory spectrum monitoring. The drone’s elevated operational altitude ends in an expanded signal collection radius, offering unprecedented operational range gains and enabling progressive concepts of operation.
For advanced capabilities, the integrated UAS might be combined with existing ground-based units to determine an adaptable multidomain network of receivers for superior passive ISR coverage over extensive areas. This holds particular significance in lively combat zones, where increased altitude facilitates signal detection at greater distances from the front line.
Dr. Pio Szyjanowicz, COO of CRFS, emphasized the collaboration’s technical achievements, stating, “To make this occur, our engineering teams have combined their ingenuity and agility to beat the technical challenges which can be inevitable when integrating high-performance electronics systems on an airframe. Probably the most significant was that UAS have a big variety of transmitters onboard, which have the potential to interfere with the highly sensitive RFeye receiver payload. Achieving the optimal solution by way of antenna position and RF filtering is only one example of the wonderful teamwork between TEKEVER and CRFS.”
Tiago Nunes, Product Director at TEKEVER, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the partnership: “The partnership between TEKEVER and CRFS is a testament to the ability of collaboration. It’s a game-changer, offering end-users an incredibly versatile asset that may cover vast land and sea areas. The chances are limitless, from maritime surveillance, search and rescue, border monitoring, to military ISR, and even regulatory spectrum monitoring.”
This collaboration between TEKEVER and CRFS represents an ideal union of experience and technology, leading to an answer that raises the bar for long range surveillance drones.
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