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UAV INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

Defense

Real-time intelligence is essential to successful field operations. EagleNXT’s eBee family of fixed-wing sUAS provides military and defense organizations with mission-specific capabilities for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), and tactical mapping.

The family includes two distinct platforms. The eBee VISION is designed for real-time ISR, delivering live Full Motion Video (FMV), thermal imaging, and day/night situational awareness. The eBee TAC is purpose-built for tactical mapping, rapidly producing high-accuracy orthomosaics and 3D terrain models to support mission planning and force coordination. Both systems are lightweight, NDAA-compliant, backpack-portable platforms with up to 90 minutes of endurance and are included on the U.S. Department of Defense Blue UAS Cleared List. However, they are optimized for different operational requirements and provide complementary, rather than interchangeable, capabilities.

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What are the benefits of sUAS to defense forces worldwide?

Improved situational awareness

sUAVs support battalion-and-below ground-maneuver guided by on-demand aerial intelligence. Small unit commanders can use real-time high-resolution maps for responsive tactical reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition.

Enhanced force protection

Unclassified aerial maps can be integrated with situation awareness tools such as ATAK for seamless communication and coordination of forces in the field.

Secure navigational routes

Tactical mapping provides commanders advance visibility for planning safe transport routes for mobilized troops. Tactical mapping on-demand (TMOD) provides teams with a higher reactivity time and safety because they don’t need to wait for the availability of planes, helicopters or satellites and pilots and airmen can focus on value-added missions instead.

Fast procurement

Systems added to the Blue UAS list, such as eBee TAC, do not require a DoD exception policy to procure or operate as they have undergone a cyber-security evaluation, a policy compliance check, and were issued the necessary administrative documentation. Federal government partners can also leverage this effort for their programmatic needs without duplicating efforts.

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How are sUAS used in national defense?

Tactical military and security operations require both situational awareness and an accurate understanding of the operational environment. EagleNXT’s eBee systems address these requirements through two specialized capabilities.

The eBee VISION provides real-time ISR through live HD video, optical zoom, thermal imaging, and operation in contested or GNSS-denied environments. Its primary role is reconnaissance, surveillance, target observation, force protection, training, and persistent situational awareness.

The eBee TAC focuses on tactical geospatial intelligence. Operating in disconnected environments, it rapidly generates survey-grade orthomosaics and 3D models that can be shared through ATAK and other command-and-control systems, enabling mission planning, route assessment, and battlefield mapping.

Together, these systems provide defense organizations with both real-time visual intelligence and actionable geospatial information.

Tactical mapping

Warfighters and frontline defenses use rapidly deployable UAVs to map terrain, areas and activities of interest. This near real-time situational awareness provides ground forces with a tactical advantage for rapidly planning and executing mission operations while enhancing safety.

Intelligence

The eBee TAC and X feature mission-directed swappable sensors capable of RGB, 3D, multispectral and thermal capabilities. The eBee family of drones, including the VISION, can provide detailed intelligence for analysis and decision making. Unclassified intelligence can be shared and integrated with situational awareness tools such as ATAK.

Reconnaissance

Operators gather real-time intelligence about the local terrain, friendly unit actions, equipment recognition and possible enemy threats. The data collected also supports change detection.

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How are sUAS used for intelligence preparation of the battlefield?

Accurate geospatial information is the foundational component for intelligence preparation on the battlefield.

Area obstacles

Aerial 3D maps enable terrain visualization, adding realism to mission planning and rehearsal activities for urban missions.

Choke points

Operators can use 3D imagery to characterize choke points for traffic and mission operations using accurate dimensions. For example, cameras such as the S.O.D.A. provide an RGB resolution of 5,472 x 3,648 px for detailed, vivid orthomosaics and ultra-accurate 3D digital surface models.

Concealment

Thermal camera-generated 2D maps help soldiers see areas of interest not visible in RGB imagery. The eBee series Duet T thermal mapping camera includes a high-resolution thermal infrared (640 x 512 px) camera and a S.O.D.A. RGB camera with a built-in Camera Position Synchronisation feature for seamless image overlays.

Cross Country Mobility

Cross-country mobility

As planned courses of action change often, sUAV operators need the flexibility to modify missions on-the-fly to provide additional input as required and complete the mission.

Fields of Fire

Fields of fire

The degree of detail required in analyzing the battlespace environment varies depending on the mission; and for this reason, the operator can adapt eBee sUAV accuracies to the mission.

Mobility Corridor

Mobility corridors

In complex environments eBee sUAS help operators to open mobility corridors quickly. For example, eBee TAC enables operators to map up to 18.7 km / 11.6 mi corridors, approximately 3X longer than a typical quadcopter’s coverage of 9 km / 5.6 mi per battery by comparison.

Road Networks

Road networks

Rapidly shifting environments requires a highly accurate mobile solution to provide current intel on roadways and threats. The eBee TAC can cover up to 500 ha / 1,235 ac mission coverage while flying at 120 m / 400 ft to deliver insights on transportation and infrastructure for planning, decisions and safe transport.

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What types of sUAS data outputs are available?

3D models

A three-dimensional texture map (X, Y, Z) that displays the site’s surfaces, walls and edges with high precision. High-resolution 3D models are used to generate digital twins of terrain, cities and critical infrastructure. This reconstructed intelligence helps with operations preparation, planning and running VR simulations before sending orders to the field.

Orthomosaic maps

A geospatially accurate and detailed 2D representation of a site by combining a large number of nadir drone images. These maps can be rapidly processed in the field as unclassified intelligence that can be shared with units in the field.

Terrain and Digital Surface Models (DSMs)

DSM maps take 2.5D information to give an accurate elevation representation of the field of operations. Aerial photo data mapped onto a terrain model base helps conduct surveys and develop tactical strategies.

Thermal maps

Thermal photogrammetry allows for target detection through structures and environmental obstructions such as smog and smoke for surveillance or tracking.

Full Motion Video (FMV)

Full motion video is vital for operators, enabling swift situational awareness, target tracking and positive ID. This provides informed decision-making during dynamic ISR or public safety missions.

Visual Imaging System (VIS)

RGB output referes to visible light. VIS sensor output delivers high-resolution color video, enabling clear daytime identification, detailed visual confirmation, tracking, and geo-location of objects or people, providing the contextual clarity and positive target identification.

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What software do you need?

eMotion

eMotion software is a leading drone software solution for flight planning, geotagging and photo stitching. From here the imagery can be exported for further processing in Pix4D and other software.

TAK

Military forces can also integrate further with ATAK for situational awareness, moving maps and the ability to share unclassified data quickly, accurately and securely – while mitigating risk.

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