U NMANNED AERIAL strated the ability to provide persistent lowaltitude reconnaissance, which enables the UAV is required to loiter individually or in groups over trouble spots and provide data or communications relay. For a vehicle of the ScanEagle’s size (4 ft long with a 10 ft wingspan), the payload and endurance combination of the system is largely unmatched by any other unmanned system. It features advanced stealth characteristics at very low altitudes with low acoustic, visual, and infrared range signature, an advanced muffler, a modular design, low personnel requirements and 24-hour endurance. As a standard payload the systems carries either an inertial stabilized EO or IR camera, gimballed to allow the operator to track both stationary and moving targets. Earlier this month it was announced by Insitu Pacific and Selex Galileo that they would be collaborating on rapid integration of Selex Galileo’s high-resolution syntheticaperture radar (SAR) PicoSAR into the Integrator UAV in order to meet the needs of the ADF. The Integrator UAV, also known as
the Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS), builds on the design of the ScanEagle, which it is expected to supplement persistent maritime and land-based reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) missions. The US Navy signed a two-year deal with Insitu in mid2010 for the design, development and integration of the system, and it is highly likely
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Project Watchkeeper will be delivered to the British Army by Thales UK © Thales
that existing ScanEagle users will be interested in the enhanced capabilities offered by the new system. Integrator features multi-function ball turret enabling sensors to be selected and changed during the mission, while cross-