*Athanasios Tsakalos

Cyprus-based Swarmly unveiled its Unmanned Systems at the International Defence and Security Exhibition DEFEA 2023, some of which are already operating in Ukraine.

Specifically, the company presented the Unmanned Sea Vessel (USV) B5 Hydra and the Poseidon H10 and H12 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Also read: War in Ukraine | The Cypriot H10 Poseidon UAV on the front line – VIDEO

The B5 Hydra

The B5 Hydra is a project that was carried out in collaboration with the Italian Leonardo within only 3.5 months.

Leonardo, responsible for the armament part of the project, provided its LIONFISH 12.7 Ultralight Remotely Weapon Station (RWS). The LIONFISH UL is one of three 12.7 mm variants in the new family of remotely-controlled naval turrets. “Top” and “Inner Reloading” variants are also available in the same caliber, while the company also offers a 20 mm “Lionfish 20” model.

B5 Hydra, with a payload capacity of 600 kg, allows the installation of a LIONFISH 12.7 Ultralight mount without deck penetration (catamaran type). The vessel is armed with a Browning 12.7 mm M2HB heavy machine gun, weighing less than 180 kg without ammunition. 

Its typical payload hosts a 250 ready-to-fire rounds magazine and is compatible with a wide variety of ammunition such as AP (armor piercing), API (armor piercing incendiary), APT (Armor-piercing tracer), APIT (Armor-piercing incendiary tracer), M33 ball (12,7 x 99 mm).

According to Leonardo, the LIONFISH features a training range of ± 155°, while the elevation range is –20°/+70° thus making the system effective against any asymmetric surface threats as well as helicopters and drones. The turret is also fitted with an electro-optical suite with day and night cameras, with respective detection / recognition / identification range of 9.5 / 4.8 / 2.7 km and 6.3 / 3.0 / 1.5 km, as well as a laser rangefinder with a 5.5 km range. 

In addition, the aiming system is fully stabilized in elevation and azimuth, among others, by means of powerful servo-systems in a closed loop for great accuracy.

Also, the LIONFISH 12.7 Ultralight is remotely controlled through its own Local Control Console and is capable of autonomously determining the stabilized firing coordinates by performing calculations from ballistic and target trajectory data. In emergency conditions, proper handles, located in the rear part of the cradle, allow to manually move the turret and fire, thus making it effective against any asymmetric surface threats, helicopters and drones.

Alternatively, the B5 Hydra can also be used in “suicide” mode with its two hulls filled with explosives, while Swarmly and Leonardo seek to expand its armament configuration with the Black Scorpion lightweight torpedo. 

In terms of logistic footprint, the B5 Hydra can fit into a 20-foot container while two can be transported in a 40-foot one. 

Also read: These are the Norsafe S1200 boats for the Hellenic Army – VIDEO

VTOL Poseidon and R8 IAS

Poseidon vertical take-off Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (VTOLs) are also the company’s best-known systems.

The H10 Poseidon model in particular is already operating in the Ukrainian theatre of operations with great success, supporting targeting operations for the artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Regarding the newest member of the Poseidon family, the H12 Poseidon, it is an upgrade to the combat-proven H6 Poseidon MkII VTOL UAS and is designed for both land-based and maritime operations with payload capacity up to 50 kg. 

H12 Poseidon VTOL UAV features a hybrid propulsion – a gasoline cruise motor and eight permanently mounted VTOL electric motors – which allow for safe recovery in case of failures or kinetic damage. Its outer wing sections are designed for quick field attachment for operations from a mobile base or onboard a marine vessel.

According to Swarmly, the absolute advantage of the system at issue lies in the fact that it is designed to operate in GNSS-denied environments under rough weather conditions, integrating a wide range of payload options, such as explosive agents and electro-optical equipment as well as EW packages.

Specifically, H12 Poseidon VTOL UAS technical characteristics include:

• Maximum operating temperature: 60 °C
• Minimum operating temperature: -20 °C
• Maximum operational rainfall: 8 mm/h
• Length: 3400 mm
• Maximum payload capacity: 50 kg
• Cruise speed: 125 km/h
• Maximum speed: 130 km/h
• Maximum operational range: 1300 km
• Wingspan: 6000 mm
• EVLOS (Extended Visual Line of Sight operations) communication range: 150 km
• Maximum take-off weight: 150 kg
• Ceiling: 5 km
• Maximum VTOL hover time: 3 min
• Endurance: 11 hrs
• Maximum takeoff wind speed: 50 km/h

Additionally, Swarmly Aero’s Poseidon UAV can act as an intermediate connection and communication hub due to the R8 Hermes Integrated Avionics System, which was also showcased at DEFEA 2023. 

R8 Hermes Integrated Avionics System (IAS) is the backbone of the aforementioned VTOL UAS and it is installed into any VTOL UAS of the company.

R8 Hermes incorporates:

• An onboard state-of-art Electronic Warfare suite by Israel’s NextVision
• Flight Control System (FCS) 
• EW-resistant BVLOS Communications developed by Swarmly
• Payload Release Mechanism management: delivering better than 5 meters CEP from up to 600 meters altitude and simultaneously management of up to six PRMs
• Industry-standard MAVLink protocol to integrate all system components and any third-party GCS software such as Swarmly’s comprehensive Pilot Station software suite.

AUVs

Finally, the company is going to expand its portfolio in the field of Autonomous Underwater Systems (AUVs) in collaboration with the French company Arkeocean. The agreement which was recently signed in Nicosia as part of the first B2B Defence and Security Workshop organized by the French Embassy with GICAN and CCCI (CARIE Department).

Also read: Agreement between Swarmly Aero and Arkeocean in Nicosia for the development of Unmanned Underwater Systems