Lightweight, Wide-Area Motion Imagery for Aerostats

The next generation of the Kestrel wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) system, the Kestrel Block II — like its battlefield-proven predecessor — can detect and track multiple vehicles and dismounts moving over a city-sized area, 24 hours a day, for weeks at a time. The Block II is nearly half that weight of the original Kestrel, allowing it to be mounted on a wider range of aerostats. In addition, Kestrel Block II is exportable to international customers.

FEATURES

Kestrel WAMI sensors are rugged and easy to maintain, and since the first system deployed with U.S. forces in Afghanistan back in 2011, Kestrel systems have clocked more than 200,000 operational hours, protecting troops in and around forward operating bases.

  • Resolution optimized to track vehicles and detect moving dismounts
  • Unlimited pan and digital zoom within entire field of view
  • Ability to cue high-resolution full-motion video cameras for target identification
  • Motion imagery tagged, indexed, and archived for up to 30 days
  • Ruggedized system for easy operation and maintenance
  • Streaming video windows to support multiple sensor operators at once
  • User-defined “watchboxes” to provided sensor operators automated detection alerts
REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

MISSION SETS

Customers for the Kestrel Block II WAMI system include both domestic and international government and commercial entities.

  • Base protection
  • Force protection
  • Patrol/route reconnaissance and overwatch
  • Border security
  • Disaster relief/humanitarian assistance support
  • Sporting or large event security
  • Logistical hub protection
  • Counter-smuggling missions
  • Counter-terrorism security
  • Pattern-of-life analysis
  • Anti-poaching monitoring

POWERFUL 360-DEGREE WIDE-AREA MOTION
IMAGERY IN A LIGHTWEIGHT POD

Kestrel Block II delivers 360-degree day/night wide-area motion imagery,
with real-time access to both live and recorded imagery.
  • Sensor Size

    18 in L x 18 in W x 27 in H
    (46 cm x 46 cm x 69 cm)

  • GCS size

    16 – 27 u standard rack depth

  • Sensor Weight

    < 85 lbs (40 kg)

  • GCS weight

    350 lbs (159 kg)

  • Sensor power

    300 W

  • GCS power

    ~ 2.5 kW

  • Sensor voltage

    28 VDC

  • Area of coverage

    113 sq km at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL

  • Angular Coverage

    360 degrees

  • Remote Operation

    Yes

  • Effective pixel count

    8 cameras composing a 440 Mpx
    day/night mosaic

  • Rendered Image Stability

    < 1 pixel

  • Cross-cueing

    Yes

  • GSDs

    EO - 35 cm at 3 km / 60 cm at 5 km
    at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL
    IR - 50 cm at 3 km / 90 cm at 5 km
    at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL

  • Spectrum

    EO - monochrome, IR - MWIR/LWIR

  • Number of Clients

    Up to 3 with option for expansion

  • Design operational altitude

    1,000 – 5,000 ft (300 – 1,500 m) AGL

  • Digital Zoom

    Yes

  • Multiple Viewer Windows

    Yes

  • Location Accuracy

    ~ 50 m geolocation capability

  • Refresh Rate

    1 Hz

  • Days of Imagery Storage

    3 days, expandable to 30 days

  • Location Accuracy

    ~ 50 m geolocation capability

SIZE, WEIGHT, AND POWER
  • Sensor Size

    18 in L x 18 in W x 27 in H
    (46 cm x 46 cm x 69 cm)

  • GCS size

    16 – 27 u standard rack depth

  • Sensor Weight

    < 85 lbs (40 kg)

  • GCS weight

    350 lbs (159 kg)

  • Sensor power

    300 W

  • GCS power

    ~ 2.5 kW

  • Sensor voltage

    28 VDC

PERFORMANCE
  • Area of coverage

    113 sq km at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL

  • Angular Coverage

    360 degrees

  • Remote Operation

    Yes

  • Effective pixel count

    8 cameras composing a 440 Mpx
    day/night mosaic

  • Rendered Image Stability

    < 1 pixel

  • Cross-cueing

    Yes

  • GSDs

    EO - 35 cm at 3 km / 60 cm at 5 km
    at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL
    IR - 50 cm at 3 km / 90 cm at 5 km
    at 3,000 ft (1,000 m) AGL

  • Spectrum

    EO - monochrome, IR - MWIR/LWIR

  • Number of Clients

    Up to 3 with option for expansion

  • Design operational altitude

    1,000 – 5,000 ft (300 – 1,500 m) AGL

  • Digital Zoom

    Yes

  • Multiple Viewer Windows

    Yes

  • Location Accuracy

    ~ 50 m geolocation capability

  • Refresh Rate

    1 Hz

  • Days of Imagery Storage

    3 days, expandable to 30 days

  • Location Accuracy

    ~ 50 m geolocation capability

Systems Overview Request










    • Sensors and Systems