The Czech technology group of companies TRL Space, TRL Drones, Zaitra and Corac Engineering presented at this year’s international defence and security technology fair IDET a unique solution for border monitoring and protection. The unique system combines satellite and drone technologies, with outputs converging into one software environment called TRULY. This integration of data from multiple sources in real time and its autonomy are the key added values of the entire solution. The system, which also provides users with full operational and data independence, is the result of purely Czech development and costs several times less than standard defence solutions.
The system includes four key elements – the electro-optical satellite TRAP, an electric VTOL drone, a new unique jet drone with autonomous guidance, and the TRULY cloud platform. While the satellite provides high-resolution, wide-area images, the drone allows targeted, detailed reconnaissance of a specific area. Both data streams are merged into the TRULY software, where they are automatically analyzed and evaluated using unique detection algorithms from SpaceKnow. TRULY allows users not only to monitor real-time activity, but also to compare developments over time, set their own zones of interest or automatic alerts for suspicious movement. The system can recognize objects such as aircraft, vehicles or ships, and thanks to change visualization it helps identify risk situations more quickly.
Affordable satellite for a fraction of the cost of large military satellites
The TRAP satellite is designed as a compact, affordable alternative to conventional military or commercial satellites, which despite its small dimensions (80 × 40 × 40 cm), is capable of generating high-resolution images worth tens of millions of euros annually. “Many countries today rely on commercial satellite data, which may not always be available or affordable. But we believe that border protection should be a right for everyone – and that is why we are launching TRAP on the market. A high-resolution microsatellite that brings independence to states and pays off in a very short time. In fact, for the price of one conventional military satellite, the customer can acquire an entire small constellation of TRAPs and thus ensure complete satellite coverage,” says Petr Kapoun, CEO of TRL Space. The TRAP satellite is also equipped with advanced onboard AI software developed by its sister company Zaitra, which enables data to be processed directly onboard. Secure communication between the satellite and Earth is ensured by an encryption system from Corac Engineering, providing reliable protection of transmitted data.
VTOL: Electric drone for immediate deployment even in challenging terrain
Satellite observation is complemented by detailed and flexible reconnaissance of selected locations by the electric VTOL drone developed by TRL Drones, another company in the TRL Space group. Thanks to its vertical take-off, it is not dependent on airport infrastructure and can be easily deployed even in hard-to-reach terrain.
It is quiet, easy to operate, and capable of operating within a range of up to 200 kilometres. Compared to larger unmanned aircraft with combustion engines, the VTOL offers significantly simpler logistics and lower operating costs, without compromising on performance or data quality.
New jet drone strikes without pilot or signal
Alongside the border protection system, TRL Drones is also launching a new jet drone designed for air defence. “It is an autonomous vehicle with high speed and precision, capable of eliminating aerial targets – from other drones to large helicopters. The drone operates without direct pilot control. It automatically detects the target, guides itself to it, and executes the strike independently. No manual control or GPS is needed – everything is done autonomously based on sensor navigation. Thanks to this, our system can operate effectively even in signal-jammed environments,” says Jiří Janoušek, representative of the TRL Drones company. The autonomous navigation system also enables the deployment of these drones in formations (known as swarms), without the need for constant operator connection. The drone functions as a single-use kinetic weapon or can be deployed repeatedly.
“What I consider truly beneficial is the ability to integrate different levels of monitoring and response into a single system. You have a satellite providing an overview of the entire area of interest, a flexible drone that can verify a specific site in detail – and in case a reaction is needed, you can immediately deploy an autonomous response asset. Such a combination gives armed forces not only operational flexibility and information advantage but also enables effective support for multi-domain operations and decision-making processes. And all this without dependence on external partners,” comments Ladislav Stahl, advisor for space reconnaissance and security at NATO headquarters.
