MKU - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

MKU, the flagship company of the GKG Group, is the leading Indian manufacturer of defence protection systems. In just 20 years, it has emerged as the preferred choice for the defence needs of many armies, police forces and other special forces worldwide.

MKU's four state-of-the-art factories – spread over 200,000ft² – complement its abilities to manufacture and deliver products within strict timelines. MKU aims high in the face of tomorrow's challenges with defence solutions that will redefine industry benchmarks.

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

As part of its recent expansion of product and service offerings to the defence and security establishments, MKU decided to make a strategic move to enter the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems (UAVS) business. MKU completed development and testing of its first two products and launched them in 2007.

MKU's UAVS are designed around two basic philosophies:

• Utilising cutting-edge technology to provide the client with state-of-the-art capabilities
• Autonomous operation with an easy-to-use, intuitive interface so that the user can focus on the mission at hand

At MKU we believe that innovation, testing and quality-control are the building blocks of a successful product and enterprise. Consequently, MKU invests heavily in research, development and process management.

UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE SYSTEM MISSIONS

Unmanned aerial vehicle systems are ideally suited for missions that are:

• Dull – extended flight times
• Dirty – contaminated environments
• Dangerous – hazardous environments

UAVS offer significant advantages over manned systems in terms of capital and operational costs. Typically UAVS operational costs are single-digit percentages of similar manned operations.

UAVS can be deployed remotely and offer flexibility in tasking as compared to manned or satellite-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems. They also offer an enormous coverage footprint as compared to ground-based surveillance and reconnaissance systems. Highly adaptable, they can operate in very diverse environments.

UAVS R&D, FLIGHT-TESTING AND PRODUCTION

MKU's UAVS division currently has an R&D and production centre in Bangalore, India. Besides this we are in the process of setting up an integrated R&D, production and flight-test facility on the outskirts of Bangalore.

UAVS GROUND AND FLIGHT TESTING

Every aircraft passes through a rigorous ground test followed by a minimum of two comprehensive test flights. Only after it has cleared every single test with 100% success is the aircraft system deemed ready for customer delivery.

TACTICAL ELECTRICAL RECONNAISSANCE PROBE

The Tactical Electrical Reconnaissance Probe (TERP) is an ultra-portable, high-performance UAV designed for frontline operations. It is ideally suited for urban environments and terrain following environments. Its composite fuselage and non-reflective paint make it virtually undetectable to the naked eye.

The TERP features visual image-based targeting and tracking, retractable gimballed cameras and high-altitude capability; it is also ultra-portable.

The TERP is ideal for:

• Civil defence perimeter monitoring
• Border control
• Remote surveillance and reconnaissance
• Over-the-hill monitoring
• Situational awareness
• Disaster management
• Search and rescue operations
• Road patrol
• Convoy protection

ERASMUS TACTICAL / STRATEGIC UAVS

The Erasmus UAVS is a high-performance composite, pusher UAV designed for surveillance and reconnaissance operations. With an operational altitude of 6,000ft to 8,000ft AMSL, it is ideally suited for remote deployments with long loiter times on station.

Key features of the Erasmus include:

• Diverse payloads
• Extended loiter times
• Pilot's view take-off and landing system
• Visual image-based targeting and tracking

The Erasmus UAVS provides a sophisticated platform that can be adapted for a wide variety of diverse missions. At the same time it provides an intuitive user-interface for the operator command and control, and mission interface.

The Erasmus UAVS operates autonomously, freeing up the operator to focus on mission objectives.

Typical situations where the Erasmus plays a role are:

• Border control
• Remote surveillance and reconnaissance
• Strategic situational awareness
• Disaster management
• Targeting and tracking
• Search and rescue
• Convoy protection
• Highway monitoring
• Surveying and mapping

VISUAL IMAGE-BASED TRACKING AND TARGETING SYSTEM

Both the Erasmus and TERP have a visual image-based tracking and targeting system, which allow the operator to designate a target that is visible through the camera. Thereafter, they focus on that target and follow it relentlessly whether it is stationary or moving.