VTUL a PVO Praha, the Czech air force research institute, is planning to upgrade its Sojka III tactical unmanned air vehicles, with new capabilities including a modular payload and reduced ground-support footprint.
The latest Sojka III TVM3.12 variant has been in service with the Czech air force since 2001.
The proposed modular payload is intended to allow rapid changing of sensors in the field and adoption of commercial off-the- shelf equipment.
According to Jiri Nohyl, head of Sojka III control system development at the institute, work is being carried out on integration of commercial digital cameras into the sensor system, with this steering payload concepts towards a modular architecture.
Nohyl says the institute is also interested in exploring alternative payload types, including the EADS MiSAR miniature synthetic-aperture radar. Flight testing of a Hungarian-developed gamma-ray sensor and a French infrared line-scanner has been conducted.
Reduction of the ground-system footprint is intended to improve the ability of the Sojka III system to operate in off-road areas. Options being examined include miniaturisation of ground-control station subsystems and development of a smaller launcher rail.
Work on improving flying qualities, increasing endurance up to 6-7h and fitting a more robust digital datalink is being undertaken. The existing line-of-sight datalink has a range of 60km (32nm).
Source: Flight International