Teledyne FLIR Defense Launches skycarrier™ for On-the-Move Drone Operations
Teledyne FLIR Defense has announced the release of SkyCarrier™, a fully autonomous unmanned aerial system (UAS) launch and recovery platform designed for deployment from land vehicles, maritime vessels, or fixed locations. The system is compatible wiht Teledyne FLIR’s SkyRanger® UAS and aims to enable persistent aerial surveillance and support a variety of mission profiles.
SkyCarrier features autonomous launch and recovery capabilities, actively compensating for movement up to 20 degrees, allowing drones to land on both stationary and moving platforms without manual piloting. it provides environmental protection for the drone when not in use, shielding it from debris and harsh conditions. the platform supports both free-flight and tethered operation across diverse radio and network configurations,even while fully enclosed.
Key features include autonomous management with rapid charging and thermal regulation for remote operation in extreme environments, a ‘Follow Me’ mode for drone tracking of vehicles, personnel, or locations, and autonomous in-air Replacement (AIR) functionality, enabling a single operator to manage up to 16 drones for continuous surveillance through mid-mission drone swaps.
Designed for challenging operational environments, SkyCarrier incorporates ‘Dark Mode’ with GPS-denied navigation utilizing computer vision, dead reckoning, NIR beacons, obstacle avoidance, and jam-resistant RTK GPS. It also supports extended endurance,achieving up to 45 minutes of flight time with a 2kg (4.4lb) payload when utilizing XL batteries.Triumphant trials have been conducted with SkyCarrier on various maritime vessels, including fast attack boats and rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), as well as ground vehicles traveling at speeds up to 50km/h (30mph) over rough terrain.
The platform is compatible with a range of FLIR Defense and partner-developed payloads, including long-range daylight and thermal imaging, targeting systems, electronic warfare capabilities, signals intelligence, remote CBRN detection, and kinetic effects. This versatility positions SkyCarrier for applications spanning ISR, convoy and border security, hazmat operations, and communications relay.
SkyCarrier’s ruggedized container design protects the drone during transport and storage, unfolding into an articulating launch and landing pad. This pad maximizes the landing area, centers the aircraft, and minimizes storage footprint. The system utilizes visual markers like NIR landing beacons, QR codes, and AprilTags for precise, autonomous navigation back to the platform.
“skycarrier represents a major leap forward in autonomous drone operations,” stated Dr. jihfen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “Its ability to launch, recover, and manage drones from moving platforms-without GPS or constant operator control – makes it a game-changer for missions ranging from battlefield surveillance and disaster response to critical infrastructure protection. SkyCarrier offers both military and non-military users a versatile UAS solution that reduces operator workload while boosting efficiency.”
