Farnborough 17 July 2014
Finmeccanica ASIO-B and SPYBALL-B mini and micro UAVs have passed their factory acceptance tests, leaving them ready for delivery to the Italian Army for its Forza NEC modernisation programme.
With the systems ready to be welcomed into operation, the Italian Army will soon be able to benefit from the effective support that mini-micro UAVs can provide for a wide range of mission types. Troops and vehicles will be more aware and better protected whether facing attacks on convoys or forward operating bases or fighting in dangerous urban areas. All this is made possible due to the UAV’s ability to gather, process and transmit images and geo-referenced data in a reliable and precise fashion. It means that dangers can be quickly identified and reported straight back to troops.
ASIO-B and SPYBALL-B, electrically powered Mini/Micro Uncrewed Aerial System (MUAS), are operated from control stations that look and operate much like oversized video game control pads. They’ll soon be joined by a third member of the family, the CREX-B, another small fixed-wing uncrewed aerial system produced by Finmeccanica - Selex ES. Carried in backpacks and simple to fly, all three of the Finmeccanica - Selex ES mini drones are designed to meet the requirements of the Italian Armed Forces and the latest NATO standards. This makes them ideal for use in international and joint operations with NATO allies.