Finnish technology company Insta Group Oy has secured mass-scale production for thousands of its Steel Eagle Extended Range (ER) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) per month, announced Teemu Sainio, director of communications at Insta.
The company, which specializes in defence solutions and cyber security, has developed a new, more effective version of the combination of a drone and a patented explosive charge. The new version, the Insta Steel Eagle ER (Extended Range), is the result of international collaboration. Compared to the previous Insta Steel Eagle product, it brings a more capable and affordable solution to the defence technology market.
The new solution combines broad expertise with state-of-the-art technology tested in harsh conditions. We have designed the patented explosive charge. The drone equipment that provides better performance as well as a longer range and higher load carrying capacity is supplied by our Ukrainian partner that operates in the wider drone ecosystem,
explains Tuure Lehtoranta, Vice President, Sales and Customers, Defence at Insta.
Tuure Lehtoranta
With the drone, the explosive charge can be transported by air above the desired target, where it can then be detonated. The charge contains balls, and it delivers fragments across a wide area of effect, precisely striking the desired target from above.
– The requirements of modern electronic warfare, including the ability to tolerate interference, have been considered in the development of the system.
The UAV system includes a 15 inch carrier for its Insta Steel Burst Payload, relay UAV, and a transmitting ground antenna. The payload includes 3,000 steel or tungsten pellets with an effective aerial coverage of around 2,000 m2. According to Sainio, if the payload is detonated 20 m above ground it is capable of 1.5 impacts per square metre. Each pellet is 3.7 mm in diameter and can penetrate around 2 mm of steel at 20 m range.
With the drone, the explosive charge can be transported by air above the desired target, where it can then be detonated. The charge contains balls, and it delivers fragments across a wide area of effect, precisely striking the desired target from above.
– The requirements of modern electronic warfare, including the ability to tolerate interference, have been considered in the development of the system.
Agile Development of State-of-the-Art Technology
The changed security environment has created new opportunities also for Insta, which for years now has focused on developing critical defence technologies. A rapid development process and learning from others are essential in building future capabilities. Collaboration and agile productization enable applying these capabilities and lessons also in other countries’ defence. Currently, the solution is available for the Ukrainian market. In the future, however, the marketing licenses applied for as part of international collaboration allow selling and marketing the solution in Europe and in NATO countries as well.
Insta SteelEagle ER Impact Area
Innovations that Attract international Interest
Insta has plenty of experience and competence in the fields of cyber security, software development, and defence technology. This comprehensive expertise can meet the future needs of the international defence market in a versatile and tailored manner.
The patented Insta Safe EOD drone solution is an efficient approach to the safe clearing of mines and explosives. With the new method, the clearance personnel no longer have to enter the immediate danger area. The solution uses a drone for identifying the explosive ordnance to be cleared and delivering a clearing charge.
Insta Steel Eagle ER – more capable and effective flying directional explosive charge
- Patented explosive charge with a drone designed and tested for demanding conditions
- Coming from above, the explosive effect can be freely adjusted according to the altitude of the drone; it has an opening angle of 90 degrees
- Charge contains steel or tungsten balls
- Delivers fragments across a specific area of effect, precisely striking the desired target from above
- More than 3,000 fragments over an area of effect of approx. 2,000 m2
- Explosive charge weighing approx. 3.6 kg
Insta Safe EOD – Decisive Efficiency
- Unique, safe, and economic solution for clearing explosives with commercially available drones
- Especially suited for humanitarian demining but also applicable for military purposes
- Clearance personnel do not have to enter the immediate danger area
- Uses drones for identifying the explosive ordnance to be cleared, delivering a clearing charge, detonating the charge, and verifying the clearance event
- Cost-efficient: Affordable purchase price with simple manufacturing and logistics
Insta SafeLink Secret – Secured Communications and High Performance
- The most advanced encryption device on the market allows for protecting security classification SECRET level data
- Next-generation Finnish encryption device that meets the requirements of TL II and FIPS 140- 3 Level 3 as well as industry standards
- HW based red–black separation, active intrusion detection and response; Uses quantum secure encryption algorithms
- High performance and high data volumes without slowdown – 10 Gbps
- Life-cycle support for more than 10 years – even under exceptional conditions
Source: Insta Group Oy