Intelligent unmanned systems provider Quantum Systems has been selected by the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support to supply up to 747 Twister reconnaissance drones to replace the ALADIN system.
What Is the Scope of the Twister Contract?
The contract with the German armed forces covers a fixed order of 147 Twister systems, with options for up to 600 additional units, Quantum Systems said Friday. At least 250 systems are guaranteed to be delivered annually, though the output can be increased as needed. The Twister platform is intended to replace the Bundeswehr’s ALADIN reconnaissance system.
What Is Quantum Systems’ Twister?
Twister is an electric vertical take-off and landing, or eVTOL, small unmanned aircraft designed for squad- and platoon-level reconnaissance. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 4 kilograms and can fly for up to 90 minutes over a distance of 15 kilometers.
The drone features an electro-optical/infrared gimbal with an optional laser illuminator and acoustic sensors. Twister utilizes NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX AI to process sensor data on board. It works to operate in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments and is controlled via Quantum Systems’ MOSAIC Unified Extended Software.