A Teledyne Technologies Inc. subsidiary has introduced a payload for its small drone that can be used to provide target designation for laser-guided weapons.
The StormCaster-DX from Teledyne Flir Defense is an advanced laser designator payload built especially for use on the Flir R80D SkyRaider drone aircraft, according to a release from Teledyne, the Thousand Oaks aerospace, marine and digital imaging products manufacturer.
StormCaster-DX is designed to manage target areas using a Laser Spot Tracker while performing the terminal guidance for laser-guided munitions. Until now, this capability was only possible with larger drones or ground-based systems, the company’s release said.
Potential applications for the technology range from manned or unmanned air strikes to precision-guided mortars, naval gunfire or air-launched attacks, the release added.
Users can define target tracking, with the StormCaster-DX capturing coordinates, heading and speed of moving objects and vehicles. Two infrared thermal cameras support missions day or night. The sensors work with a drone that is tethered with a cable or free-flying untethered,
JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne Flir Defense, called the StormCaster a gamechanger for small drone military operations.
“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,” Lei said in a statement. “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.”