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 The
Skylite is designed as an organic imaging intelligence collection
system for combat elements, providing real-time, "over the hill"
intelligence and force protection coverage for deployed tactical
units, up to battalion level, including special-forces, dismounted
infantry, and mechanized or armored formations. Skylite is
designed for combat support missions, providing real-time
intelligence and force protection for combat formations.
The system offers unique advantages in
urban terrain (MOUT) where a team of two operators can carry two
ready to launch MAVs and a control station. The Skylite offers
flexible, unrestricted launch envelope, including firing from
within bunkers, closed rooms, rooftops or narrow streets. Skylite
can fly a mission of 60 – 90 minutes, with a mission radius of
5,000 – 10,000 meters. The Skylite maintains a relatively high
speed, to withstand gusts and high crosswinds, and operate in
difficult weather conditions. The fuselage is a 110 cm long, 12cm
diameter tube, with a forward looking EO payload mounted at the
nose. Following launch, the Skylite's wings (1.5m wingspan) and
cruciform tail snap into flight position, powered by electrical
motors. The retrievable drone is equipped with a stabilized camera
that provides wide area coverage and point-of-interest monitoring.
The Skylite is designed for simple operation at the tactical field
level of infantry, mechanized and armor units. It does not require
any specialized support, coordination with air control or
communications facilities. Skylite is stored in a lightweight
container (2 kg) which also provides a launcher for the MAV. The
gross weight of the MAV is 6 kg. All pre-launch settings are
performed automatically and do not require any operator
involvement. The reusable MAV is handled as a "wooden round", and
requires zero logistics for storage or operation. At the end of
the mission it is retrieved automatically into a net, and is being
reconditioned and repacked into the launchers at the battalion
level.
 Handled as a maintenance free "wooden
round", the system requires "zero time to launch" – without any
assembly or pre-launch preparations. It is launched from a
lightweight, man portable canister which uses a small rocket
booster to accelerate the MAV to its cruising speed and altitude.
This method enables an automatic launch of the MAV by remote
control, from within a tank or APC, or manually deployment as a
"shoulder fired missile", from enclosed spaces such as rooms,
bunkers and from narrow streets in crowded urban settings. The
boosted launch accelerates the Skylite to its cruise speed and
therefore overcomes difficult launch conditions, and high
crosswind, thus enabling the forward troops a dependable and
reliable visibility "around the corner".
The Skylite is an
autonomous vehicle, which follows a pre-preplanned flight program
or a loitering pattern, when it waits for new tasking orders. The
mission plan is designated by the user on a laptop, where points
of interest are pointed on a digital map or aerial photo. The
Skylite follows these points of interest and can maintain constant
view of specific point of interest from various viewing angles or
from a specific direction. The operator can also control the
gimbaled payload, to focus on specific points of
interest. The payload can employ a color camera, night camera or
lightweight infrared camera. It is designed to detect, identify
and track targets at a size of an armed human, from a range of 100
– 300 meters. The images received from the Skylite can be
displayed on the laptop, or relayed to forward commanders and
displayed on their palmtop PCs.
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