Carmenta, BAE Systems Hägglunds, and UAV manufacturer Aerolit have teamed up to enhance the CV90 combat vehicle with autonomous drone surveillance capabilities. This project aims to extend sensor reach and improve situational awareness for military operations.
Project Highlights
The partnership involves integrating Beyond Visual Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) drones into the CV90. Carmenta has developed a demonstrator for advanced 3D mission planning, allowing the CV90 to deploy silent drones for preprogrammed surveillance missions or real-time video intelligence. Successful test flights have proven the effectiveness of this integration.
Stefan Thelin, Head of Technology at BAE Systems Hägglunds, emphasized the importance of autonomous drones in providing critical real-time battlefield data, aiding in decision-making processes. “Autonomous drones with intelligence-gathering technology can provide critical real-time data from the battlefield, offering valuable insights for decision-making,” Thelin stated.
Technological Advancements
The drones, functioning as autonomous loyal wingmen, project captured images and videos onto a 3D map. This data is further analyzed using mixed reality VR headsets from Varjo, enabling multiple users to collaborate in a shared mixed reality environment. This integration allows for enhanced intelligence gathering and effective decision-making in time-critical situations.
Carmenta CEO Torbjörn Lönnqvist expressed pride in the partnership: “Over the past years, Carmenta has developed adaptable and scalable functionality for planning and tactical routing of drones as part of several international UAS-related R&D projects. We are proud to be selected as a partner to BAE Systems Hägglunds for the development and integration of autonomous drones for CV90.”
Operational and Strategic Impact
The project leverages Carmenta’s expertise in geospatial technologies to generate concealed routes for the drones, utilizing terrain-following and line-of-sight analyses to avoid enemy threats. This capability enhances the operational effectiveness and safety of the CV90 in various combat scenarios.
The integration of autonomous drones into the CV90 aligns with BAE Systems Hägglunds’ goal to support advanced surveillance and reconnaissance missions, improving the vehicle’s tactical and strategic capabilities.
