PAE ISR Resolute Eagle
Sagetech Corporation has proved small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) can safely fly in controlled airspace using the same technology that has helped maintain flight safety for decades.
A PAE ISR Resolute Eagle UAS, equipped with a Sagetech XPC-TR-50 Mode C transponder, successfully completed a mission in civil airspace on November 8, 2017. The flight took place at the Pan-Pacific UAS Test Range located at Pendleton Airport in Oregon while operating under an FAA Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA).
Resolute Eagle is a fixed wing tactical UAS that offers advanced performance for use in civil or military airspace. Without a transponder, the aircraft’s small size makes it virtually invisible to Air Traffic Control (ATC). Sagetech’s military-certified XP transponder eliminates this issue, allowing the Resolute Eagle unmanned airplane to operate safely while sharing airspace with manned aircraft.
“Sagetech is delighted that PAE ISR selected our transponder to demonstrate commercial capability of the Resolute Eagle UAS in civil airspace,” says Kelvin Scribner, Sagetech’s chief executive officer. “Sagetech’s technology has been a key enabler of small UAS military operations for over 15 years and PAE ISR’s flight from the Pendleton, OR airport marks another step as our products transition from military to civil use.”
UAS operations are projected to increase sharply in civil airspace in the coming decade. This event signifies PAE ISR’s ability to offer a dynamic platform to a broader customer set; successfully fulfilling U.S. commercial and civilian requirements in addition to U.S. military missions.
Aviation transponders are a key part of the system air traffic controllers use to maintain safe separation between aircraft. Moreover, small UAS are not detectable passively by ATC radars because of their small size. Sagetech’s transponders allow even these naturally stealthy aircraft to integrate seamlessly with existing ATC radar systems.
Source: Press Release
I am a little confused by the first line of the article. It appears to imply that sUAS’s (<25kg GFW) would be able to carry this transponder. The photograph and the description of the aircraft (Resolute Eagle UAS) is a 85kg GFW aircraft, slightly smaller than a conventional ultra-light.
Where does this transponder fit in the realm of making sUAS visible to others within the NAS.
Niel
Those are some good points, Neil. As Sagetech’s CEO perhaps I can shed some light. 🙂
Sagetech transponders are presently standard in most trnsponder-equipped SUAS aircraft. To your point, one example of a smaller airplane that relies on our transponders for ATC visibility is the Boeing Insitu ScanEagle, which is 22kg Max at takeoff.
As for where these transponders fit into the realm of SUAS, Sagetech transponders were originally developed back in 2003 specifically to make these naturally stealthy aircraft visible to ATC because no other transponder was small enough.
With over 1 million combat flight hours logged on SUAS, Sagetech transponders are the natural choice for civil operations where proven safety-of-flight reliability is a requirement.
Niel. Sorry for the misspelling.