Fortem Technologies DroneHunter
DroneHunter® F700 (courtesy of Fortem Technology, Inc.)
Charging the DroneHunters: how Skycharge enables 24/7 operations
Utah-based Fortem Technologies makes a range of radar-detection systems that are combined to staggering effect in its DroneHunter® F700.
The DroneHunter F700 is designed specifically to capture other drones – everything from small quadcopters to larger, much faster fixed-wing aircraft.
Rather than shooting these drones down, it captures them with rapidly expanding nets. “Tether nets” are used to ensnare smaller Group-1 drones and tow them to a safe landing zone. Larger, heavier drones are captured by a DrogueNet® – a net connected to a parachute, to ensure safe landing.
The challenge
Counter UAV is a 24-7 operation. Fortem’s DroneHunters are essentially autonomous. They take-off from the hangar once a threat is detected, position themselves to intercept that threat, calculate the shot required and then capture.
But Fortem needed a reliable charging system to sit in that hangar and keep the DroneHunter charged and ready to go at a moment’s notice – the final part of the autonomous jigsaw.
The solution
“We’d been looking at developing our own system but then thought we’d just research what was out there,” says Eric Townsend, product manager at Fortem Technologies. And that’s where Skycharge came in. “Skycharge was a little more expensive, but it was worth it. We were able to really quickly integrate Skycharge into our DroneHangar to allow the DroneHunter to be charged 24/7.”
The Skycharge 750W system Fortem uses has an ultralight onboard payload of just 25g. This is a negligible weight for Fortem’s DroneHunters, which weigh about 18kg. Skycharge have since introduced a 1500W system that could charge the DroneHunter’s 16 amp batteries in about 30 minutes.
DroneHangar™ (courtesy of Fortem Technology, Inc.)
The results
Townsend says integrating Skycharge into the DroneHunter ecosystem has “enabled us to sell drone hangars to military customers, who need the DroneHunter to work 24/7.”
In February 2023, Fortem secured an extra $17.8m of funding, mostly from large aerospace companies. “The level of support and industry experience these investors bring allows us to tap into unparalleled business, technical, and industry knowledge,” says Fortem CEO Jon Gruen.
Fortem’s DroneHunters have captured more than 4,500 units to date. And while the war in Ukraine continues, that number will keep on rising. It’s difficult to put a value on the service Fortem and Skycharge are providing here – keeping soldiers and civilians safe.
