Thales and Skydweller to jointly develop innovative aerial surveillance solution

Skydweller and Thales are strengthening their collaboration by equipping Skydweller’s unmanned solar-powered aircraft (MAPS) with a new solution consisting of the AirMaster S radar, equipped with Artificial Intelligence features allowing optimal and autonomous adaptation to the specific flight conditions.

Thales will equip the MAPS Skydweller with the AirMaster S radar system and its advanced SMART RADAR capabilities, whose intelligent functions have already been proven on board the ATL2 maritime patrol aircraft. Operating in X-band with AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array Antenna) technology, the AirMaster S radar offers significant operational advantages such as immediate and accurate assessment of land, air or sea situation.

The radar also features auto-tuning capabilities based on flight and mission conditions, perfectly suited to the Skydweller drone's persistence in flight. Its AI-based target classification feature can detect points of interest among a large volume of data and reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted to the ground.

Thanks to its ability to fly uninterrupted for weeks to months, the MAPS Skydweller solar-powered unmanned aircraft allows a permanent presence in sensitive areas. It complements the resources already available (satellites, other types of drones, aircraft, etc.) and makes it possible to redirect resources according to the missions.