A mock-up of the V-200 Block 20 at the Pacific 2019 exposition in Sydney. (IHS Markit/Ridzwan Rahmat)
UMS Skeldar is showcasing a variant of its V-200 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that has been configured to carry a Visual Detection and Ranging (ViDAR) sensor payload at the Pacific 2019 international maritime exposition.
It is the first time that the variant is being showcased to the public, said David Willems, vice-president of business development and strategy at the company, in an interview with Jane’s at the exposition. The variant has been designated at the V-200 Block 20.
The V-200 Block 20 has also been optimised for the maritime environment and features several improvements over the previous version, the V-200B. These include an airframe that is about 10 kg lighter, improved avionics, and more ruggedised features to withstand conditions at sea, said Willems.
However, the most important improvement is the type of sensor payload it offers, Willems added. “Especially for customers in Southeast Asia, where we have challenges with maritime crime and piracy, the ViDAR sensor is a much better equipment for monitoring vast maritime areas over conventional electro-optical and infra-red (EO/IR) sensors,” he said.
Besides an eight-camera ViDAR payload that can monitor targets as far as 20 n miles in each direction, the V-200 Block 20 can also be equipped with phased array antennas to convey data and visuals in real time to its ship-based operator.
The UAV has an endurance of 5.5 hours with a 45 kg payload, and a maximum range of about 150 km. It can attain a maximum altitude of 12,000 ft, although most surveillance missions are conducted from a height of about 1,000 ft, said Willems.
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