Polish FlyEye drones praised by Ukraine for versatility and stealth
The commander of the Ukrainian unmanned subunit in the 26th Artillery Brigade praises the performance of the FlyEye drone obtained from Poland and the quality of technical support from the WB Group. We present the performance of this design and what the Ukrainian commander highlights.
The Ukrainian commander of the unmanned subunit in the 26th Artillery Brigade speaks highly of the Polish FlyEye drone in an interview.
The discussed model is an older third variant, which still proves effective thanks to updates introduced by the WB Group. The Ukrainian commander commends the Polish manufacturer for addressing issues by implementing improvements and incorporating the requirements of the Ukrainian forces.
Furthermore, the Ukrainian commander appreciates the presence of two cameras, a daytime and a thermal one, in a single head, allowing uninterrupted observation both day and night. This is in contrast to models like the Orlans, which require swapping observation heads depending on the time of day.
Jackson also praises the stabilization and image quality from the FlyEye's observational head, stating that the only competitor is the American Puma drones from AeroVironment, which produces drones like the Switchblade. Interestingly, the Ukrainian mentions that FlyEye drones have up to 90x zoom, although it is most likely digital since earlier reports cited using a head with 30x optical zoom in the drones.
FlyEye drones — effective eyes for artillery from Poland
Polish FlyEye drones are characterized by a wingspan of 3.6 metres and a take-off weight of 12 kilograms. Due to their small size, composite construction, and special flight algorithms, they effectively avoid detection by typical air defence radars, which often incorrectly identify them as birds. Furthermore, FlyEye often flies in gliding mode, which also reduces the thermal signature since the electric motor operates intermittently rather than continuously.
These features, combined with the capability to operate in conditions with communication and satellite navigation disruptions, enable them to effectively locate important targets both day and night for barrel or rocket artillery. The aforementioned optoelectronic head carries out target detection.
Additionally, FlyEye is equipped with batteries that allow for flights of over 2.5 hours at an altitude of up to 3,500 metres. The drones can communicate via radio over a distance of 180 kilometres, which is an additional advantage.
The modular design of FlyEye also allows for a wide range of applications, from reconnaissance to material transport, or as "flying routers" that strengthen the control signal of other drones. Users also praise the ease and quickness of assembly and disassembly, which takes less than 10 minutes, and the ability to launch the drone by hand.
It is also worth mentioning that FlyEye is the only advanced Polish military product included in the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) offer, demonstrating its exceptional capabilities and versatility.
