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62 Bennington said the technology will benefit from economies of scale. “If we can sell thousands of units – which is what we anticipate doing, many thousands – then the price goes down to tens of dollars per cartridge,” he said. Cella is also working with Safran on bigger systems to provide onboard back- up power for aerospace. Dutch UAV supplier HighEye has redesigned its HEF30 UAV platform to double its range and integrate video and secure communications. The 20 kg platform now supports a 4 kg payload and a three-hour flight time from the petrol engine and with a larger fuel tank, while the noise signature from the engine has been reduced. A single IP-based encrypted data link to the ground station has also been added, along with an integrated ADS-B Out Mode S transponder, video converter and payload power outputs of 5, 12 and 24 V. The designers have also added two heat exchangers to remove excess heat from the payload electronics. Lockheed Martin has updated its hand-launched UAV platform to provide all-weather operation, a longer range and integrated sensors. The Desert Hawk 3.1 upgrade extends the 60-minute flight time to 2.5 hours, and features an integrated electro-optic, infrared and laser-illumination payload rather than separate systems. The 3.7 kg craft has a wingspan of 23 cm and a top speed of 50 knots. It carries a 1 kg payload and includes autonomous GPS navigation, an RF signal geolocation module and a gimballed 360 º turret for the sensors. Updates to the landing software create a controlled stall so that it can land more accurately in an area of about 2 sq m. Selex ES launched its Falcon Shield system to counter threats from small commercially available UAVs. At DSEI, capability manager Steve Williams said the modular, scalable system integrates radar, cameras and electronic warfare capabilities to detect, track and identify such threats, leaving the decision on using the defeat mechanism to the operator. “This defeat mechanism is where we think we are class-leading,” he said. Reluctant to be drawn on whether Falcon Shield can take control of a hostile UAV, although a section of the promotional video showed a small quadcopter apparently being forced to land, Williams emphasised the need to avoid unintended consequences. “The whole premise of the system is to minimise collateral [damage], and that is only possible with intelligent mechanisms of defeat,” he said, declining to go into further detail. We asked whether Falcon Shield uses digital commands or analogue jamming. “We are looking to use all the capabilities we have within the company to deliver a robust capability,” Williams replied, emphasising Selex’s expertise in developing UAVs and control systems, and long experience in electronic warfare. Dec 2015/Jan 2016 | Unmanned Systems Technology Show report | DSEI 2015 HighEye’s HEF30 UAV now supports a 4 kg payload and has a three-hour flight time The upgraded Desert Hawk from Lockheed Martin comes with an all-weather endurance of 2.5 hours