ECA Group unveiles at Milipol its new UAW - Unmanned Aerial Watchtower

The IT180 captive drone (IT180-999) is based on the IT180 electric drone. This has been modified to connect the drone to the ground by a thin cable which unwinds from a winch on the ground. The cable supplies the drone with energy and is used for communication, turning the airborne drone into a surveillance point over a wide perimeter from an altitude of 100-150 meters. The captive drone allows continuous surveillance of events, demonstrations and sensitive sites. It can also, for example, serve as a radio relay or constitute a local GSM network.

As required, The IT180-999 can be fixed, for sites requiring permanent surveillance, or operated from a mobile land or maritime base. The IT180-999 presented at MILIPOL is mounted on a mobile pick-up-type base.

Deployment of the drone and its recovery from the pick-up are fully automated. The operator activates the system without getting out of the vehicle and, in the shelter of the vehicle, receives a video feed from the drone 150 meters up in the air.

The system presented at MILIPOL is unique in the world. It was partially financed by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) through a RAPID program. The French armed forces are interested in these solutions, both for implementation from land vehicles and for use from naval platforms.