The SkyRunner MK3.2 is the first FAA certified, Light-Sport aircraft to support DoD and CSAR missions. As the battle space continues to expand, new and innovative solutions are needed to solve complex tactical challenges. SkyRunner combines both ground and air solutions to go almost anywhere and is customizable for multiple mission sets.
Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) is an integral part of our U.S. Military mission. CSAR and RSTA (Reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition) missions are mostly carried out by Special Operations Forces (SOF) through stealth operations, using sensor-equipped wheeled armored vehicles, or light armored vehicles to deploy patrols on foot for shorter-range missions. Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) platforms support and even perform many of the key CSAR tasks on the modern battlefield to include finding, fixing, supporting, and recovering isolated personnel; thus allowing commanders to maintain battlefield synergy with manned platforms while reassuring isolated personnel that recovery is imminent.
Autonomous flight was needed to expand the SkyRunner mission profiles. The Collins Piccolo flight management system was selected to provide navigation with GPS / INS accuracy and support SkyRunner in their complex missions where a quick response and sustaining operations are needed.
Collin’s Piccolo™ Flight Management System is the industry standard, and is flying on more types of aircraft than any other autopilot. The Piccolo family of systems provides a complete solution in autopilot, navigation, flight management, and ground control; offering the highest performance available. Collins Aerospace can offer you high-clarity imaging and precision UAV flight control that work together with the seamless engineering of a single source.
Collin’s TASE400 BLK ll and TASE400 LD STANAG 3733 imaging sensors. The TASE family of systems was selected because it is battle proven, highly reliable and provides high performance EO/IR in one of the lowest Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) systems on the market. TASE sensors utilize High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), H.265 compression providing faster data transfer and better image quality. The ability to provide real-time high quality imagery is absolutely critical to defeating adversaries.
Due to shrinking force structures and decreasing military budgets, leaders must find ways to “do more with less” in the current operational environment. The US armed forces have turned to UAVs as a means of dealing with the limitations imposed on our armed forces. UAVs are increasingly becoming the weapon of choice for a variety of missions from ISR. Isolated personnel will normally not be recovered until their identity has been positively confirmed.
Currently the services maintain a variety of aircraft dedicated to personnel recovery operations in hostile environments. Because of the complex nature of this type of operation, Command and Control arrangements must be clearly defined and require a great deal of flexibility from supporting units. As such, real-time intelligence data is the critical element in determining the enemy threat level.