The German drone manufacturer Quantum Systems says it is working on integrating a sound measurement function into its Twister, Vector and Reliant reconnaissance drone family in order to increase the drones’ ability to detect enemy artillery and mortar positions.
As a company spokesperson explained to hartpunkt when asked, this capability is currently still in the prototype phase. The aim is to have the system ready for series production in summer 2025, at which point the sensor, which weighs just a few grams and is the size of a forefinger, could be installed in the entire Quantum Systems reconnaissance drone family.
According to Quantum Systems, the sensor was developed by the Polish manufacturer Weles Acoustics, which recently became a wholly owned subsidiary of Quantum Systems.
According to the company spokesperson, the sensor should be able to locate artillery and mortar shots at a distance of up to 15 km. The detection accuracy is specified as 85 lines (5 degrees) at 5 km, which is perfectly adequate for the purpose of rough detection. The aim of the sensor integration is to locate the rough direction of the shot in order to then be able to precisely locate the enemy firing position using the drone’s reconnaissance optics.
In a first step, this activity is still carried out manually by the drone pilot. According to the spokesperson, however, Quantum Systems is working on automating the functionality so that the drone’s optronics are automatically swiveled in the direction from which the shot was detected. In addition, the system should be able to recognize and classify the acoustic signature of the shot using artificial intelligence in the future. The drone would then be able to determine not only the direction of the shot, but also the type of shot – i.e. artillery or mortar.
A Ukrainian-made Vector reconnaissance drone. Photo – Quantum-Systems
Assessment
The integration of a sound measurement location capability on a tactical reconnaissance drone is suitable for significantly increasing the ability for reactive artillery counteraction.
Counter battery artillery counteraction is the ability to locate enemy artillery and mortar positions and forces and to combat them using one’s own artillery fire. In this context, a distinction is made between active and reactive artillery counteraction: In reactive combat, the enemy fire is located using technical aids – for example sound measurement teams, radar or reconnaissance drones – and tracked back and responded to as quickly as possible with one’s own fire on the located position. In active artillery counteraction, attempts are made to locate the enemy artillery using various reconnaissance means such as drones or reconnaissance forces before they reach the firing position and start firing fire commands.
Since the system can also be integrated into small tactical reconnaissance drones such as the Twister, which are usually not used by the artillery but by the combat troops, the combat troops could expand the sensor network of the artillery troops in the future and thus make a significant contribution to reactive artillery combat. The combat against enemy mortar forces through the organic fire support capability of the infantry (mortar platoon) could also be raised to a new, previously unseen level using this system approach.
Top Photo: A Twister reconnaissance drone with an acoustic artillery detection sensor – Quantums Systems
Source: hartpunkt
Translation by Google