Bulgarian firm Dronamics and HENSOLDT are transforming the long-range Black Swan cargo unmanned aerial vehicle into a “Detect & Defend” platform that can monitor the skies.
The upgraded variant will integrate HENSOLDT’s advanced sensor and mission systems, forming the technological backbone for Europe’s new unmanned surveillance capability.
MissionGrid provides a scalable mission architecture that fuses radar and electro-optical sensors into a single operational framework.
Complementing it is the MissMarvin mission management software, which works with onboard data fusion tools to allow a single aircraft to execute multiple missions in one sortie.
Rounding out the suite is PrecISR, a compact active electronically scanned array surveillance radar capable of 24/7 operation in all weather conditions.
These enhancements aim to deliver a fully European unmanned airborne platform capable of supporting intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance missions.
Inside Europe’s New Watchtower
The Black Swan boasts a 16-meter (52-foot) wingspan and an 8-meter (26-foot) fuselage, providing the physical scale needed to support long-endurance flight.
Capable of flying at altitudes of 30,000 feet (9,100 meters) and cruising at 200 kilometers (112 miles) per hour, it can reportedly stay beyond the reach of many ground-based threats.
The drone can carry up to 350 kilograms (700 pounds) of payload and fly as far as 2,500 kilometers (1,500 miles), allowing it to accommodate heavy reconnaissance systems.
A fully mobile ground control station, supported by global satellite communications, lets operators launch and manage the drone from virtually anywhere.
The first flight of the upgraded platform is expected this year, with initial deployment focused on Europe’s Eastern Flank, as well as the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions.
