WDS 2024: British company Callen-Lenz showcases Koios UAV for ISR operations.

Callen-Lenz, a UK-based company, is showcasing its Koios UAV at the World Defense Show 2024 (WDS 2024) in Saudi Arabia. The Koios UAV is known for its Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities while maintaining a VTOL tactical footprint. Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, this medium-sized Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) platform has a proven operational track record in both civil and defense markets worldwide.
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Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom, the Koios Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) UAV has a proven operational track record in both civil and defense markets. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

One of the Koios' key features is its Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) capability, making it suitable for operations in confined spaces or without traditional runways. With a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 35 kg, this UAV can carry a payload and fuel load of 7 kg, making it adaptable for various missions. It is payload-agnostic, allowing it to be equipped with a standard EO/IR turret or customized with customer-specified payloads. This includes electro-optical and infrared systems, GPS jamming systems, communication interception systems, satellite phone locators, radio rebroadcasters, and multi-spectral cameras.

In terms of performance, the Koios offers an endurance of 6 to 10 hours depending on the mission configuration, a cruise speed of 50 knots, a 4-meter wingspan coupled with a length of 2.4 m, and a multi-fuel 35cc 4-stroke engine capable of running on a wide range of fuels, including Jet A1 and gasoline. The integration of electric motors for vertical lift and internal fuel tanks within wet wings maximizes available space for additional components, enhancing its operational flexibility.

This UAV can be rapidly deployed or disassembled and transported in two packing boxes due to its removable wings and tail. Once unpacked, it can undergo pre-flight checks and be launched in under 10 minutes, making it a versatile asset for time-sensitive missions.

Operational applications for the Koios are diverse and include intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), convoy protection, early intelligence and warning, crewed-uncrewed teaming (CUC-T), border protection, infrastructure and pipeline monitoring, mapping, wildfire monitoring, and search and rescue missions.

To enhance its mission capabilities, Callen-Lenz equips its UAV with the SC3 mission management system. The SC3 enables the aircraft to execute missions autonomously, reducing pilot workload significantly. Mission planning becomes user-friendly through a point-and-click interface, making Koios suitable for various scenarios.

It's worth noting that SC3 is developed by SkyCircuits, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Callen-Lenz specializing in avionics systems, autopilots, and mission management systems for uncrewed aviation. SC3 is the latest product in their lineup, designed in-house to offer maximum capability with minimal pilot workload. It supports a wide range of uncrewed aircraft, including an automotive-grade lock-step processor and auxiliary processing for mission control, navigation, payload management, and third-party applications.

The SC3 system's autopilot solutions cater to multiple aircraft types, including multirotor, rotary wing, fixed-wing, hybrid fixed-wing, and hybrid tilt-wing operations. It can be used in various mission profiles, from standalone missions to crewed/uncrewed teaming, swarm capability, and ultra-long-range operations. For example, in September 2020, Callen-Lenz and Leonardo completed a demonstration of Crewed-Uncrewed Teaming (CUC-T) between a Callen-Lenz Fregata UAV and a crewed Leonardo AW159 Wildcat helicopter.

The Koios UAV is payload-agnostic, allowing it to be equipped with a standard EO/IR turret or customized with customer-specified payloads. (Picture source: Army Recognition)