Surveillance Pods for Satellite Intercept System

Horizon Technologies and Airborne Technologies GmbH will jointly develop the design of surveillance pods specifically for the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) market to carry the BlackFish satellite intercept system.

The agreement will cover both rotary- and fixed-wing applications and in line with the other Self Contained Aerial Reconnaissance (SCAR)-Pod systems, will allow a quick install/remove capability, in addition to being swappable between aircraft.

“For Horizon Technologies, this fills a gap in our system offerings to our customers; especially in the Mid-East and Asia,” explains John Beckner, CEO of Horizon Technologies. 

“We have been looking to partner with an EASA certified design, production, and installation company, for the simple reason that an EASA or FAA certified installation is a must these days. Couple that with Airborne Technologies’ LINX Mission Management Unit and we can now offer a totally integrated BlackFish system.”

“At Airborne Technologies we are very capable of providing EASA certified fixed installations,” says Wolfgang Grumeth, CEO of Airborne Technologies. 

“A fixed installation of the new BlackFish system is no problem for us, but now being able to install and integrate it into any of our existing SCAR-Pods is definitely a big step forward in offering our customers a total podded ISR capability. The BlackFish technology, coupled with other ISR sensors, will dramatically enhance the success of both search-and-rescue operations, as well as provide early detection of illegal activities like smuggling, narcotics and human trade.”

The companies are immediately available to provide helicopter and fixed-wing installations of BlackFish. In early 2022, they will start offering its integration in the standard SCAR-Pods as well as its dedicated BlackFish SCAR-Pod.