Lightweight, Wide-Area Motion Imagery
for Manned and Unmanned Aircraft

RedKite Block II is a compact wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) system that’s housed in a platform-flexible pod weighing less than 38 lbs. Despite its size, the electro-optical RedKite pod can, like larger WAMI sensors, monitor a city-sized area in near real-time, detecting and tracking multiple targets while also recording events for later analysis. RedKite’s on-board high-performance edge processor converts gigabytes of data into geo-tagged imagery in real time. The WAMI system can also store up to eight hours of mission data, allowing operators on the ground to download live and recorded imagery for real-time forensic analysis.

FEATURES

The RedKite Block II pod can be integrated onto light planes, helicopters, and medium-sized unmanned aircraft, including Group 3 UAS. As such, RedKite Block II lends itself to a variety of military, homeland security, and public safety missions.

  • Ultra-lightweight – less than 38 lbs
  • Coverage area of up to 16 square kilometers at 12,000 ft AGL
  • Resolution optimized to track vehicles and detect moving dismounts
  • High-performance, real-time onboard multi-modal edge processor (MMEP)
  • Onboard storage of up to eight hours of mission data
  • Transmission of multiple unique streaming video windows to operators on the ground
  • Imagery transmitted to handheld devices
  • User-defined “watchboxes” provide automated detection alerts

MISSION SETS

Current users of RedKite include both domestic and international government and commercial entities. The Block II pod can perform:

  • Force protection
  • Tactical-level persistent surveillance
  • Route reconnaissance and overwatch
  • Border security
  • Police aerial patrol
  • Suspect tracking
  • Data-driven policing
  • Monitoring wildfires and suppression progress
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OPTIONS

Platform Compatibility

  • Fixed-wing, rotary-wing, UAS

Mounting Options

  • Wing pylon, underbelly, gimbal mount adaptor
  • Easily installed and removed from the aircraft

Datalink

  • Internal datalink available, providing a fully integrated, single-LRU WAMI system with minimal resource requirements from the aircraft
  • Ideal for UAS applications

POWERFUL WIDE-AREA MOTION IMAGERY IN
A LIGHTWEIGHT PLATFORM-FLEXIBLE POD

RedKite Block II offers the best of both worlds: a highly effective, wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) system in a small, ultralightweight pod that easily mounts to a variety of manned and unmanned platforms. With advanced internal processing, RedKite is the smallest, most power-efficient WAMI system available.
  • POD Size

    40 in L x 12 in W x 11 in H
    (102 cm x 31 cm x 28 cm)

  • Pod Weight

    < 38 lbs (17 kg)

  • Pod power

    300 W

  • Processing

    Processing embedded in payload

  • Operational altitude

    5,000 ft – 15,000 ft (1,500 – 4,000 m) AGL

  • Refresh rate

    ≥ 1 Hz for full persistent coverage area

  • 100 hrs, expandable to 200 hrs

    > 4 hrs, expandable to 8 hrs (Onboard Archive)

  • Area of coverage

    4.5 sq km at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL
    16 sq km at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) AGL

  • Cross-cueing

    Yes

  • Transmission to mobile devices

    Yes

  • GSDS

    0.15 m at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL
    0.3 m at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) AGL
    0.5 m at 12,000 ft (4,000 m) AGL

  • Viewer windows

    Up to 10 unique streaming video windows

  • Internal processing

    Compact embedded processing includes
    north-up rendering, real-time and DVR
    streaming, and full-mission storage

  • CAMERA

    Monochrome CMOS (color optional)

  • Imaging Modality

    > 250 Mpx mosaic composite image

PAYLOAD SIZE, WEIGHT, AND POWER
  • POD Size

    40 in L x 12 in W x 11 in H
    (102 cm x 31 cm x 28 cm)

  • Pod Weight

    < 38 lbs (17 kg)

  • Pod power

    300 W

  • Processing

    Processing embedded in payload

PERFORMANCE
  • Operational altitude

    5,000 ft – 15,000 ft (1,500 – 4,000 m) AGL

  • Refresh rate

    ≥ 1 Hz for full persistent coverage area

  • 100 hrs, expandable to 200 hrs

    > 4 hrs, expandable to 8 hrs (Onboard Archive)

  • Area of coverage

    4.5 sq km at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL
    16 sq km at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) AGL

  • Cross-cueing

    Yes

  • Transmission to mobile devices

    Yes

  • GSDS

    0.15 m at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL
    0.3 m at 12,000 ft (3,700 m) AGL
    0.5 m at 12,000 ft (4,000 m) AGL

  • Viewer windows

    Up to 10 unique streaming video windows

  • Internal processing

    Compact embedded processing includes
    north-up rendering, real-time and DVR
    streaming, and full-mission storage

  • CAMERA

    Monochrome CMOS (color optional)

  • Imaging Modality

    > 250 Mpx mosaic composite image

GROUND/SENSOR CONTROL STATION

Ground/Sensor Control Station can be customized for greater/longer data retention based on customer needs.

Sensor Control and Exploitation

Ground-based (transportable or fixed) and/or aircraft-based

Components

Client, archive server, archive storage, switch, accessories

GCS size

9U, standard rack depth

GCS weight

< 250 lbs (115 kg) / < 400 lbs (180 kg) with cases

GCS power

600 W

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    • Sensors and Systems