Swedish Defence Accelerates ISR with Parrot ANAFI USA

Sweden Boosts Reconnaissance

Sweden's defence forces have integrated the Parrot ANAFI USA drone into their operations, significantly enhancing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. This move addresses growing demands for secure, NDAA-compliant aerial tools amid rising geopolitical tensions. Officials highlight the drone's rapid deployment and secure data handling as key to accelerating mission timelines, enabling real-time threat assessment in contested environments. The adoption underscores a shift toward American-made hardware, bypassing restrictions on foreign alternatives and bolstering national security protocols.

ISR-Optimized Sensors

The ANAFI USA stands out with its triple-sensor gimbal, merging wide-angle visual, 32x zoom, and FLIR Boson thermal cameras for unmatched daytime and nighttime ISR. Operators pinpoint heat signatures from afar, crucial for border patrols or urban operations. Cursor-on-Target geotagging streams precise coordinates instantly, transforming raw footage into actionable intelligence. FreeFlight 7 software integrates seamlessly with command systems, while Linux-based firmware ensures tamper-proof updates, making it a reliable partner for Swedish tactical teams executing high-stakes surveillance.

Rugged Engineering Edge

Engineers at Parrot engineered the ANAFI USA for extreme resilience, with IP53 rating shielding against rain and dust during prolonged ISR flights. Quadcopter propulsion delivers 14.7 m/s horizontal speeds, outpacing rivals in windy conditions up to 14.7 m/s. RTK-capable navigation fuses GPS, GLONASS, visual odometry, and dual IMUs for centimeter-level accuracy, even in GPS-denied zones. Safety layers like geofencing, return-to-home, and forward anti-collision sensors minimize risks, allowing uninterrupted monitoring over vast terrains.

ISR Mission Transformations

In Swedish defence scenarios, the ANAFI USA excels at perimeter monitoring, suspect tracking, and infrastructure sweeps, slashing response times from hours to minutes. Public safety teams leverage thermal imaging for nighttime searches, while search-and-rescue ops benefit from 32-minute endurance covering expansive areas. Defence surveillance gains from no-fly overrides and low-battery auto-landing, ensuring continuous coverage. This deployment redefines ISR efficiency, empowering operators to disrupt threats proactively without compromising operator safety.

Core Performance Specs

Compact at 25.2 x 10.4 x 8.2 cm folded and 28.2 x 37.3 x 8.4 cm unfolded, the 485g quadcopter achieves 14.7 m/s horizontal and 6 m/s vertical speeds for swift ISR positioning. Sensors include wide visual, zoom visual, FLIR Boson thermal cameras, GPS/GLONASS, IMU, barometer, and ultrasonic altimeter, enabling precise navigation via visual odometry and RTK. The fixed triple-sensor gimbal supports Cursor-on-Target geotagging. Safety features like geofencing, return-to-home, and forward anti-collision ensure reliable ops, powered by FreeFlight 7 on Linux firmware with batteries lasting 300 cycles or about five years.

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