Leonardo‘s tactical communications and cargo drones join forces with the Italian Army in Exercise Alpine Star

For Leonardo the exercise, which ran from the 12th of September until the 7th of October in the Bolzano province, was the perfect opportunity to validate and enhance the capabilities developed for Forza NEC (Network Enabled Capabilities) project in a highly compartmentalised mountainous environment. Throughout Alpine Star, Leonardo provided its advanced tactical communications and distributed logistics technologies using uncrewed that can operate in ever-changing environments, while increasing the protection of people in the field from potential threats.

During the exercise, Leonardo’s assets provided digital communications, exploiting the flexibility of SDR (Software Defined Radio) technology, which allows for the use of different waveforms (Broadband and Narrowband). More specifically, Narrow Band Adaptive Waveforms (NBAW), which, when combined with Mobile Ad Hoc NETwork (MANET) technology, allows for the reliable, long-distance relay of the position of the deployed units and short messages. In combination with remotely piloted aircraft, these capabilities also made it possible to extend radio coverage.

In this case, the platform used was the Leonardo MULE-LFB prototype, a multi-rotor electric cargo drone that can lift and transport up to 100 kg, a factor that allows for the rapid and safe replenishment of contact units operating in inaccessible terrain. It also makes it possible to rationalise the use of resources and streamline traditional air component, leaving troops to focus on combat and exploration activities. 

The deployment of relatively small, high-performance cargo drones offers significant added value, especially when distributed on a wide scale. In critical military and government logistical missions, ‘on-demand’ replenishment can make all the difference, allowing a team to move with more agility, more secure knowing that they will receive supplies and equipment quickly and at precise drop-off points.

Leonardo supplies complete remote-controlled solutions for intelligence, surveillance, monitoring and information acquisition missions, integrating platforms, radar and electro-optical sensors, mission systems and ground control stations. The company’s technologies respond to the needs of the Armed Forces, also thanks to new technologies, like Artificial Intelligence.