FEINDEF 2019: SASCorp displays HALE UAV.

SASCorp offers comprehensive UAV design and engineering solutions, bringing complete end-to-end engineering capability as well as specialized services and support to its customers in the defense sector. At FEINDEF 2019, the company displays a HALE UAV with VTOL capability.

SASCorp's HALE UAV equipped with various surveillance devices (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The HALE (High Altitude, Long Endurance) UAV displayed at FEINDEF 2019 has a dual-mode of flying thanks to its two engines able to move from horizontal to vertical operation. Its cargo-plane shape looks uncommon and obviously enables the drone to carry a significant payload.

SASCorp is developing a HALE UAV with two different roles: observer or combat. The observer UAV is called HEIMDALL, while the combat one is called ARES. They only differ in the onboard equipment that they carry, and their general specifications are:
• Vertical take-off and landing (VTOL).
• Automatic take-off and landing (ATOL).
• Remotely piloted or fully autonomous.
• Dual flight mode: helicopter or conventional.
• LOS or SATCOM communication systems (Ku/Ka/X bands).
• Wingspan: 8100 mm.
• Length: 4200 mm.
• Height: 1750 mm.
• Powerplant: 2x Rotax turbo 198 HP, with 1800 mm variable pitch propellers and an additional 48 lbs electric ducted fan in composite.
• MTOW: 600 kg.
• Maximum payload, including fuel capacity: 350 kg.
• Maximum Air Speed: 258 km/h.
• Cruising Speed: 198 km/h.
• Maximum Air Speed in helicopter mode: 130 km/h.
• Endurance: from 4 h to 12 h, depending on fuel capacity and flight mode.
• Gimbal with multispectral cameras and dual GPS.
HEIMDALL applications are related to Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR). We have the Advanced Observer System (AOS) and the Maritime Patrol System (MPS). These UAVs can be used in coastal surveillance, customs control, forest surveillance, or strategic ISR missions. Some of the specialized payloads for this kind of UAV are a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), hyperspectral sensors or a Lidar radar.
ARES is a UAV for threats detection and neutralization. There are also two versions: an Aerial Protection System (APS) with a grenade launcher MK-19, and an Aerial Combat System (ACS) that can carry two air-to-air (AAM) or air-to-ground missiles (AGM), e.g. the AGM 114 A/B/C (Hellfire). This UAV can be used to protect a convoy of vehicles, to protect strategic facilities, or to perform accurate attacks against a given target.