Ukrainian company Wild Hornets develops module that can increase drone operating range by up to 50% – photos
Ukrainian company Wild Hornets has developed the HV VTX Pro video transmitter, which is responsible for transmitting video signals from a drone to a ground station.
Source: Wild Hornets in a conversation with Ukrainska Pravda
Quote: "This upgrade expands the capabilities of both interceptor drones and FPV strike drones. Under comparable conditions, their maximum effective operating range will increase by up to 50%."
Details: The new HV VTX Pro will become part of the Hornet Vision digital video transmission system. Engineers have more than doubled the transmitter's maximum output power, to 4W.
The company explained that the more powerful module is expected to increase the range of digital video transmission and improve the stability and quality of communications when electronic warfare systems are operating.
According to the company, the operating radius of interceptor drones could increase from approximately 20 to 30 km under favourable radio conditions and when using an omnidirectional antenna with 360-degree coverage, which is installed on Hornet Vision ground stations.
Quote: "The more powerful VTX module also expands the capabilities of interceptor drones to engage targets flying at extremely low altitudes. According to pilots' estimates, depending on the conditions, this could increase the effectiveness of intercepting such targets by at least 20%."
More details: Wild Hornets said that when a directional antenna is used, the effective communication range with the new HV VTX Pro could increase even further.
"This will significantly increase the effectiveness of FPV strike drones: their maximum operating range will largely depend on battery capacity," the company explained.
The HV VTX Pro has already entered mass production and is being installed on all new Wild Hornets drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras. In the near future, the company plans to equip drones with daylight cameras with the new modules as well. The company stressed that this will not increase the cost of the drones for the Ukrainian military.
Previously, Wild Hornets also upgraded the Hornet Vision system, increasing the number of independent communication channels from nine to 25. The company said this will allow up to 25 crews to operate with Hornet Vision simultaneously without creating critical radio interference with one another.
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