American drone solutions provider AgEagle Aerial Systems unveiled its eBee TAC unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Monday at a tech exhibit for military and government officials in North Carolina.
A fixed-wing tactical mapping drone, the eBee allows soldiers in disconnected environments to accurately map their surroundings from the air. All data can be collected by a single operator and shared with other units for improved situational awareness and decision-making.
According to the company, the drone can fly at a maximum range of 17.2 miles (27 kilometers) with a maximum flight time of 90 minutes. It can be used for tactical military operations, disaster response, and humanitarian assistance missions.
Due to its modular design, the eBee is compatible with eight different drone cameras that can be switched in seconds. These include RGB, multispectral, and thermal cameras.
The drone is also designed to be acoustically undetectable at 120 feet (40 meters).
“The result is a reliable multi-purpose drone solution that captures the critical information needed to execute complex mapping missions safely and efficiently,” AgEagle said on its website.
‘Enabling Seamless Coordination’
AgEagle chief executive officer Barrett Mooney said that it is critical for government and military forces to be equipped with the “most innovative, state-of-the-art” surveillance and reconnaissance technologies as geopolitical tensions escalate.
He further stated that the use of drones like the eBee would “enable the seamless coordination of military forces while mitigating the risks of combat in multiple areas.”
AgEagle regional manager Gary Licquia explained that the hand-launched drone would provide the army with “extremely granular and near real-time” tactical imagery that enhances its situational awareness and tactical advantages.
“We are very proud to be collaborating with Tough Stump to showcase the power of our advanced drone mapping and scouting capabilities at this important field demonstration,” he added.