26 · MT 2/2022 Feature the system, designed for larger ships. This larger variant is currently only being used to assist ocean-going vessels with safe navigation, but a fully autonomous operations capability for the larger Autonomast is also under development. The system has already been installed in the latest firefighting (FiFi) and search-and-rescue (SAR) variant of the company’s Venus series of autonomous, unmanned surface vessels (USVs). A scale model of the new variant was on display at the airshow, alongside two different models of the Venus 16 mine countermeasures USV. Also showcased was a model of the Mercury autonomous underwater vehicle, which is designed to detect and classify mines. The Mercury, as well as the three Venus variants, are all in operation. Skylark 3 Hybrid Meanwhile, Elbit Systems unveiled a hybrid-propulsion variant of its Skylark 3 small tactical UAV. The ‘Skylark 3 Hybrid’ is equipped with both an electric and an internal combustion engine, enabling the platform to triple its flight endurance to up to 18 hours, with no changes to its size, said the company, with officials adding that the innovation not only significantly increases mission effectiveness but also the cost efficiency of the platform. According to the manufacturer, the aircraft uses its combustion engine to fly rapidly to an area of interest (AOI), then switches to the electrical engine while operating above the AOI. The significantly higher endurance of the Skylark 3 Hybrid is meant to provide forces with greater capacity to hover above an AOI, noted the company, pointing out that, as a result, fewer UAVs are required to execute the same mission. The Skylark 3 Hybrid which, in common with the standard variant, is designed to provide division-, brigade- and battalion-level formations with organic airborne ISTAR capabilities, is based on the Skylark family of UAS, ordered by 27 countries to date. It has a 4.7m wingspan, a maximum take-off weight of 50kg, a service ceiling of 12,000ft and a range of 120 kilometres. For comparison, the standard Skylark 3 has a maximum take-off weight of 40kg, a ceiling of 15,000ft and a range of 100 kilometres. The new variant features a dual payload capacity, with a ‘plug and play’ interface for quick replacement of sensors in the field, and can integrate a range of payloads, including high-resolution gimbaled EO sensors, ELINT, COMINT, laser designators and others. Another Hybrid – the Black Eagle 50H Also unveiled at the show was a hybrid variant of Steadicopter’s multi- mission Black Eagle 50 VTOL UAV. Speaking to MilTech, the Israeli company’s marketing director, Or Saf, said the Black Eagle 50H not only has greater endurance (5hrs) but also a much greater payload (12kg) and higher service ceiling (16,500ft) than the combustion-engine-powered variant, which can only carry loads of up to 5kg, has an endurance of 4hrs and a service ceiling of 10,000 feet. cockpit system, enabled with an all-round camera system that provides a ‘see-through armour’ view for complete situational awareness, and stereo vision that provides positive and negative obstacle identification for enhanced closed-hatch operations. Through a number of integrated communications systems, the command vehicle can receive real-time battlefield updates from its deployed assets, including dismounted troops. To meet the increasing demand for energy required by these advanced technologies, ST Engineering is also developing a hybrid variant of the Terrex, pointing out that such a propulsion system will also decrease the vehicle’s fuel consumption, thus enabling longer-range operations. In addition, the company said that the ‘Hybrid Terrex’ will be more survivable, as its hybrid-electric drive propulsion system makes the platform quieter, enabling ‘last-mile stealth operations’ when the vehicle is operated in full electric mode. In the domain of hybrid elective drives, ST Engineering, which is working on a number of new battlefield concepts and systems, also displayed its new 4×4 hybrid cross-country utility vehicle (XUV) technology demonstrator. Designed to provide superior silent manoeuvrability, the ‘autonomous-ready’ vehicle is also equipped with a suite of sensors, such as stereo-vision cameras, LiDAR and an automotive radar. The Venus.AI Autonomast In terms of marine systems, the company revealed that it has developed a new system designed to rapidly convert any small, manned surface vessel into an unmanned platform. Displayed as a scale model, the Venus. AI Autonomast features a number of enabling technologies, such as a cyber-secure datalink, an auto-pilot, a multi-perception system featuring a combination of navigational radar and day/night camera arrays, as well as collision detection and avoidance systems incorporated with COLREGs (Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea). A company spokesperson explained the baseline model for the artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted Autonomast is about 1.3m tall, which makes it suitable for installation on small boats. There is also a 3m version of The hybrid variant of Steadicopter’s Black Eagle 50 not only has greater endurance but also a much greater payload and higher service ceiling than the combustion-engine-powered variant. (Photo: Steadicopter) TUSAS showcased a full-scale mock-up of its future Turkish Fighter, including proposed armament, at the Singapore Airshow 2022.
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