New Generation Tactical Drone Launcher

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Robonic Ltd Oy of Finland and Lockheed Martin of the United States have signed an agreement to develop a smaller, more efficient and transportable fourth generation pneumatic launcher for drones, called OHTO.

Under the terms of this agreement, OHTO will be part of the ground support equipment (GSE) suite for the Lockheed Martin Fury, a Group III unmanned aerial system (UAS). In addition, the agreement facilitates licensed production of OHTO in the U.S. by Lockheed Martin.

OHTO will provide outstanding launch capabilities for Group II and III unmanned aerial systems and target drones. It is based on the Kontio launcher, but with significant changes including a higher power to weight ratio, reduced footprint and improved mobility, lower operating costs and enhanced reliability.

According to sUAS , The Lockheed Martin Fury already uses a Robonic Kontio third generation launcher to support flight testing and initial operations in its development program.

OHTO incorporates extensive lessons from the operational deployment of other Robonic launchers over the past decade, in environments ranging from the hot and high deserts of Afghanistan, most notably on Sagem’s Sperwer tactical UAV deployed by allied forces, to the extreme cold of the Arctic.

Robonic Ltd Oy, based in Tampere, Finland, is an engineering company and the leading unmanned air system launcher manufacturer in Europe. Some 20 different types of tactical UAVs and target drones have used Robonic’s Kontio catapult to date. Robonic’s track record in pneumatic launching technology spans over three decades. The company also operates a dedicated unmanned air vehicle flight test center near the Arctic Circle at Kemijrvi in Finnish Lapland.