Textron Systems Unmanned Systems has provided Aerosonde Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) to the US Department of Interior and US Forest Service to support a wildfire response and decision support effort in Idaho, the company announced on 1 October.
The aircraft sensors provided personnel with real-time data on burn intensity, fire growth, fuels and heat concentrations.
In addition to the UAS, Textron Systems provided remote video terminal systems, including its iCommand suite, that enabled the delivery of imagery and situational awareness from the SUAS directly and securely to personnel and firefighters on the ground.
The iCommand suite gives incident commanders a comprehensive view of the situation, offering a visualisation and command-and-control tool to see a common operational picture and giving the ability to task responders in real time.
David Phillips, vice president, small/medium-endurance UAS, Textron Systems, said: ‘Unmanned systems can operate where it may be unsafe or impractical for manned aircraft to fly. Our Aerosonde aircraft is able to carry numerous sensors in a single flight, providing a variety of critical data points in real time, while personnel remain at a safe standoff distance.
'Quiet operation and a small equipment footprint also help support these time-critical response missions. It has been an honour for us to assist local and federal officials with this valuable demonstration on an issue that impacts so many of our Western states.’
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Advancements in air defence technologies have begun to reshape aerial combat dynamics in the Middle East, as illustrated by recent events involving the Israeli Air Force and Hezbollah.
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Funded by the country’s former president, the new C-UAS systems will be sent to the frontline where they have already been tested against Russian invading forces.
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