Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), has announced the launch of an innovative and first-of-its-kind small Unmanned Aerial System (sUAS) payload that can be used to provide NATO Standard laser target designation for laser-guided weapons.
The Teledyne FLIR StormCaster™-DX is an advanced, multi-role laser designator payload built especially for use on the FLIR R80D SkyRaider™ UAS platform. StormCaster-DX is uniquely designed to manage target areas using a Laser Spot Tracker while affecting the terminal guidance of laser guided munitions. Until now, this capability was only possible with larger UAS platforms or ground-based systems.
Potential applications for the technology range from manned or unmanned air strikes to precision-guided mortars, naval gunfire, or air-launched effects.
StormCaster-DX is an absolute gamechanger for small unit operations and represents a significant force multiplier. For the first time, warfighters will be able to survey and manage the battlefield while performing laser designation with standoff from a rucksack-portable drone, allowing faster decision-making and targeting that help ensure mission success.
We believe customers will embrace what StormCaster-DX can mean for troops in harm’s way: When seconds weigh heavily on an operation’s outcome, DX saves minutes.
Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense
User-defined target tracking on StormCaster-DX captures accurate coordinates, heading and speed of moving objects and vehicles, enabling clandestine monitoring and marking. Two FLIR Boson® 640 longwave infrared thermal cameras support missions day or night. The DX payload delivers unmatched stability in all-weather conditions and leverages class-leading payload capacity, plus multi-modal operations – tethered or untethered, mounted or dismounted – as well as Artificial Intelligence/Computer Vision-based targeting features.
Other key features of the StormCaster-DX include:
- Low Size, Weight and Power (SWaP) – Coded and compacted laser target designation from a 1250g payload using a rucksack-portable Vertical Takeoff and Landing UAS
- Non-Cooperative Laser Spot Tracking – Detect, decode, and geolocate the source or termination of off-board lasers
- Highly Accurate Coordinate Generation – Gimbal stability, laser range finder, and ATAK integration enables precise tracking, placement, and coordinate accuracy; NATO STANAG-compliant.
Source: Teledyne FLIR news release
