IAI develops hybrid ground and air robotic system for border patrol

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has developed a new hybrid ground and air robotic system, which integrates both land and aerial capabilities, and can be used for border patrol, reconnaissance and surveillance defence.

Customised to meet operational needs, the complete system enables continuous operation in complex and challenging environments and conditions while ensuring the security and safety of human life and supporting the future battlefield changes and growing threats.

The IAI hybrid ground and air robotic system is based on the RoBattle unmanned ground vehicles (UGV) and the BirdEye 650D remotely piloted aircraft (RPA).

The combination of the two systems offers an end-to-end solution, which supports continuous work at challenging areas with non-line of sight (NLOS) conditions.

Each of the platforms can be used as a communication repeater to the other and offer precise target acquisition using the different domain payloads.

The comprehensive system will help support a wide range of complex missions, such as ambushes, intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance (ISR), target detection and remote threat neutralisation.

IAI executive vice-president and IAI Military Aircraft Group general manager Shaul Shahar said: “The RoBattle and BirdEye 650D integration is another major step forward in unmanned solutions and centric network.

“The synergy between the different domain platforms allows us to use the advantages of each one of them, and provide respond adequately to the challenges of the future battlefield.”

The RoBattle UGV is an operational all-terrain autonomous vehicle which features enhanced manoeuvrability and is designed to address challenging missions under tough conditions quickly and efficiently.

The BirdEye 650D RPA is an advanced, small tactical unmanned aerial system (STUAS), which can be deployed to conduct varied missions, such as intelligence collection, surveillance and reconnaissance at a range of up to 150km.

The aerial vehicle facilitates continuous communication between the RoBattle UGV and the command post.