Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Leonardo To Deliver IRST Systems for Far East UAV Integration
Leonardo has developed considerable expertise in the field of infrared search and track systems for fighters, which is now being extended to UAVs
Leonardo leads the Eurofirst consortium (with Thales Optronics and Tecnobit) that provides the Pirate IRST system for the Typhoon. (photo: Leonardo)
Leonardo leads the Eurofirst consortium (with Thales Optronics and Tecnobit) that provides the Pirate IRST system for the Typhoon. (photo: Leonardo)

Leonardo has revealed that it has been contracted to deliver its infrared search and track (IRST) technology to an undisclosed Far Eastern partner for integration on a new unmanned aerial vehicle development. The so-called Skyward-AB will be provided for integration on a tactical UAV that is nearing the end of its development phase, and two units will be delivered to the aircraft’s manufacturer in 2019, Giorgio Balzarotti, vice president of IRST programs at Leonardo, told AIN at its Nerviano, Italy facility in December.