Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY), has introduced the company’s SkyCarrier™ platform at the DSEI trade show in London, showcasing a breakthrough in autonomous drone operations for military and civil applications.
Designed for launch and recovery of Teledyne FLIR’s SkyRaider® and SkyRanger® unmanned aerial systems (UAS), SkyCarrier enables fully autonomous, on-the-move drone deployment from land vehicles, maritime vessels or fixed sites.
Key Features of SkyCarrier:
- Autonomous Launch & Recovery – Actively compensates up to 20°, enabling UAS to land on moving or stationary platforms without manual control
- Environmental Protection – Protects the drone from brush, debris, and other environmental factors when not operating
- Optionally Tethered – Supports either free-flight or tethered operation over a variety of radio and network configurations, even while the unit is fully closed
- Autonomous Management – Supports rapid charging and active thermal management, enabling fully remote operations in extreme environments
- ‘Follow Me’ Mode – Drones can track and return to designated vehicles, personnel, or locations
- Autonomous In-air Replacement (AIR) – A single operator can manage up to 16 drones, maintaining persistent surveillance by autonomously swapping drones mid-mission
- Dark Mode & GPS-Denied Navigation – Operates in RF-silent and GPS-degraded environments using computer vision and dead reckoning; also features NIR beacons for low-visibility environments, obstacle avoidance, and jam-resistant RTK GPS
- Extended Endurance with XL Batteries – Enables up to 45 minutes of flight time with a 2kg (4.4lb) payload.
SkyCarrier has been successfully trialed on multiple maritime vessels, including fast attack boats and rigid hull inflatable boats (RHIBs), and from ground vehicles traveling over rugged terrain at speeds up to 50km/h (30mph), demonstrating its reliability in real-world conditions.
SkyCarrier leverages the capabilities of multiple FLIR Defense- and partner-developed payloads. These include long-range daylight, thermal imaging, targeting, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, remote CBRN detection, and kinetic effects. Its versatility makes SkyCarrier ideal for a wide range of missions—from ISR to convoy and border security to hazmat operations, even as a communications relay.
SkyCarrier’s ruggedized container fully protects the drone when closed and opens to unfold an articulating launch and landing pad, allowing drones to autonomously take off and return—even while in motion or on uneven terrain. The pad maximizes the UAV landing area, centers aircraft, and reduces storage space. Using visual markers such as NIR landing beacons and QR codes or AprilTags, the drone can precisely navigate back to the platform without operator input.
SkyCarrier represents a major leap forward in autonomous drone operations,” said Dr. JihFen Lei, president of Teledyne FLIR Defense. “Its ability to launch, recover, and manage drones from moving platforms—without GPS or constant operator control – makes it a game-changer for missions ranging from battlefield surveillance and disaster response to critical infrastructure protection. SkyCarrier offers both military and non-military users a versatile UAS solution that reduces operator workload while boosting efficiency.”
