Airborne Technologies’ S.C.A.R.-Pod

One of the innovations of Airborne Technologies is the development of the S.C.A.R.-Pod (Self Contained Aerial Reconnaissance Pod). The light weight carbon fibre pod carries a complete surveillance mission architecture which upgrades any aircraft with hardpoints into an ISR platform. The Pod is completely self-sufficient and allows wireless operation. Data connection from pod to operator station is done via WIFI and needs no external cabling. The use of an internal – easy changeable – battery pack grants power supply for up to 10 hour mission time.

The S.C.A.R.-Pod does not need any airframe modifications on the aircraft. The lug suspensions enable immediate use on every aircraft with hard points, based on a click system. Thanks to the miniaturisation of sensors, the development of Wi-Fi technology and today’s battery packs, the S.C.A.R. Pod only needs a hardpoint which makes it a truly “plug and fly” solution.

Up to 160kg of mission equipment can be fitted and the pod offers room for an EO/IR gimbal, downlink, uplink, moving map, augmented reality system and COMINT/SIGINT equipment. The Pod can also be adapted to carry a 360-degree surveillance radar, such as the Thales I-Master. Other possible payloads include electronic warfare, SIGINT or hyperspectral survey systems. Depending on the size of the gimbal or radar, the S.C.A.R.-Pod is available in different versions and with ITAR-free mission equipment it is immediately available.

With the S.C.A.R.-Pod every aircraft and helicopter, equipped with hard points, can be made hassle-free into a surveillance aircraft – “Plug & Fly”. Although the S.C.A.R.-Pod is an “out of the box solution” it turns out to be very flexible in fulfilling special customer needs. The onboard crew can operate the sensor with a tablet or laptop, so that no console need to be installed. Alternatively, the sensor can be remotely controlled from a ground station via a high-definition line-of-sight- datalink.

Since its presentation, Airborne Technologies has sold several units and the S.C.A.R.-Pod continues to attract great interest from the international surveillance community.

With a new office complex and an additional Hangar at Wiener Neustadt East airport in Austria, the company is rapidly expanding. It has won a number of significant orders for its customized turnkey solutions from international police and military forces.

DPM