The little drone that could. Danish UAV demonstrated in Poland [ANALYSIS]

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The RQ-35 is a product of the Sky-Watch company, which was founded in Denmark in 2009. This unmanned aerial vehicle is designed for reconnaissance at company or platoon level. The company representatives highlight the machine’s compact dimensions, ease of use, resistance to electronic warfare, sophisticated sensors, a steady stream of software updates, as well as experience gained from serving in armed conflicts on three continents. Let’s address these claims one by one.

Reconnaissance at hand

The RQ-35 Heidrun has a classic design layout. It is a fixed-wing aircraft with a tractor propeller. It is powered by an electric motor fed by a lithium-ion battery pack. When prepared for take-off the drone is 107 cm long, has a wingspan of 165 cm, a height of 17 cm and weighs only 2.7 kg. The complete system with all the equipment can weigh from 16 (in a backpack) to 25 kg (in a protective box). The compact dimensions and low weight mean that the drone and its supporting equipment can be carried by two soldiers.

These parameters do not translate into limited performance. The maximum flight time of the optoelectronic sensor variant is over 100 minutes. Sky-Watch is conducting research on the use of a new type of battery that will extend this period to over 2 hours. The cruising speed is 16 m/s (57.6 km/h). Depending on the ground antenna used (either a compact unit in the form factor of a tactical radio, or a heavier set mounted on a tripod), the drone can operate at a distance of 20 to 40 km from the pilot.

The drone is launched into the air by hand. The flight control system is a standard Windows tablet with Sky-Watch software installed. The use of specialist flying equipment, such as a control stick, is not required. A single operator can operate the system by themselves. Alternatively, the drone can be controlled by two people. In this case, one person is responsible for piloting, while the other operates the observation systems. This functionality was introduced as a result of experience gained from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Preparing the system for flight takes about 5 minutes. Such flexibility is extremely useful for small reconnaissance units that can move near the front line, who need to quickly respond to the changing tactical situation. In addition, Heidrun does not need satellite navigation data for launch. Several fail-safes can be set from the operator’s tablet. For example, if the connection to the ground is interrupted, satellite data is unavailable, or the battery is low, the RQ-35 can automatically head toward the operator’s position. At the end of the mission Heidrun automatically stalls a few meters above the ground, then lands on its belly.

The art of survival

Heidrun has very good flight characteristics. Together with a number of safeguards this translates into a high level of survivability of the RQ-35 on the battlefield. There have been cases of drones that returned to the operator without any problems despite bullet holes and shrapnel in the wings. Sky-Watch representatives told us that the RQ-35s serving in Ukraine have an average of several hundred combat missions under their belts. Moreover, we have learned from our own experience how difficult it is to spot or hear such a small aircraft even in perfect weather conditions.

The drone can also operate in conditions of interference and electronic warfare. Encrypted communication with a bandwidth of 10 MHz is conducted in the frequency range of 2.2 to 2.5 GHz. The system can independently „hop” between frequencies to maintain radio communication. For obvious reasons, Sky-Watch representatives could not provide more details, but the average number of missions per system in Ukraine speaks for itself.

The RQ-35 Heidrun is available in two versions: EO/IR and Geo Intel. The former is a classic reconnaissance system used at or near the front line. With its ability to conduct reconnaissance from an altitude of over 1,000 meters and to observe objects 2-3 km away in real time in the visible and infrared bands, the drone is a very convenient tool for designating targets for artillery and aviation. Due to its symbolic signature in the thermal band, the RQ-35 is extremely difficult to target by optoelectronics, including the guidance systems of man-portable anti-aircraft missiles (MANPADS).

The Geo Intel version is essential for planning military operations on a changing battlefield. This is thanks to its ability to independently create detailed maps in two or three dimensions. In this way, Sky-Watch have created a complementary, resistant to interference, highly survivable, battlefield-proven reconnaissance system. Platoon or company-level units equipped with both types of Heidrun kits gain extremely useful tools for planning, conducting and analysing combat operations, and also help build situational awareness at all levels of command.

Ready for action

As befits a product from the country that gave the world LEGO, Heidrun is a simple and intuitive system to use. It arrives with a set of basic spare parts. Cases of serious failures or damage that require the drone to be sent back to the manufacturer are extremely rare. This translates into a high level of readiness. The system is ready for integration with any NATO standard battle management system.

The RQ-35 is a truly universal system. Operators can deploy and begin reconnaissance operations within minutes. The drone is so user-friendly, easy to fly, resistant to interference, difficult to detect and autonomous that it has a very high survivability on a real battlefield.

Sky-Watch has created an extensive operator training system. According to the manufacturer’s representatives, the basics of operating the RQ-35 can be mastered in half an hour. Soldiers who have no experience operating drones can be sent on a two-week course. Experienced users can receive full training in only a few days.

The Danish company has launched an Internet technical support platform. Users can also benefit from the help of Sky-Watch mechanics and instructors in the field. A significant number of RQ-35s have reached the front lines in Ukraine. Staying in touch with the most experienced drone operators in the world and a constant stream of improvements and updates make Heidrun a system ready for action in any conditions.

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