Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) awareness solution provider Sagetech Avionics and unmanned airborne intelligence systems supplier American Aerospace ISR (AA ISR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate a detect-and-avoid (DAA) system.

Under the agreement, AA ISR will integrate Sagetech’s ACAS-based DAA system into its AiRanger unmanned aircraft as part of the AiRanger Type Certification with the FAA.

Sagetech’s DAA system is equipped with a transponder, an interrogator, an ACAS-based DAA computer, a software package, and other essential components.

It is intended for commercial unmanned aircraft and urban air mobility (UAM) platforms as it combines multiple core technologies into a single, low size, weight, and power (SWaP) DAA solution.

The system is also compatible with multiple off-the-shelf low SWaP radar and other traffic sensors.

Sagetech Avionics CEO Tom Furey said: “Detect and Avoid systems are critical for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) flight and critical to the mission of the long-endurance AiRanger aircraft.

“We are pleased to partner with the innovative AA ISR group to bring the world’s first certifiable low-SWaP DAA solution to test flights.”

Developed by AA ISR, AiRanger is a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft powered by a fuel-injected gasoline engine.

The aircraft has an endurance of more than 17 hours, along with payload and is designed for large-scale commercialised airborne applications in austere environments. It can carry multiple airborne payloads, including remote sensing, communication network, and emergency response systems.

The two companies plan to develop a certifiable prototype of the system for flight testing by the end of the year.

AA ISR general manager Ali Etebari said: “We anticipate that this DAA system will help facilitate type certification of our aircraft and enable our customers to fly commercial BVLOS missions safely in the National Airspace.”