Recently, the German startup Alpine Eagle announced that its convoy-protection drone system had been tested in Ukraine. The system, known as the Sentinel Airborne Counter-UAS System, consists of multiple drones working in tandem.
According to the company, the system was used in operational trials by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Alpine Eagle plans to continue cooperation with the Ukrainian military, although the exact format of this partnership has not been disclosed, Janes reports.
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As Defense Express notes, the Sentinel Airborne Counter-UAS System comprises at least two types of drones — the Airborne drone, equipped with radar and acoustic sensors, and the Sentinel drone, which carries interceptor drones.
The company states that the system is designed to detect and intercept attack UAVs, loitering munitions, and FPV drones. Notably, the Airborne drone can track FPV drones at distances of up to 4 km.
In addition to convoy protection, the system can be used to safeguard and alert civilian ships in potentially dangerous areas, protect critical infrastructure, secure public events, and support border control operations.
For interception, the Sentinel drone carries two small interceptor drones, or, potentially in the future, a single larger interceptor for bigger targets. The system can be easily scaled to meet user requirements and is operated by a single person from a control station or even a laptop.
When protecting a convoy, the system works as follows: before departure, Airborne detection drones and a certain number of Sentinel drones with interceptors are launched. These drones accompany the convoy, transmitting real-time data to an operator traveling with it. If a threat is detected, the operator simply issues a command to intercept.
In Ukraine, such a system could prove highly valuable for protecting artillery, MLRS, and other assets operating near the front line, where the threat from various UAVs is significant. However, the cost of the system and its real-world effectiveness, particularly against small, fast, and highly maneuverable FPV drones, remain unknown.
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