Teledyne FLIR's SkyCarrier is redefining UAS operations anywhere and on the move
In the fast-moving, unpredictable environments of modern conflict, reliable, real-time intelligence has become vital. Commanders rely on unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to make rapid, data-driven decisions.
But, as seen in Ukraine, the faster front-line teams can move, the safer they are. So how can uncrewed systems deliver surveillance, targeting and reconnaissance when their operators can't stop moving?
Teledyne FLIR Defense believes it has the answer. We spoke with Richard Cunha, Product Director, to find out how its new SkyCarrier™ autonomous drone launch and recovery system is addressing this challenge.
The challenge of on-the-move drone operations
Drone operation is critical, but it comes with challenges. Operators face the difficult task of operating multiple drones, launching and recovering them from confined or unstable platforms. It demands significant training and precision, particularly when dealing with unpredictable motion, rough terrain, or rolling seas.
Recovery is complex, and operators, often working remotely, need skill to land a UAV safely on a moving vehicle or small ship. But stopping to perform these tasks, even briefly, carries its own risks.
Rich Cunha explains, "In high-tempo operations, stopping even a single vehicle to operate a drone can expose not just that platform, but entire convoys or formations, and threaten the mission. We developed SkyCarrier to remove that dilemma entirely."
Autonomous launch and recovery, even at speed
At first glance, SkyCarrier appears to be a reinforced drone container. But it is a ruggedized box that autonomously launches and recovers Teledyne FLIR's R80D SkyRaider® and SkyRanger® R70 drones from moving land vehicles, maritime vessels, or fixed sites.
Designed for high-speed, hands-free operation, SkyCarrier allows drones to take off and land while in motion, even in rugged terrain. It has been engineered for extreme reliability, allowing for a 45-minute flight time with a payload of up to 2 kg. It operates in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +50°C and compensates for up to 20° of vehicle incline during take-off and landing.
SkyCarrier includes a "follow me" option, allowing the UAS to track and return to designated vehicles, personnel, or locations, even in GPS-denied environments. The drones automatically navigate home, guided by integrated near-infrared (NIR) beacons and QR (quick-response) codes. The pad maximizes the UAS's landing area, centers the aircraft, and reduces storage space.
Persistent power and a jam-resistant communications lifeline
As well as free-flight operations, SkyCarrier has a tethered option featuring a 108-metre auto-reel tether spool and power electronics for persistent observation. With continuous power, the drones can maintain operations for up to 48 to 96 hours.
The tethered deployment is supported by intelligent algorithms that automatically adjust flight height based on wind speed or vehicle motion, descending to safe altitudes when necessary and re-ascending as conditions improve.
Rich explains, "Tethers offer multiple benefits. At altitudes of 100 meters (330ft), drones clear most tree lines, hills, and low-lying buildings in urban areas, significantly extending the RF footprint and connectivity, which is the lifeblood of most modern militaries.
"Tethers provide persistent power to a drone so you don't have to land to switch out batteries. They can also be used as a communications umbilical, creating a jam-proof way to pass data back and forth to the UAV while minimizing electronic signature. Increasingly, we're seeing UAVs being used as aerial relays. You can house radios to create a localized communications bubble around a unit. "
A flexible platform for multiple use cases
SkyCarrier has clear potential across defense, border protection, critical infrastructure, and maritime security. Mounted on a vehicle, it can deliver radio retransmission, chemical, biological, radiological (CBR) hazard detection, or ISR support to dismounted troops.
"SkyCarrier is a flexible tool, and our end users are finding new use cases and missions for the platform on a semi-regular basis," explains Rich. "In every role, it reduces risk to personnel. One of the things we've been working on is a suite of sensing capabilities to scan areas for threats like unexploded ordinance, craters, or demining in peacetime."
Teledyne FLIR recently completed trials under a Canadian Department of National Defense R&D programme, using a SkyRanger kitted with Teledyne's EchoONE lidar, Blackfly daylight, and Boson thermal cameras to detect hazards such as mines, razor wire and ditches.
"It's an example of how this 'drone-in-a-box' can enhance safety. It's possible to send these systems ahead of convoys to scan for hazards so they don't have to stop or expose themselves to risk."
Instant eyes-on: rapid response from any location
When not on the move, SkyCarrier is ideal for fixed site applications, such as protecting CNI or border security, for example.
"Having a capable UAV ready to deploy at a moment's notice speeds up response times significantly," says Rich. "An operator could immediately deploy a drone a thousand kilometers away at the push of a button. Traditionally, a team would be needed to carry equipment onto a roof, assemble the UAV, and deploy manually. With SkyCarrier, the UAV can be airborne in two minutes, offering persistent surveillance with a tethered system, or free flight responding to an event such as a suspected intruder, crowd monitoring, or executing pre-programmed patrols."
Mission control and swarm capability
SkyCarrier integrates with Teledyne FLIR's Mission Control System Software, enabling an operator to plan missions and control up to 16 aircraft simultaneously, paving the way for mini swarm operations.
Rich explains, "Swarm is a key capability. A single operator or application can manage multiple systems across a border, for example, and task them individually or collaboratively, or they can autonomously relieve each other as batteries drain."
"We're now extending the ability of those systems to do more, more smartly, so users don't have to be so hands-on. They can increasingly trust the systems to figure out whether an area is clear or what the safest path is. Building that trust and confidence, though, is critical."
Trials and in the field
SkyCarrier has undergone two years of testing across varied environments, from the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico to Alaska, demonstrating performance in both maritime and ground operations. It has also been tested on vehicles, including the Ford F-150/F-250, GMC Sierra, Toyota Hilux, and Zodiac Milpro RHIBs.
"We've tested it off the coast of Alaska with a US DoD customer on a small Zodiac," says Rich. "Northern maritime operations are probably among our most challenging, with magnetic anomalies and low GPS coverage. But the system performed incredibly well."
Teledyne FLIR has also conducted trials with the Norwegian Ministry of Defence, the US Air Force, and other partners, validating autonomous operation from moving platforms at speeds of up to 50 km/h (30 mph).
"We've also done integrations with Teledyne's perimeter security systems," Rich adds, "where a radar or thermal camera detects an intrusion, and the UAV automatically launches to investigate. It proves the autonomy we're building, and operators can trust the system to go and look."
The future
Looking ahead, Rich explains that Teledyne FLIR's focus is to bring more systems together. "We're laser-focused on providing autonomy-enhanced solutions that make operation as simple and seamless as possible. We're exploring how to integrate systems and sensors from ground robots to satellites, combining that data in a way that provides meaningful context without requiring the user to be an expert. That's the direction we're heading."
Conclusion
With its blend of autonomy, ruggedness and versatility, SkyCarrier represents a major step forward in modern conflict, where defense teams must remain mobile, stay hidden, and stay connected.
Teledyne FLIR Defense is now accepting orders for SkyCarrier, with production scheduled to begin in Q2 2026.
For more information, visit https://defense.flir.com/defense-products/skycarrier/
For more information please visit:
https://defense.flir.com/defense-products/skycarrier/
