Home Air Teledyne FLIR releases new laser designator payload for small UAS

Teledyne FLIR releases new laser designator payload for small UAS

StormCaster-DX payload
Photo: FLIR

Teledyne FLIR Defense has launched a small unmanned aerial system (sUAS) payload that can be used to provide NATO standard laser target designation for laser-guided weapons.

The Teledyne FLIR StormCaster-DX is a multi-role laser designator payload built especially for use on the FLIR R80D SkyRaider UAS platform.

The 1250g target designator is designed to manage target areas using a laser spot tracker while affecting the terminal guidance of laser guided munitions. Until now, this capability was only possible with larger UAS platforms or ground-based systems.

Potential applications for the technology range from manned or unmanned air strikes to precision-guided mortars, naval gunfire, or air-launched effects.

“StormCaster-DX is an absolute gamechanger for small unit operations and represents a significant force multiplier,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, executive vice president and general manager of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “For the first time, warfighters will be able to survey and manage the battlefield while performing laser designation with standoff from a rucksack-portable drone, allowing faster decision-making and targeting that help ensure mission success.

“We believe customers will embrace what StormCaster-DX can mean for troops in harm’s way: When seconds weigh heavily on an operation’s outcome, DX saves minutes,” Lei added.

User-defined target tracking on StormCaster-DX captures coordinates, heading and speed of moving objects and vehicles, enabling monitoring and marking. Two FLIR Boson 640 longwave infrared thermal cameras support missions day or night.