The FlyEye UAS on display at MSPO 2023. (Janes/Amael Kotlarski)
The Polish defence procurement agency, Agencja Uzbrojenia, has signed a contract with WB Electronics for the delivery of FlyEye unmanned aircraft systems (UASs).
Speaking to Janes at the International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO 2023 held in Kielce, Poland, a WB Group spokesperson told Janes that more than 400 FlyEye UASs would be delivered – each complete system consists of four FlyEye aerial vehicles and up to two control stations. The number of aerial vehicles involved in the deal was later confirmed in an Agencja Uzbrojenia statement, which noted that close to 1,700 aircraft will be delivered. The framework agreement will run up to 2035.
The FlyEye is a hand-launched, motor glider aircraft powered by an electric motor. With a wingspan of 3.6 m and a length of 1.8 m, the FlyEye has a stated endurance of more than 2.5 h. As the electric motor only operates during the take-off phase and altitude changes, with the right environmental conditions, the FlyEye can remain aloft for extended periods of time. WB Electronics has conducted tests that achieved in excess of 18 hours of continuous flight.
The electro-optical (EO) payload, mounted on the underside of the fuselage, can be jettisoned as part of the landing procedure and falls to the ground via a parachute to avoid damage during belly landing of the aircraft. After the payload is released, the aircraft enters a spiral descent profile and lands in the immediate vicinity of the payload to ease the recovery of the system.
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