Mobilicom Ltd.’s SkyHopper Pro communication system, which is designed to allow users to control drones, just announced it has secured an additional design win with Aero Sentinel, an Israeli manufacturer of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Mobilicom’s SkyHopper Pro will be integrated across Aero Sentinel’s drone platforms, with the manufacturer forecasting sales of around 500 systems over the next three years. Earlier this month, Mobilicom’s SkyHopper Pro UAV data link was integrated into iSTAR’s Condor drone in a separate deal.

The SkyHopper Pro communication system allows users to control drones with a transmission range that exceeds five kilometers, providing reliable drone control and high definition video transmission. Mobilicom’s 4G mobile mesh private networking technology allows wireless communication using a secure private network without the need for complex infrastructure.

With the integration of the SkyHopper Pro system into Aero Sentinel’s drones already underway, Mobilicom expects a revenue more than $1.5 million based on production estimates, according to a company press release on Sept. 18.

Aero Sentinel is a manufacturer of homeland security and civil drones that caters to a broad range of applications, with a customer base spanning more than 10 countries. The key applications served by Aero Sentinel’s drones, such as first responder, search and rescue missions, require reliable drone communication that will operate in harsh environmental conditions.

SkyHopper Pro’s long-range transmission, non-line sight capabilities and the ability to transmit secure, encrypted data and video could prove essential for these applications.

The SkyHopper Pro Bi-Directional Data Link serves Infrastructure Inspection, Security & Surveillance and Delivery Drone Applications as well as Autonomous UAV, Fleet Management and Swarm Operations.

On Sept. 6, Mobilicom announced it had secured a deal with iSTAR, the drone branch of TAR Ideal Concepts, a leading international security and surveillance company. The SkyHopper Pro UAV communication solution has been integrated into iSTAR’s new Condor drone. The Condor utilizes a proprietary detection mechanism for surveillance operations and fulfills an unmet need by utilizing a drone to conduct security and surveillance operations. In doing so the customer reduces the manpower needed and increases efficiency by obtaining real-time video and data in hard-to-access locations, according to the company.

The SkyHopper solution offers the essential features to carry out security operations. Among them, it is equipped with Mobilicom’s proprietary encryption mechanism, with its security capabilities commended and approved by leading security forces. Additionally, SkyHopper Pro offers an extended range of operation, enabling security personnel to be stationed remotely and receive data and video directly to their work stations, and non-line-of-sight operation for transmission and reception in obstructed areas.

The SkyHopper portfolio is expanding and will soon offer video processing capabilities as well as handheld remote viewing terminals (RVT) so that ground personnel can receive video directly to their person.

Beyond product capabilities, SkyHopper Pro offers a holistic approach in addition to a tailored communication solution, with a full hands-on support infrastructure and, with the help of our ecosystem partnerships, SkyHopper Pro offers integration consulting services to tailor drones to the specified application, with relevant components such as cameras and flight controllers.

“SkyHopper Pro has equipped our drone with capabilities that enable it to carry out its intended security operations,” iSTAR CEO Nir Itzhaky commented in an earlier press release. “To speed up our time to market, Mobilicom came fully equipped with onsite technical support to ensure the units operated as they should and for the intended purpose.”