Zenith AeroTech to offer DroneShield counter-drone capabilities on tethered aerial vehicles
Partnership between companies to enable better, longer range drone detection with
countermeasures
AFTON, VA: Zenith AeroTech, a leading developer of highly customizable, heavy-lift tethered aerial vehicles (TAVs), announced today that it is partnering with Sydney and Virginia-based DroneShield to provide enhanced drone detection capabilities, along with a range of countermeasures.
As part of the distribution agreement with DroneShield, Zenith AeroTech will incorporate DroneShield’s DroneSentry-C2TM command-and-control ecosystem into its own family of TAVs, along with an Echodyne EchoFlight radar, to counter drone or drone swarm attacks.
“By putting a detection capability on a TAV, which typically flies at 400 feet, you get better range than if you were to have these systems on a pole or ground vehicle,” said Kutlay Kaya, CEO of Zenith Aerotech.
“Also, your alerts will be more accurate because, at elevation, you’ve eliminated clutter.”
The integration of Echodyne radars on Zenith Aerotech’s TAV also enables simplified mission planning, added Shane Shamblin, Echodyne’s director of DoD Programs.
Zenith AeroTech offers three different TAV platforms: Hexa, Quad 8, and Quadro.
In contrast to standard drones, these three TAVs can stay aloft for hours—and even days—at a stretch thanks to Zenith’s Ground Power-Tether Management System, which converts 120- or 240-volt AC power from a generator (or another source) into high-voltage DC, powering both platform and payload.
The platforms themselves can carry 10-30 pounds of payload, and Zenith AeroTech is always experimenting with different mixes of sensors, communications and other equipment to proactively address emerging threats.
In addition to a capable drone-detection solution, the company will be offering DroneShield’s and soft kill measures, to be used by personnel on the ground. “Because we detect inbound drones from further away, we give personnel on the ground more time to jam them,” Kaya said.
There are many potential markets for TAVs with counter-drone capabilities. The military could use them to protect forward operating bases; civilian security managers might have them fly over sensitive facilities; and law enforcement could use them to safeguard well-attended public events.
“We are already working with a couple of federal agencies, and we anticipate broader adoption of this solution,” Kaya said.
DroneShield’s CEO Oleg Vornik has commented, “DroneShield’s deployment with Zenith takes our cutting edge command-and-control ecosystem capabilities into the tethered drone domain, opening a new range of applications for our Government end-users.”
About Zenith Aerotech: Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Afton, Virginia, Zenith
AeroTech is an industry leader in Tethered Aerial Vehicles (TAVs). We leverage our extensive experience in mechanical design, power electronics, software development, prototyping, and project management to provide customers with highly customizable aerial solutions. Our markets include emergency services, law enforcement, industry, and defense.
Learn more about Zenith Aerotech here: https://zenithaerotech.com/
About DroneShield Limited: DroneShield (ASX:DRO) is an Australian/US ASX-listed
company, focused on Electronic Warfare, RF sensing, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Sensor Fusion, rapid prototyping and MIL-SPEC manufacturing. Our capabilities are used to protect military, Government, law enforcement, critical infrastructure, commercial and VIPs throughout the world. Through our team of based engineers, we offer customers bespoke solutions and off-the-shelf products designed to suit a variety of terrestrial, maritime or airborne platforms.
DroneShield is proudly exporting Australian capability to customers throughout the
world and supporting Australia’s defense, national security and other organizations protect people, critical infrastructure and vital assets.
For inquiries, please contact info@droneshield.com
