Leonardo Demonstrates SW-4 ‘Solo’ Unmanned Rotorcraft And Airborne Systems At Unmanned Warrior 2016

Leonardo-Finmeccanica has demonstrated its advanced SW-4 ‘Solo’ Rotary Unmanned Air System as well as its airborne sensors such as SAGE electronic warfare and Osprey E-Scan radar systems integrated using its skyISTAR mission management system at the Unmanned Warrior 2016.

The airborne sensors integrated with skyISTAR mission management system supports intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Unmanned Warrior provided Leonardo the opportunity to demonstrate to the Royal Navy and other international observers the capabilities of its unmanned rotorcraft and airborne systems in a tactically representative maritime environment.

Admiral Sir Philip Jones, Chief of Naval Staff, said: “Unmanned maritime systems will change how we operate, but they’re just the start. Our pursuit of new technologies and ideas will ensure we remain one of the most capable and successful navies in the world.”

The SW-4 ‘Solo’ Rotary Unmanned Air System (RUAS) is based on SW-4 light single engine helicopter. It is designed for both piloted (Optionally Piloted Helicopter, OPH) and unmanned operations, for maximum operational flexibility.

The RUAS version of the SW-4 is capable of performing a number of roles, including surveillance and reconnaissance and cargo re-supply, in both land and naval environments. When piloted, the SW-4 ‘Solo’ can undertake manned activities including transportation of personnel, surveillance and intervention. The SW-4 is EASA certified, ensuring safe operations when operating in the manned and unmanned modes.

SAGE is an Electronic Warfare support system for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It passively collects data from Radio Frequency (RF) emitters at a tactically significant range, compares them with an emitter library identifying and geo-locating any threats. The system is sufficiently flexible to be integrated onto a very wide range of aerial vehicles including fixed and rotary wing aircraft, plus unmanned aerial systems. SAGE is available for export for rotary and fixed wing platform applications.