Sensor

BlackKite Pod

BlackKite delivers infrared (IR), wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) in a compact, lightweight, platform-agnostic pod weighing less than 38 lbs.

Powerful Infrared Wide-Area Motion Imagery in a Lightweight Pod

FEATURES

Ultra-lightweight – less than 38 lbs
Area coverage of up to twelve square kilometers
Resolution optimized to track vehicles and detect moving dismounts
High-performance, real-time onboard multi-modal edge processor (MMEP)
Onboard storage of up to eleven 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

LOCATION-FLEXIBLE SURVEILLANCE MISSIONS

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

OPTIONS

The BlackKite pod can be integrated onto light planes, helicopters, and medium-sized unmanned aircraft, including Group 3 UAS. As such, BlackKite can be easily utilized for a variety of missions.

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

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: Control server, client, archive server, storage array, UPS, accessories
GCS/SCS Size: 8 U, 30 in rack depth
GCS/SCS Weight: < 250 lbs (115 kg) / < 400 lbs (180 kg) with cases
GCS/SCS Power: < 1 KW, 100% duty cycle

Specifications

Technical Specifications

Physical Characteristics

Size

Weight

Power

Processing

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

~ 38 lbs (17.2 kg)

< 300 W max

Processing embedded in payload

Performance Data

Operational Altitude

Refresh Rate

GCS/SCS Archive Length

Areas of Coverage

Cross-Cueing

Imagery Transmission

GSDs

Viewer Windows

Internal Processing

Imaging Modality

Onboard Archive Length

Datalink

5,000 ft – 12,000 ft (1,500 m – 4,000 m) AGL

1 Hz

160 hrs, expandable

2.2 sq km at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL, 12.0 sq km at 12,000 ft (4,000 m) AGL

Yes

Onboard, control centers, mobile devices

< 0.25 m at 5,000 ft (1,500 m) AGL, 0.6 m at 12,000 ft (4,000 m) AGL

Up to 10 unique streaming video windows

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

3 Mpx InSb MWIR 10 μm px realizing 54 Mpx composite image

~ 5 hrs (4 TB drive), ~ 11 hrs (8 TB drive)

Internal datalink, providing a fully integrated single LRU

Get in Touch

Learn More About BlackKite Pod

Customers for the BlackKite Pod include both domestic and international government and commercial entities.

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