New Uncrewed Aerial System a game changer for RNZAF Base Ohakea

Operations Squadron are now planning for the Skydio X10 to be used across Security Forces, Aviation Rescue Fire Flight and airfield management. 

Constructed of plastic and carbon fibre, the Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS) weighs about 2kg and comes equipped with thermal imaging, the ability to photograph and map 3D objects, and is designed to be able to carry spotlights, a speaker and sensors clipped to the frame.

“We can map infrastructure and aircraft by taking numerous photos using an automated mapping flight plan. We then upload those photos to cloud software that will form a larger 3D map,” airfield manager Paul Smillie said.

For aircraft maintenance, this can eliminate the need for personnel to inspect aircraft using cherry-pickers to spot defects in hard-to-reach areas. The gimbled camera can also swivel and take images from underneath the aircraft.

Operations Squadron units will work together to ensure the UAS can be used alongside core work.

The UAS can also provide live video back to an operations centre on the ground, he said.

“It could also be used for security forces tracking an insider threat. We can fly it remotely from up to 12km away and provide them with the live footage they need without putting any of their people at risk.”

Another safety aspect of the UAS that’s valuable at a busy airfield is its sensors. It detects aircraft transponder systems, which transmit their GPS position, and informs the controller.

Mr Smillie said UAS technology was evolving and it would likely soon play a more dominant role in military capability. One potential was for UAS to be housed in secure, weather-proof docks located in remote areas and controlled from the base.

“It can be programmed to go at the same time, every day, every week.”

Increasingly utilising UAS capabilities on the base was going to be an interesting journey, Mr Smillie said.

“We'll be working with a regulator to allow better-use cases at an aerodrome. It's got some good safety features, so with the mitigation those bring we can look at flying closer to active runways.”