Reliant German Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Reliant German Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a Group 2 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing unmanned aerial system (UAS) that offers a combination of long-range endurance and rapid, infrastructure-free deployment. Powered by a rugged internal combustion engine compatible with heavy fuels, the Reliant can provide over 10 hours of persistent Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) without the need for runways, launchers, or recovery gear. Designed for high-wind, high-altitude, and denied environments, the Reliant performs exceptionally well where traditional platforms may struggle. It features dual swappable payload bays, enabling it to support ISR, Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), or Electronic Warfare (EW) missions. Onboard edge AI processing, powered by NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX modules, facilitates real-time threat detection and adaptive rerouting, even in the absence of connectivity. The platform can be deployed by a two-person team in under 10 minutes, using a compact 10x10 meter footprint for launch and recovery from rooftops, vehicles, ships, or remote terrains. With an IP55-rated, all-weather design and reliable navigation in GNSS-denied environments, the Reliant grants operators the flexibility and resilience necessary to function in complex and contested battlefields. It integrates two NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX modules for on-board processing of sensor data, enabling real-time object detection, scene analysis, and adaptive threat tracking. This capability allows operators to generate actionable intelligence and make dynamic flight adjustments, even in GNSS-denied or EW-contested situations. The AI-driven mission engine of the Reliant automatically generates points of interest (POIs), adjusts flight paths in real-time, and facilitates pattern-of-life detection and change analysis across repeated missions. Its dual, hot-swappable, MOD-compliant payload bays enable field teams to quickly reconfigure sensors, including Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR), SIGINT, EW, and Command-Resistant Precision Approach (CRPA), without requiring toolkits, software updates, or aircraft downtime. This modular design enables teams to adapt swiftly in the field, keeping pace with evolving objectives and shifting threats. Built on an open architecture, the Reliant supports seamless integration with third-party and government off-the-shelf payloads, enhancing its utility across a range of ISR and electronic warfare missions. Operators can conduct consecutive missions with different sensor loads, maximizing aircraft utilization and maintaining operational momentum. The Reliant offers full mission autonomy from system activation to flight and recovery, requiring little to no operator intervention. Equipped with both line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) SATCOM datalinks, it can scale across distributed formations or border security zones and coordinate with other aircraft through Multi-User Mission Tasking (MUM-T)-ready, swarm-enabled capabilities. Reliant is compatible with NATO and coalition command and control (C2) systems, including TAK, SitaWare, Kropyva, and FacNav. This compatibility facilitates smooth, real-time ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) sharing across allied networks. Its open software architecture, built on ROS and Docker, allows for quick updates, flexible payload integration, and scalable growth without being tied to a specific vendor. Designed for plug-and-play operation, Reliant supports rapid sensor swaps and third-party payloads, enabling mission-specific customization. It is ready for coalition and Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T), enhancing interoperability among joint forces and accommodating evolving operational demands. Reliant empowers operators with extended mission endurance and reliable performance in challenging environments where GPS is jammed, datalinks are under threat, and signal integrity is poor. Its resilient navigation suite integrates sensor fusion, frequency-hopping datalinks, and anti-jam protocols to maintain control and positioning when other systems fail. Even when connectivity is disrupted, Reliant’s onboard AI continues to execute the mission by adapting flight paths, capturing intelligence, and delivering real-time insights without operator input. **Reliant Sensors:** - Gimbaled Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensors with optional laser rangefinder, laser designator, or laser illuminator - Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) - Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) payloads - Controlled Reception Pattern Antenna (CRPA) modules for GNSS resilience - Electronic Warfare (EW) and jamming payloads - Additional tactical data links and relay packages