Rapier X-SkySAR is the smallest LIGHT class UAS equipped with an airborne mini Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) payload, for all-weather surveillance and mapping even in degraded visibility conditions, in addition to the high-performance EO/IR payload.

The aircraft is equipped with innovative systems, able to guarantee the operation in hostile environment, and it is designed with optimization criteria in terms of aerodynamic efficiency, volumetric capability and structural weights. Consequently, the Rapier X-SkySAR can assure long endurance (+16 h) with cutting-edge technological payloads.

The Rapier X-SkySAR System is composed of:

• Aircraft The aircraft is equipped with a state of the art EO/IR sensor payload, with the best Detection, Recognition and Identification (DRI) performance of the category.
• Ground Control Station The Ground Control Station (GCS) consists of two stations: Pilot In Command and Sensor Operator. The GCS can be used for mission planning activities, mission execution, including manual, semiautomatic and automatic flight, flight and sensor data analysis activities and training.
• Pneumatic Launching System The pneumatic launcher is designed to guarantee the maximum accuracy and repeatability of the launch of the aircraft, regardless of the climatic conditions (temperature, pressure, humidity). Launch activation is controlled directly by the GCS, to ensure the safety of the operators involved in the launch operations. The launcher ramp can be easily and quickly oriented, depending on the wind direction.
• Precision Recovery System (optional) The recovery system has been designed to allow for a precision, safe, automatic landing. Compared to similar systems, based on Textile Barriers, or on Recovery Cable, the Rapier system is able to dissipate the kinetic energy of the aircraft, minimizing the risk of damage from hard impact with the recovery network.