What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?
Although the Replicator initiative has made several accomplishments, there are still multiple gaps to plug across the US Department of Defense (DoD) and its services.
TK-7 Firewatch sensor for Aerosonde UAS
Textron Systems Unmanned Systems will offer Overwatch Imaging’s TK-7 Firewatch precision survey sensor on the Aerosonde UAS following recent successful demonstration flights.
The TK-7 is a multi-spectrum precision survey payload designed to provide advanced precision mapping and multi-image orthophoto capabilities that are able to quickly synthesise high fidelity aerial imagery and detect anomalies including hot-spots for wildfire mapping.
The sensor uses nadir-oriented multi-megapixel colour focal plane array (FPA) and co-boresighted infrared (IR) sensors integrated with an onboard image processing system. Coupled with geospatial information systems knowledge workflows developed by Textron Systems, the TK-7 Firewatch payload capability is able to provide time-critical analytics and reporting.
Dennis Racine, civil and commercial senior director, Textron Systems, said: ‘By integrating this sensor onto the Aerosonde UAS, we believe this will be a differentiator in the emerging civil and commercial application space by providing a more advanced and cost effective method to complete precision survey.
‘By supporting real-time situational awareness, which increases the safety and effectiveness of our wildland fire incident responders, the TK-7 represents a new disruptive capability platform and fills a technology gap for a core area in multiple civil and industry applications.’
Aerosonde can be outfitted with sensors to give responders real-time data on fire growth, burn intensity, fuels and heat concentrations. The UAS can carry numerous payloads in a single flight; such as advanced electro-optic/infrared payloads for day-and-night persistent oversight of the impacted area, precision survey imaging, as well as communications relay to extend the reach of responders’ communications in difficult and dangerous terrain.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![What's next for the Pentagon after the Replicator programme?]()
-
![Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)]()
Cummings Aerospace showcases Hellhound loitering munition designed for US Army’s LASSO programme (video)
Cummings Aerospace presented its turbojet-powered Hellhound loitering munition at SOF Week 2025, offering a man-portable solution aligned with the US Army’s LASSO requirements.
-
![SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale]()
SOF Week 2025: PDW unveils attritable FPV drone for SOF operations at scale
PDW has revealed its Attritable Multirotor First Person View drone at SOF Week 2025, offering special operations forces a low-cost, rapidly deployable platform for strike and ISR missions, inspired by battlefield lessons from Ukraine.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions]()
SOF Week 2025: Teledyne FLIR white paper provides guidance on reusable loitering munitions
Teledyne FLIR is highlighting the emerging requirements for 'recoverable and re-usable' loitering munitions across the contemporary operating environment during this week’s SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida.
-
![SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America]()
SOF Week 2025: Kraken Technology group debuts K3 Scout USV in North America
High-performance maritime industry player Kraken Technology Group, based in the UK, has used the SOF Week conference in Tampa, Florida this week to debut its K3 Scout uncrewed surface vessel (USV) to the North American market.
-
![Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military]()
Palladyne AI and Red Cat to demonstrate capabilities for autonomous drone swarms to the US military
Red Cat and Palladyne AI recently conducted a cross-platform collaborative flight involving three diverse heterogeneous drones.
