Counter-drone laser from Germany: Austrian UGV Ziesel with Inleap Photonics for Ukraine

The world's first unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) to carry an anti-drone laser system comes from Austria. As already reported, the counter-drone laser from Inleap Photonics is being fitted to the Ziesel UGV platform from Hentschel System.

Underneath the Ziesel is the electric heavy-duty, high-performance UGV ROVO3, which Hawe Mattro manufactures in Schwaz, Tyrol.

The ROVO was developed for demanding operations in industry and rough terrain. As a base, it allows customer-specific autonomy functions, sensors and mission equipment to be integrated. Besides tasks in industry, firefighting and rescue, the robust robotic platform is therefore also suitable for security and military missions. Hawe Mattro consequently focuses on developing and selling a ready-made, fully electric drive platform – with a battery swap system, controlled torque and reliable traction on snow, gravel, soft ground and uneven terrain.

Hentschel System has relied on this proven platform since 2019. According to managing director Matthias Hentschel, this was also a key reason why it is now offered as a standard product in the ROVO3 variant and is also in use with other customers such as Diehl Defence (-> Diehl Defence tests UGV Ziesel in Austria) or ARX Robotics.

The tasks are clearly divided: Mattro supplies a base UGV with an interface for external control, while Hentschel System handles automation and vehicle integration. To this end, the company equips the vehicle with the Robotic Kit and with sensors for environmental perception, such as cameras and lidar sensors. This allows the base platform to be operated remotely and autonomously. As a finished UGV from Hentschel System, it is then called Ziesel.

Hentschel System also integrates the laser system from Inleap Photonics. It draws its power entirely from the robotic platform's swappable main batteries.

How the counter-drone laser works

The Inleap Photonics system needs less than 10 kilowatts of laser power. Conventional laser beam steering systems use mirrors, whereas Inleap Photonics uses an optically transmissive medium. Electrical signals change its refractive index, allowing the laser beam to be steered extremely quickly and precisely.

Another new feature is that the beams do not run in parallel: they are focused only on the target and diverge again behind it. Over most of the distance, the intensity therefore remains at a harmless level – eye-safe, as Marius Lammers of Inleap Photonics says. In theory, the system has a range of up to 3 kilometres, but so far it has only been tested up to 1 kilometre.

Because ultra-fast beam steering works together with image recognition and artificial intelligence, the system can fire specifically at a drone's weak points and achieves engagement times of less than two tenths of a second. In terms of price, it is in the low single-digit millions.

In terms of power, interception time and price, Inleap Photonics is thus operating at unrivalled low levels. Whether expectations are met will be shown not least by its use in Ukraine.

One of the biggest hurdles for laser-based systems is atmospheric interference. To compensate for it, Inleap Photonics is pursuing a “layered defence” strategy and is cooperating with Stark, which as part of the partnership additionally provides interceptor drones for bad weather.