Menet Aero supported a June 23-27, 2024, military training exercise in western Texas with its Intrepid tethered unmanned aircraft system (TeUAS) carrying direction finding and communication relay payloads. Three Intrepid systems were flown simultaneously throughout the exercise, each equipped with a Persistent Systems MPU5 radio and Mastodon (a CACI company) Beast+ system.
Operating the systems simultaneously provided time difference of arrival (TDoA) geolocation data against targets within 10 km and provided a much larger mesh network bubble than capable with ground or antenna-based equipment. This allowed participants to detect, direction find, and attack adversary signals of interest. The MPU5 Nodes were positioned through the training area to expand communications to each Beast+, while a mobile Beast+ was roving the area while utilizing the Intrepid TeUAS as a constant to find, fix, and finish the signals of interest.
The Intrepid system is comprised of an air vehicle (AV) that is 70 inches in diameter; a ground control unit (GCU), which manages the 300-foot tether that provides continuous power and communications to the AV; a ground control station (GCS) used to operate the system. The systems were powered by portable generators but also can be powered by a vehicle inverter or grid/shore power.
“We’re excited to be part of this exercise and demonstrate how the Intrepid can enhance battlefield operations by enabling signal intelligence and long-range communications operations,” said Peter Menet, Menet Aero Founder & CEO.