InstantEye Robotics demonstrates Gen 5 Echo palm-sized UAV at US Army AEWE

InstantEye Robotics demonstrated its Mk-3 Gen5-D1/D2 (E) Echo palm-sized unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at the recent US Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment (AEWE).

Mike Mackiewicz, the director of operations at InstantEye Robotics, told Janes on 26 April that the Echo is an enhanced version of the company’s Generation 5 aircraft and has the Gluon 640x512 long-wave infrared (LWIR) imaging camera, which is a military-only sensor in development. The Echo weighs 193 g and has an endurance exceeding 20 minutes with an operational range exceeding 4.5 km.

The US Army used the Echo in both urban and rural settings at the 2021 AEWE, which took place from 5 February to 5 March at Fort Benning in Georgia. Bill Arganda, InstantEye Robotics project engineer, told Janes on 14 April that US Army soldiers used the Echo in both attack and defence scenarios. They launched the aircraft in the defence situation and used its infrared (IR) camera to see attacking positions.

Arganda said the US Army also used the Echo as part of an attack on buildings. Soldiers used the aircraft to see adversaries in windows and on rooftops, and smoke grenades on the ground. Mackiewicz told Janes on 14 April that this was part of infantry element situational training exercises.

Arganda said the US Army soldiers provided feedback that they appreciated improvements in digital stabilisation with the Echo. Soldiers also appreciated using the aircraft to identify targets and hazards, he added.