Border surveillance from space and air: TRL combines satellite, drones and AI into one system

Czech companies TRL Space, TRL Drones, Zaitra and Corac Engineering presented a fully integrated border surveillance system at IDET in Brno. It links satellite and drone technology with the cloud-based software platform Truly. According to Petr Kapoun, CEO of TRL Space, it took only seven months to reach operational readiness.

Kapoun explains the pace: “We have been developing the individual systems for years – we started integrating them into a complete solution at the end of 2024. We had to be fast, because today innovation decides relevance.”

Border surveillance from four components

Four building blocks interlock:

• the electro-optical microsatellite TRAP
• an electrically powered vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone
• a new autonomous jet drone for air defence
• the software platform Truly

The satellite provides high-resolution overview imagery, while the drone handles pinpoint reconnaissance. Both data streams converge in Truly, where they are analysed automatically with algorithms from partner SpaceKnow. “We wanted to make sure that all components speak the same language and that data can be shared,” Kapoun explains.

Users can track activity in real time, trace changes, define surveillance zones and set up automatic alerts. The system itself recognises vehicles, aircraft and ships; it displays relevant changes in the area graphically so that the situation can be assessed quickly and precisely.

Microsatellite instead of expensive military satellites

Measuring only 80 × 40 × 40 centimetres, the TRAP microsatellite nevertheless delivers high-resolution images and is intended as a low-cost alternative to conventional military satellites. “Many countries depend on expensive, often inaccessible commercial data,” says Kapoun. “TRAP enables independence – at the price of an entire small-satellite constellation.”

The images are processed on board, using AI software from Zaitra. Corac Engineering ensures the encryption of the data transmission.

“We have been developing the individual systems for years – we started integrating them into a complete solution at the end of 2024. We had to be fast, because today innovation decides relevance.”
TRL Drones managing director Petr Kapoun

Drones for patrol and air defence

Quiet, independent of runways and with a range of 200 kilometres: this is how TRL Drones describes its VTOL drone. “If required, the drone flies daily patrol routes autonomously and can be deployed flexibly when needed.”

In Brno, TRL also showed an autonomous defence system with its new jet drone that requires neither GPS nor manual control. It detects, tracks and engages air targets on its own, even when signals are jammed. The platform can operate in a swarm and can be used as a single-use weapon or as a reusable solution. Jiří Janoušek of TRL Drones stresses: “The drone is completely autonomous – target acquisition, navigation and engagement take place without human intervention.”

Development hurdles, open to third-party systems

According to Kapoun, the greatest technical challenge was to make the satellite smaller without losing performance. Standardising the data formats was also demanding: “All components deliver different data – these had to be made centrally analysable.”

The architecture has one advantage: it can be expanded modularly. Satellites, drones and software are available individually or as a package, and external systems can also be integrated. “Our platform also works with other satellites or existing drones,” Kapoun explains.

Ready for use – Austria as an example

According to Kapoun, the system is already operational, and there is already a first customer, whose name has not been disclosed. Software and drones are available immediately; Truly is already connected to more than 300 sources of satellite data.

Kapoun does the maths: “For countries like Austria or the Czech Republic, five drone stations are enough for full-coverage surveillance.”

The systems are also to be further optimised: “We are working on more powerful satellites, better drone sensors and navigation independent of the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) via satellite link.”

Sovereignty as an argument for Europe

NATO adviser Ladislav Stahl sums up the benefit: “What sets this system apart is the combination of overview, detailed reconnaissance and responsiveness – all in a single, sovereignly operated system. It provides operational flexibility and an information advantage, and strengthens multi-domain operations – independent of external partners.”

TRL Drones will also take part in the drone symposium “DroneVation & Defence” in Vienna on 23 September.