RQ-35 Heidrun at AURORA 26: from Ukraine lessons to NATO readiness.

When Sweden hosted AURORA 26 on Gotland, the exercise highlighted how NATO training environments are adapting to operational realities shaped by drone warfare, distributed operations and contested environments.

On Gotland, Ukrainian forces participated alongside allied units, bringing frontline experience from modern drone warfare into reconnaissance, counter-UAS and red teaming activities. During the exercise, RQ-35 Heidrun operated in activities focused on tactical situational awareness and distributed ISR support within the multinational training environment.

AURORA 26 represents an important milestone for RQ-35 Heidrun’s participation in multinational NATO training environments. The exercise reflected a broader shift in how NATO and allied forces prepare for future operations. The war in Ukraine has accelerated the pace of drone tactics, electronic warfare and operational workflows. Having supported Ukraine since the beginning of the war, Sky-Watch has learned how quickly operational relevance can disappear if systems and tactics fail to adapt.

Photo sources: Försvarsmakten/Swedish Armed Forces/NATO

AURORA 26

Readiness is no longer only about advanced technology. It is about how rapidly forces can integrate lessons learned, adapt workflows and maintain situational awareness under pressure.

RQ-35 Heidrun’s participation in AURORA 26 reflects the growing relevance of adaptable ISR capabilities in NATO training environments focused on tactical situational awareness and operational adaptation.

For Sky-Watch, this is not theoretical. Since the beginning of the war, our support to Ukraine has created a direct battlefield-to-engineering feedback loop, shaping the evolution of RQ-35 Heidrun through frontline feedback and operational learning.

As Sweden strengthens its role within NATO and the Baltic region becomes increasingly strategically important, AURORA 26 highlights the need for ISR capabilities that can support allied readiness against future threats.

For Sky-Watch, this is where operational lessons translate into readiness where they matter.

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ORGANIC ISR

Real-time targeted intelligence is critical to actionable decision-making in a dynamic military environment. The RQ-35 Heidrun is your solution for battle-proven Organic ISR, seamlessly integrating with other battle space technologies. We give you the tools to gather intelligence, conduct surveillance, and carry out reconnaissance missions. This gives you the ultimate in stand-alone, yet connectable technology.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

Military operations today are highly dynamic, and outdated ISR systems can fail to meet operational needs. Sky-Watch delivers advanced, troop-operated technology that provides speed, accuracy, and situational awareness in the field.

The system ensures reliable, timely intelligence where and when it is needed most. Organic ISR systems like RQ-35 Heidrun are particularly effective for tactical reconnaissance, rapid threat detection, and situational awareness in contested environments.

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OUR SOLUTION

The RQ-35 Heidrun is engineered for challenging operational environments. Its Organic ISR capabilities allow forces to respond rapidly to evolving threats. High accuracy, endurance, and resilience under electronic warfare or GNSS-denied conditions give units a measurable operational advantage. Real-time intelligence from Heidrun enhances tactical decision-making and mission effectiveness at all levels. Unlike traditional ISR platforms, organic ISR provides immediate access to intelligence at the tactical level, reducing decision-making time and increasing operational agility. With years of operational experience and battle-tested deployments, Sky-Watch is a trusted provider of next-generation organic ISR technology.

Our Uas Solution

Terrain Mapping

Advanced mapping is the cornerstone for strategic planning and execution. The RQ-35 Heidrun Mapping UAV provides commanders with accurate, detailed topographical information and the ability to dynamically update navigational routes and strategies in response to evolving ground realities.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

Precision Mapping for Tactical Excellence
Frontline commanders face significant challenges in maintaining situational awareness, often relying on outdated or static maps that fail to reflect the current and rapidly evolving operational reality. Traditional mapping solutions — dependent on strategic ISR, aircraft, or satellites — are costly and slow, falling short in delivering the timeliness, precision, and accessibility required for frontline decision-making. The growing demand for immediate, high-resolution ISR data now exceeds the capacity of centralized intelligence assets. This creates a critical information gap that increases operational risks and reduces mission efficiency.

OUR SOLUTION

Leveraging advanced surveying technology and battle-proven insights from Ukraine, the RQ-35 Heidrun delivers a transformative solution that empowers commanders with real-time mapping and enhanced terrain awareness at a tactical level.

Rapid, Cost-Effective Reconnaissance

Delivering faster results than traditional methods at a fraction of the cost, enabling more frequent, precise, and up-to-date terrain analyses that improve mission readiness.

Detailed, Actionable Intelligence

Providing high-resolution, geo-referenced sensor data to support Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB) and Engineer Battlefield Assessments (EBA), strengthening operational planning and frontline decision-making.

Fully Autonomous Operation

Simplifying data collection, reducing manpower requirements, and enabling persistent, autonomous mapping missions without the need for constant manual control.

Our Uas Solution

Terrain Mapping

SURVEILLANCE

Step into the future of surveillance with the RQ-35 Heidrun, a groundbreaking ISR platform. Our drones deliver more that observation. The RQ-35 gives you the tools to command the high ground in informational warfare. The Heidrun's advanced optics provide live video feeds, enabling commanders to make informed decisions with speed and accuracy.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

Master Your Battlespace and Elevate Your Operational Effectiveness

In today’s rapidly evolving combat environments, situational awareness must translate into action. Traditional surveillance systems often rely on centralized assets that delay intelligence flow and limit responsiveness.

Commanders need live, actionable ISR data to adapt swiftly, coordinate effectively, and maintain operational superiority. The challenge lies in transforming visual intelligence into tactical advantage in real time.

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OUR SOLUTION

Empowering Command with the RQ-35 Heidrun

The RQ-35 Heidrun stands as a cornerstone of modern ISR operations, combining advanced optics, resilient communication links, and seamless integration with leading battle management systems to deliver intelligence that empowers every level of command.

Integrated Real-Time ISR

With ATAK-Mil integration, the Heidrun provides self-sufficient, real-time surveillance. Geo-referenced video feeds flow directly into tactical networks, ensuring fast decision-making and precise coordination across deployed units.

System-Level Interoperability

Compatibility with platforms such as ATAK and Sitaware enables a unified operational picture. This ensures synchronized intelligence flow from ground to sky, amplifying situational awareness and enabling coordinated multi-domain responses.

Tactical Agility and Endurance

Built for endurance and rapid deployment, the RQ-35 Heidrun supports continuous surveillance missions in contested environments. Its robust design and long-range capability ensure persistent situational awareness and mission confidence, even in the face of electronic warfare.

Our Uas Solution

FORCE PROTECTION

Drone technology is fundamentally changing the face of military operations. In this new era of combat surveillance, the necessity for innovative, adaptive strategies is key to success. By integrating cutting-edge Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) to enhance the Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace (IPB) and Engineer Battlefield Assessment (EBA), we are reimagining force protection. Our system is designed to navigate the complexities of modern warfare where agility, precision, and smart technology converge to define the future of tactical defense.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

Embracing the Next Era of Military Strategy

The contemporary battlefield presents a mosaic of unpredictable challenges. Adversaries use asymmetrical tactics and advanced technologies to disrupt traditional defense strategies. In this rapidly changing environment, the one-size-fits-all approach to force protection is no longer viable.

Commanders need to cultivate a dynamic, responsive Force Protection Plan that not only addresses immediate threats but also anticipates emerging ones. This plan must be strong enough to protect personnel and assets and agile enough to adapt to unforeseen threats and enhance opportunities.

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OUR SOLUTION

Unleashing the Power of Advanced UAS Intelligence

Our state-of-the-art UAS program is our innovative response to these evolving challenges. Battle-tested in Ukraine and using the most advanced technology on the market, our RQ-35 Heidrun is an organic asset, with high accuracy, high endurance and high resilience to EW and GNSS denied conditions. It is the best solution for force protection and seamlessly integrates into your operational systems with real-time intelligence. The RQ-35 Heidrun gives you the tools to execute with precision, agility, and confidence, regardless of the challenges.

High Precision

By integrating state-of-the-art sensors and imaging technologies, the Heidrun platform ensures that every mission delivers high-fidelity data, enhancing IPB and EBA accuracy.

Proactive Surveillance

With a bird's-eye view of the operational area, our UAS provide commanders with real-time actionable intelligence, enabling preemptive decisions and rapid response to emerging threats and opportunities.

Adaptive Reconnaissance

Tailored to meet the demands of modern warfare, our drones can quickly adjust to new missions, environments, and challenges, ensuring unmatched situational awareness.

Our Uas Solution

Force Protection

Frontline Decision support

Drone technology has created a pivotal shift towards intelligence-driven warfare. The precision and agility offered by Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) are now central to the Mission Planning Process. This enhances the S2’s ability to gather data and analyze battlefield intelligence.

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YOUR CHALLENGE

Overcoming Information Gaps in Dynamic Combat Zones

In the fluid and rapidly evolving battlespace, understanding enemy movements, intentions, and capabilities is crucial. The Intel Cell needs information superiority for operational success. Traditional intelligence gathering is often outpaced by contemporary conflict speeds, requiring a more advanced, adaptable, and integrated approach to intelligence operations. Organic ISR systems like Heidrun are particularly effective for tactical reconnaissance, rapid threat detection, and situational awareness in contested environments.

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OUR SOLUTION

Intelligence Gathering

The Heidrun collects high-resolution imagery and real-time data across diverse environments from multiple platforms deployed at the frontlines, improving the S2 branch’s monitoring of enemy activity and situational awareness.

Security

Covert, remotely operated drones minimize human exposure, enhancing operational security. Advanced encryption and data protection ensure the integrity and confidentiality of critical intelligence.

Analysis

Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and analytics, Heidrun delivers detailed intelligence supporting S2 analytical tasks. It helps decode complex battlefield indicators, contributing to informed strategic planning and threat assessment.

Briefings

Collected and analyzed data can be synthesized into actionable intelligence, enabling S2 to deliver precise, timely briefings to commanders and support effective decision-making and strategic oversight.

Our Uas Solution

Front Line Decision Support

Antenna

Ground control components (GCC) are a key component to the success of your UAS mission. GCC is both your interface and control hub. The Heidrun’s sensor-generated data is engineered to meet the exacting standards of our military clients, with a strong focus on high connectivity in challenging environments.

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PATCH ANTENNA

Built for the field. Trusted in critical missions.

The RQ-35 Mobile Patch Antenna Kit delivers dependable, high-performance communication in a lightweight, portable form. Both the UAS and antenna kit pack easily into a backpack, ensuring rapid mobility and deployment wherever the mission takes you.

Designed for rapid setup, the integrated ground station, radio platform, antenna, and tripod enable fast setup and reliable operation under demanding conditions. With an operational range of up to 25 km, the RQ-35 delivers consistent, high-quality data transmission when it matters most.

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DUAL PATCH ANTENNA

Extend your operational reach.

With a range exceeding 45 km, the Dual Patch Antenna enhances line-of-sight connectivity and delivers robust communication even in contested environments. During electronic warfare, the advantages of the Heidrun system become clear—ensuring troop self-sufficiency and secure, independent data transmission in the field.

Compact and portable, the Dual Patch Antenna Kit fits easily into a Pelicase or backpack. Each kit includes the antenna, mount, and cables, all packaged for quick access and rapid deployment.

RQ-35 Heidrun - Know What Matters

Ground control

Ground control components (GCC) are a key component to the success of your UAS mission. GCC is both your interface and control hub. The Heidrun’s sensor-generated data is engineered to meet the exacting standards of our military clients, with a strong focus on high connectivity in challenging environments.

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GROUND CONTROL

Command with confidence.

The Heidrun RQ-35 Ground Control Station (GCS) serves as a fully portable mission control center - enabling data analysis, mission planning, and seamless communication with your UAS. Built with ruggedized, high-reliability components, it ensures secure and stable operation in any environment.

Each component is rigorously tested to deliver maximum reliability when it matters most.

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RUGGEDIZED CONTROL STATION

Reliability you can deploy anywhere.

Our ruggedized tablet delivers exceptional Ground Control Station performance for ISR missions in all environments and weather conditions. Built for durability and responsiveness, it provides dependable operation in the most demanding field conditions.

At Sky-Watch, we’re committed to developing troop-friendly, intuitive control solutions. Our Sky-Watch Drone Manager (SDM) system is designed for simplicity, precision, and reliability. Working closely with our technology partners, we continuously enhance system performance to ensure our users have the most capable and dependable tools available.

RQ-35 Heidrun - Know What Matters

UAV Platform

Sky-Watch is at the forefront of defense technology, specializing in fixed-wing mini-UAS systems. The RQ-35-Heidrun, is engineered for critical ISR missions, delivering unmatched reliability even in the event of electronic warfare or GPS-denied environments. Trusted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since March 2022, the system is a testament to our commitment to innovation and reliability in the most demanding operational scenarios.

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The Heidrun RQ-35 - Superiority in the Sky

Designed for Front-Line ISR: Tailored for company-level deployment, the RQ-35 Heidrun offers superior intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities, even in GPS Denied and EW contested operations.

Advanced Optics and Stealth: Equipped with high-resolution day/night E/O cameras and an immune communication system, The Heidrun boasts an effective operational range of +45 km and a flight time of 150 minutes in specific configurations.

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Quick Deployment and Reliable Performance

Operational Excellence: Proven in battle, the RQ-35 demonstrates exceptional stealth and durability. It is remarkably reliable, with a performance track record of over 500 missions for some drones and minimal losses despite severe EW challenges.

Rapid Deployment & Training: The Heidrun's lightweight design allows for single-operator handling and quick deployment, with a user-friendly interface ensuring operational readiness within days.

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UNMATCHED AERIAL INTELLIGENCE

YOUR CHALLENGE

MASTER YOUR BATTLESPACE AND ELEVATE YOUR OPERATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS

In today’s rapidly evolving combat environments, having a bird's-eye view isn't enough. You need to be able to strike swiftly, navigate complex terrains, and outmaneuver adversaries. We integrate cutting-edge technology to enhance your tactical responses and shorten your action timelines. The RQ-35 Heidrun offers seamless data linkage and real-time intelligence, turning information into power, and power into victory, not just from one but from a large number of platforms with the forward deployed units.

OUR SOLUTIOn

EMPOWERING COMMAND WITH THE RQ-35 HEIDRUN

The RQ-35 Heidrun stands as a beacon of strategic innovation, engineered to serve not just as an ISR asset but as a cornerstone in the architecture of modern military operations. It offers distinct yet interconnected pathways to superiority on the battlefield, ensuring that commanders have the flexibility and depth of intelligence required for every mission scenario.

Autonomy with the RQ-35 Heidrun's seamless integration with ATAK-Mil, this combination creates self-sufficient intelligence, enabling units to operate with unrivaled situational awareness and communication precision. The Heidrun’s data feeds directly into ATAK-Mil, providing real-time, geo-referenced video that empowers troops with immediate and actionable intelligence. This standalone solution is perfect for rapid deployment scenarios, offering a compact and comprehensive tactical advantage.

The Heidrun is compatible with several battle management and strike solutions from including Palantir, Helsing, Teleplan Globe, and Systematic. This system integration gives you marked advantages over traditional surveillance giving you a holistic view of the operational landscape. With high-fidelity intelligence fed directly into these platforms, the system amplifies your command-and-control capabilities, enabling a synchronized orchestration of land, air, and sea assets. The result is a dynamic, interconnected force, poised to respond with precision and agility to evolving threats.

EMPOWERING THE MISSION - PRECISION PLANNING WITH ADVANCED ISR

YOUR CHALLENGE

OVERCOMING INFORMATION GAPS IN DYNAMIC COMBAT ZONES

In the fluid and rapidly evolving battle space, understanding enemy movements, intentions, and capabilities is crucial. The S2 needs information superiority for operational success. The traditional methods of intelligence gathering are often outpaced by the speed of contemporary conflicts, necessitating a more advanced, adaptable, and integrated approach to intelligence operations.

OUR SOLUTION

THE STRATEGIC EDGE OF AUTONOMOUS ISR

RQ-35 Heidrun is the ultimate strategic enhancement to the S2 branch's intelligence and security operations. This advanced UAS is tailored to meet the demanding requirements of modern warfare, offering key benefits that directly correlate with the essential functions of the S2 branch.

Intelligence Gathering

Our drone's’ sophisticated surveillance capabilities enable the collection of high-resolution imagery and real-time data across diverse environments from a large number of platforms deployed at the frontlines, frontlines, significantly enhancing the S2 branch's ability to monitor enemy activity and gather crucial intelligence.

Security

By deploying a covert, remotely operated drone, the risk of human exposure is minimized, enhancing operational security. The system's advanced encryption and data protection features also ensure the integrity and confidentiality of critical intelligence.

Analysis

Equipped with state-of-the-art sensors and analytics, the RQ-35 Heidrun provides detailed information that supports the S2's analytical tasks, helping to decode complex battlefield indicators and contributing to informed strategic planning and threat assessment.

Briefings

The comprehensive data collected and analyzed by the Heidrun can be synthesized into actionable intelligence, enabling the S2 to deliver precise and timely briefings to commanders and facilitate more effective decision-making and strategic oversight.