ECA demonstrates IT180 UAV
ECA Group has disclosed details of a demonstration held in late April of its IT180 tethered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for military and civilian applications.
The demonstration saw representatives of several major military and security organisations from France and abroad in attendance, according to the company. The presentation saw ECA Group demonstrate its Unmanned Aerial Watchtower (UAW) for the first time.
The IT180-999 UAV can be deployed and fly up to 150 metres within seconds. It is tethered by a cable that provides power and the data link to the UAV. It is suited for long surveillance operations. The IT180 was also presented in its traditional ISTAR missions.
The UAV has a gyro-stabilised Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) video camera for detection, recognition and identification capabilities. ECA Group partnered with Seolane to demonstrate an anti-UAV scenario, introducing its Paradrone solution.
The company also partnered with YellowScan to present the advantages of a UAV with a LiDAR system, enabling a wide range of inspection operations. The UAV was used to demonstrate the inspection of power lines. It can also operate autonomously with pre-designed flight plans.
ECA Group will hold its next demonstration sessions in June 2016, focused on defence and security applications. Apart from the tethered IT180, it will present other terrestrial unmanned solutions.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Uncrewed Vehicles
-
![AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments]()
AUSA 2024: Quantum-Systems targets big 2025 with UAS developments
Quantum-Systems has been upgrading its UAS family, with new versions of the Vector, Reliant and Twister drones set for release throughout 2025.
-
![US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS]()
US Army accelerates acquisition and field of company-level sUAS
The service has been using a Directed Requirement (DR) approach to speed up the deployment of a Medium Range Reconnaissance capability.
-
![AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024]()
AeroVironment to display eVTOL P550 at AUSA 2024
AeroVironment’s portfolio will grow thanks to the eVTOL P550 aimed at battalion-level tactical forces.
-
![Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards]()
Australia’s air force aims its UAV fleet northwards
The Royal Australian Air Force is advancing its unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities across three key programmes as it works with the likes of Boeing and Northrop Grumman to reshape Australia’s defence strategy.
-
![FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official]()
FTUAS competitor trials were “very successful”, says US Army official
Prototypes from Griffon Aerospace and Textron Systems recently passed through MOSA conformance trials and flight tests.
-
![Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities]()
Pentagon adds Replicator 2 to budget request with focus on C-sUAS capabilities
Funds for the second phase of this effort will be allocated in the US Department of Defense (DoD) FY2026 budget request.
