smartmicro Altimeter Sensors
Support Naval Drone Training

Precision in Motion – smartmicro Altimeter Sensors Support Naval Drone Training

In the defense sector, realistic training is essential for operational readiness. QinetiQ, specializing in military training solutions, partnered with smartmicro to support a unique and challenging use case: missile defense training. The scenario involves a drone, simulating an incoming threat, that is intercepted at sea – requiring highly accurate altitude detection under extreme conditions.

The Challenge

The training scenario uses a jet engine drone that launches from land, climbs to 1,000 meters above ground, and then descends rapidly toward a military ship at sea. The naval crew is tasked with intercepting the drone at an altitude of just 10 to 15 meters above sea level. With flight speeds of up to 200 meters per second, the mission demands not only precise height detection but also robust, reliable technology.

The environmental conditions added further complexity: salt spray, shifting temperatures, and reduced visibility are all common. QinetiQ needed an altimeter that could withstand these challenges and still deliver real-time, accurate altitude measurements to enable precise missile testing and training.

The Solution

smartmicro delivered its state-of-the-art 24GHz Micro Radar Altimeter Sensors, developed specifically for manned and unmanned aerial systems operating in tough conditions. These sensors are housed in a robust and watertight enclosure, ensuring resilience in maritime environments.

Their ability to operate in temperatures ranging from -40 °C to +85 °C, and to remain unaffected by pitch and roll angles of up to ±20 degrees, made them ideally suited for this use case.

Crucially, smartmicro’s altimeters reliably deliver true height-above-ground measurements, even in situations with low visibility. This allowed QinetiQ to ensure that it could accurately emulate sea-skimming threats for its customers.

Results and Benefits

Over the last years, QinetiQ has acquired thousands of sensors. The sensors have proven essential in helping the naval crews train for targeting scenarios, improving both accuracy and response time. The smartmicro altimeter’s fast response and resilience under extreme conditions made it the sensor of choice for this mission-critical training scenario.

Conclusion

This collaboration highlights the importance of reliable, real-time sensing technology in defense training. By choosing smartmicro’s cutting-edge radar altimeters,QinetiQ was able to deliver highly effective and repeatable naval training exercises that accurately simulate real-life missile defense scenarios. The sensors’ precision, reliability, and robustness continue to play a key role in preparing naval crews for rapid-response defense operations.