TEKEVER and CRFS Unveil Advanced UAS Enhancing Target Geolocation Capabilities

Global unmanned systems technology leader TEKEVER and ultra-sensitive RF receiver pioneer CRFS have achieved a significant milestone in their collaboration. Together, they have introduced the first sub-tactical unmanned aerial system (UAS) equipped with highly sensitive RF sensors designed for precise geolocation of ground-based targets over long distances.

The TEKEVER AR5, boasting a 20-hour endurance range, a 50 kg payload capacity, and a cruise speed of 100 km/h, now incorporates the CRFS RFeye Node. This lightweight and rugged RF receiver, featuring a 100MHz IBW and a frequency range of up to 40GHz, enables the geolocation of ground-based targets beyond the horizon. The integration significantly enhances intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.

Capable of taking off from short, unpaved airstrips, the wide-area surveillance AR5 is easily deployable. When coupled with ruggedized RF sensors optimized for size, weight, and power (SWaP) with an IP67 form factor, the UAS provides unparalleled spectrum monitoring, detection, signal capture, and geolocation through time difference of arrival (TDoA) capabilities.

The partnership between TEKEVER and CRFS introduces a versatile asset for end-users, covering vast land or sea areas with applications spanning maritime surveillance, search and rescue, border monitoring, military ISR, and regulatory spectrum monitoring. The drone’s elevated operational altitude results in an expanded signal collection radius, offering unprecedented operational range gains and enabling innovative concepts of operation.

For advanced capabilities, the integrated UAS can be combined with existing ground-based units to establish an adaptable multidomain network of receivers for superior passive ISR coverage over extensive areas. This holds particular significance in active combat zones, where increased altitude facilitates signal detection at greater distances from the front line.

Dr. Pio Szyjanowicz, COO of CRFS, emphasized the collaboration’s technical achievements, stating, “To make this happen, our engineering teams have combined their ingenuity and agility to overcome the technical challenges that are inevitable when integrating high-performance electronics systems on an airframe. One of the most significant was that UAS have a significant number of transmitters onboard, that have the potential to interfere with the highly sensitive RFeye receiver payload. Achieving the optimal solution in terms of antenna position and RF filtering is just one example of the excellent teamwork between TEKEVER and CRFS.”

Tiago Nunes, Product Director at TEKEVER, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of the partnership: “The partnership between TEKEVER and CRFS is a testament to the power of collaboration. It’s a game-changer, offering end-users an incredibly versatile asset that can cover vast land and sea areas. The possibilities are limitless, from maritime surveillance, search and rescue, border monitoring, to military ISR, and even regulatory spectrum monitoring.”

This collaboration between TEKEVER and CRFS represents a perfect union of expertise and technology, resulting in a solution that raises the bar for long range surveillance drones.

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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry.  Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.

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