Insitu unveils the ScanEagle 2

Insitu announced its ScanEagle 2, the next generation of its ScanEagle platform. The unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) provides increased payload power and expanded payload options, a more robust navigation system, better image quality, and a purpose-built propulsion system.

“For two decades, Insitu has made a name for itself through iterative innovation,” said Ryan Hartman, president and CEO of Insitu. “ScanEagle 2 will shepherd us into the next two decades as we focus on reliability and affordability and enter the civil and commercial market. And as ScanEagle has always done, ScanEagle 2 will provide the capability our warfighters have come to expect from Insitu—yet more affordable and more capable.”

According to the company, the purpose built engine was designed to increase mission reliability while reducing life-cycle costs. ScanEagle 2 also enables commonality with other unmanned systems thanks to an open-architecture ground control system, as well as a launch-and-recovery system it shares with Integrator, Insitu’s other unmanned platform.

“It’s the first reciprocating internal combustion propulsion system to be engineered from the ground up for unmanned aerospace application,” said the company. “This new technology delivers advancements not available on other aircraft in this class, including real-time monitoring and diagnostics of all critical systems, sensors and actuator redundancy, and extensive ‘black box’ recording ability.”

The new design also allows for commonality with all Insitu systems, reducing training, hardware and life-cycle costs. It also delivers reliable and fast access to information through its Ethernet-based architecture.

“A fully digital video system throughout the aircraft increases both image quality and performance, and a reduced Electronic Magnetic Interference (EMI) environment allows for more electronically sensitive payloads to be integrated,” the company said.

The vehicle has a wingspan of 10.2 feet, an empty structure weight of 41.8 (19 kg) pounds, has a max payload weight of 7.7 pounds (3.5 kg), a flight endurance of up to 16 hours and has a maximum horizontal speed of 41.2 miles per second (80 knots).

Nevada’s UAS test site, which was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration in June, was issued a certificate of authorization to use the Insitu’s original ScanEagle at the Desert Rock Airport located in Mercury, Nevada.