Not Just Another Reconnaissance Drone
18 February 2008 14:02
Rheinmetall showed KZO at Defexpo 2008
India's fast-growing unmanned aerial vehicle assets are currently undergoing operational integration, augmenting the country's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities and enhancing situational awareness along its land and maritime borders. Over the next few years, India will have to meet increasing demand for effective UAV systems not only from the military, but also from its paramilitary and state police forces.
In the field of airborne combat support surveillance and border security, Rheinmetall Defence offers a full range of operational advice and system design services, culminating in complete turnkey systems backed up by a comprehensive infrastructure.
At Defexpo 2008, the company will thus be showcasing the KZO, its state-of-the-art reconnaissance UAV, which the German armed forces have already successfully fielded. The KZO's unique ability to acquire real-time images by means of a powerful infrared sensor distinguishes it from pure reconnaissance drones. Launched from a container, the system features an accurate parachute landing capability on cushioned airbags.
Data on stationary and moving targets, including their location and speed, can be transmitted from the air vehicle over a distance of more than 100 km around the clock and in all weathers, even under conditions of severe electromagnetic interference.
The KZO system is based on a robust modular airborne platform which can be easily equipped with various payloads for extended applications. This fully interoperable system ensures high mobility and short turnaround times, crucial factors in achieving operational effectiveness.
The KZO's nerve centre is the Ground Control Station (GCS). Precise, real-time imagery evaluation and instantaneous distribution to all relevant echelons enable a quick and robust response from rapid reaction forces, etc. The GCS thus has several data and voice communication modes. Its system architecture permits links for automatic mission planning, control, payload management, data evaluation, information distribution and data management. Moreover, to ensure the GCS's autonomy and mobility, it can be housed in a standard truck-mounted shelter.
The GCS provides the operator with an interface for generating flight and surveillance plans for several aircraft simultaneously, reducing the time the aircraft spend on the ground, and maximizing operational flexibility and effectiveness. When the KZO is aloft, the controller in constantly kept apprised of the aircraft's position, altitude, direction of flight. Sensor data concerning possible targets and their direction of travel and speed are reported to a different controller.
Each GCS is equipped with identical workstations capable of carrying out interchangeable and expandable tasks, including mission management, flight control, sensor control, exploitation and communications interfacing.
Another Rheinmetall Defence aerial reconnaissance asset is the Opale system, which represents a new dimension in long-endurance, real-time surveillance for maritime and coastal patrol operations. The Opale is based on a licensed civil aviation aircraft with extremely low operating costs.
In the optional piloted vehicle (OPV) version it can be equipped with various electro-optical sensors, surveillance radar and AIS (an automatic identification system for maritime transportation). Transmission of information from the sensors to the ground station takes place in real time via a UHF/VHF data link or INMARSAT satellite channels.
In future, once the licensing conditions for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are defined, the OPV can be converted to an unmanned aerial vehicle by retrofitting it with a flight control computer. This would increase its already impressive endurance to as much as 30 hours.
For more information on this company:
RHEINMETALL DEFENCE ELECTRONICS - UAV Systems for Reconnaissance, Combat Support and Attack
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