TRACKER120
Survey Copter · France · also known as AIS · Updated
TRACKER120 is a hand-launched, battery-electric mini-UAV built by Survey Copter, a French drone maker owned by Airbus, carrying an EO/IR gyrostabilised turret for day and night reconnaissance. It is designed to be carried in backpacks and set up by two operators in under 10 minutes for short-range tactical intelligence, surveillance and inspection missions.
Overview
Survey Copter showed the TRACKER120 at Eurosatory 2016 as the latest version of its TRACKER family of mini-UAVs. The earlier TRACKER, which Survey Copter developed with EADS (now part of Airbus), supplied the airframe and cameras for the French Army's DRAC (Drone de Reconnaissance Au Contact) system; EADS acted as prime contractor, integrating the airframe with its own ground station and secure datalink. The French Ministry of Defence took delivery of 35 DRAC systems in January 2010, following an initial batch of 25 in 2008, and Shephard Media reported at the time that the underlying TRACKER system had already attracted export interest beyond France. Survey Copter, a Pierrelatte-based subsidiary of the Airbus group, markets the TRACKER120 for both military and civil intelligence-gathering customers.
Design and capabilities
TRACKER120 is a 1.54 m fixed-wing airframe with a 3.3 m wingspan, launched by hand rather than by catapult. Two electric motors give it about 90 minutes of flight endurance and what Army Recognition describes as a high degree of visual and acoustic stealth, with a typical cruising altitude of around 300 m. It carries the EO/IR T120 gyrostabilised turret, which Survey Copter says delivers stabilised, real-time imagery for intelligence missions by day and night. The system is carried in backpacks and can be set up in under 10 minutes, with a single- or dual-operator ground station built around ease of use so two operators can monitor the automatic flight and sensor feed in real time. Survey Copter has not published the aircraft's weight, payload capacity or maximum range.
Operational history
TRACKER120 itself has no publicly documented operator under that name; it is Survey Copter's continuing development of the TRACKER family whose earlier version equips the French Army's DRAC system, delivered from 2008. Survey Copter's own site no longer lists the TRACKER120 by name among its current products, which now use Airbus's newer U0-series naming (such as the U010 Aliaca).
Frequently asked questions
What is the TRACKER120?
A hand-launched, battery-electric mini-UAV built by Survey Copter, carrying an EO/IR gyrostabilised turret for day and night reconnaissance.
How long can the TRACKER120 fly?
About 90 minutes per flight, according to Survey Copter's Eurosatory 2016 figures.
Who makes the TRACKER120?
Survey Copter, a French mini-UAV maker owned by Airbus.
Is the TRACKER120 related to the French Army's DRAC drone?
The earlier TRACKER system, developed by Survey Copter with EADS, supplied the airframe for the French Army's DRAC; TRACKER120 is a later version of that same family.
How is the TRACKER120 launched?
By hand, rather than by catapult, and it can be packed into backpacks and set up by two operators in under 10 minutes.
