Next-generation drone with a range of 1,600 kilometers that provides 24-hour surveillance capability

California-based aerial technology company Kraus Hamdani Aerospace has been awarded a contract by the United States to develop and produce ultra-long endurance unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or drones for the military.

The contract is for $20 million through the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT) program.

The contract is for the supply of K1000ULE drones to two organizations, the first being US Army Pacific (USARPAC), the 1st Multi-Domain Task Force (1 MDTF) and the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC).

Kraus Hamdani Aerospace says the K1000ULE is a next-generation long-mission UAS. It will provide the U.S. Army with Aerial Tier Network Extension (ATNE), Electronic Warfare (EW) and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities for deep sensing and long-range communications expansion.

The K1000ULE drone is positioned to provide Group 2 and Group 3 UAS capabilities with a Group 2 UAS logistics footprint, the company said.

K1000ULE Drone – Specifications

According to Kraus Hamdani Aviationthe K1000ULE drone has a sustained flight capability of up to 24 hours. The electric drone also offers an exciting flight range of 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers).

It can travel at speeds of 46 miles per hour (40 knots) and a ceiling height of 20,000 feet. In addition, the 3-meter-long drone has a wingspan of 5 meters and can fly with a maximum take-off weight of 19.3 kilograms.

The launch and landing are job independentmeaning it can take off and land easily in contested situations thanks to its vertical take-off and landing capabilities. Moreover, it also has the ability to perform operations beyond the line of sight, in addition to autonomous features, an open architecture and the ability to be operated by only a team of three people.

The drone will also provide users with the much-needed fly-and-forget mechanism at a cost-effective price.

Surveillance, electronic warfare and more capabilities

Another advantage is that it is made entirely in the USA, with parts that are not made locally, so there is no dependency on it other countries.

The drone can wear an impressive range of electro-optical, communications and electronic warfare equipment to achieve the desired objectives. It is also suitable for carrying other US DOD MOD compliant payloads.

The United States Army Pacific (USARPAC) had recognized the K1000ULE’s deep reconnaissance and detection capabilities as one critical need for the US Army in 2022.

This led to the K1000ULE becoming a platform included in several exercises and operations in various theaters of operations in the Pacific.

“Over time, we have evolved our technology in line with the requirements of the U.S. Army and continue to tailor the K1000ULE to the needs of the warfighter in a dynamically changing environment. The APFIT award validates our learnings from conflict zones around the world and our alignment to deliver mature technology that gives our warfighter an asymmetrical advantage over our adversaries in modern warfare,” said Fatema Hamdani, CEO and co-founder of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace .