WDS 2024: US company Skyfront presents Perimeter 8 and 8+ hybrid drones.

At the World Defense Show 2024 in Saudi Arabia, Skyfront, a company based in the United States, is presenting its latest developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology with the Perimeter 8 and 8+ hybrid drones. These drones are noted for their hybrid gas-electric power systems, which allow them to carry payloads of up to 10 kg for an hour and 5 kg for 2-3 hours.
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The Perimeter 8 drone is capable of flying for 5 hours without a payload and can carry a maximum payload of 7.5 kg for an hour. (Picture source: Army Recognition)

According to Skyfront, this capability aims to improve operational efficiency by shortening the time required for certain missions. Skyfront focuses on producing long-endurance drones for various applications, including surveillance, detection of unexploded ordnance, and other commercial and defense uses. The company states that the extended flight times of these drones are due to a proprietary fuel-injected hybrid-electric power source that converts gasoline to electricity during flight, providing endurance and power redundancy.

The Perimeter 8 drone is capable of flying for 5 hours without a payload and can carry a maximum payload of 7.5 kg for an hour. Its operational range is up to 177 km, and it can operate in temperatures up to 45°C. The drone is designed to reach a top speed of 57 km/h, withstand wind speeds over 40 km/h, and cruise at a speed of 35 km/h.

The Perimeter 8+ model extends these capabilities, with over 5 hours of flight time without a payload and the ability to carry a maximum payload of 10 kg for an hour. This model has an operational range of up to 216 km, a maximum speed of 70 km/h, a maximum altitude of 4,000 m, and can operate in temperatures up to 50°C with an optional upgrade for high-heat conditions.

In terms of dimensions and weight, the drones have a tip-to-tip length with arms removed of 0.6 m x 0.81 m and a ready-to-fly size of 2 m x 1.9 m. The minimum height is 0.37 m, with the height customizable based on the payload. The maximum takeoff weights are 26 kg for the Perimeter 8 and 23 kg for the Perimeter 8+. Furthermore, the Skyfront drones are designed with user-friendliness in mind, featuring quick deployment capabilities where they can be unboxed, assembled, and flown in less than five minutes.

For communication, these UAVs support configurable radio frequencies from 433 MHz to 5.8 GHz and various encryption protocols for secure data transmission. They are operated using Skyfront's proprietary Ground Control Station software, compatible with both standard and ruggedized Windows 10 computers.

The UAVs are equipped with proprietary autopilot firmware based on Pixhawk/PX4, and engine control firmware that enables operations over distances ranging from 10 km to 100 km. They offer several flight modes, including Altitude Hold, Loiter, and Position, with the option to configure additional modes.

Skyfront's UAVs utilize a proprietary hybrid gasoline-electric propulsion system, with electronic fuel injection and an electrical conversion efficiency of over 95%. The battery, a lithium polymer type, offers a flight time of 3-5 minutes, extendable upon request, and requires 91 octane or higher gasoline/petrol.

Optional features and accessories for these UAVs include GPS jamming defense, capabilities for operation in hot weather, and support for various sensor payloads such as visual and thermal sensors, LIDAR, multispectral, hyperspectral cameras, and magnetometers.

Such capacity aligns with the requirements of a wide range of defense and commercial applications, including surveillance missions, unexploded ordnance detection, and geophysical exploration, where extended flight durations and the capability to transport significant payloads are crucial.