The Armament Inspectorate in the Ministry of National Defence in Poland has signed the contract for the supply of four sets of the mini FlyEye unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with a training package for $3 million.

The agreement stipulates the option for the further delivery of ten sets. One set comprises  four unmanned aerial vehicles, the value of the contract is 3 milion USD gross and the deliveries are due this year.

FlyEye is a mini Unmanned Air System (UAS), that is used for intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (ISTAR) of the battlefield, sensitive areas, national borders, natural disasters, or large public events.

FlyEye is a modular system characterized by the ease of assembly and disassembly. Launch readiness can be achieved in less than 10 minutes. Hand-launch with no additional equipment which allows it to be operated in tight spaces and confined areas. The UAV allows for integration with light precision armament and an acoustic vector sensor to detect source of fire.

Launch system – due to application of propulsion with static thrust compensating the weight of the airframe the aerial vehicle can be hand ? launched. It simplifies logistic issues of the system (no need for a launcher). An additional advantage of the system is the possibility to launch the aerial vehicle in a very confined space, such as built – up urban areas or a forest clearing.

Landing system – landing of the system consists in automatic ejection of a container holding the batteries and the surveillance payload, which descent and land on a parachute. The moment of ejection of the container is calculated by an on-board computer in such way that it allows for secure deployment of the parachute and secure descent until touch down in pre-programmed landing point. The accuracy of landing remains within 10 metres. Such solution provides an effective protection for the most expensive element of the system, that is the surveillance payload but it also allows for full manoeuvrability of the aerial vehicle during the final stage of flight at minimum speed.

The system has been battle proven in Afghanistan, and it is being used by the Ukrainian Army. The Third generation of FlyEye is equipped with a new observation head and batteries. The ground control station as well as backpacks and cases have also been modernised.