$10 Million for Advanced Multi-Mission Capable Drone
FLIR Systems has announced the award of a $10 million (€8.9 million) order from the US Marine Corps for “dozens” of its R80D SkyRaider small UAS (sUAS) systems. Deliveries will be completed by Q3/2020.
Developed for US defence and federal government customers, the R80D SkyRaider is the company’s most advanced military UAS. Its long-range, high-resolution EO/IR imaging sensors provide day and night situational awareness, while the platform can carry and deliver external loads up to 4.4lbs for forward resupply, asset extraction and other specialized missions. SkyRaider also features some of the most powerful embedded AI processing available on an sUAS system.
“The R80D SkyRaider is a superior asset for highly mobile expeditionary and multi-mission combat operations, such as those that put Marines at the tip of the spear,” commented David Proulx, VP of Product Management for the Unmanned Systems & Integrated Solutions business at FLIR. “We’ve worked hard to develop a smart, versatile sUAS aircraft with next-generation capabilities.”
The R80D SkyRaider delivers a range of Group 2-3 payload capabilities with the agility and single-operator deployment footprint of a proven Group 1 VTOL aircraft. Its advanced edge-of-network processing enables object detection and classification, semi-autonomous flight and the ability to thrive in GPS- or communications-denied environments. The system supports payloads specific to US government operations while incorporating enhanced cybersecurity measures that aid operational security.
