The Singapore Army, in collaboration with the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), has recently introduced a new tactical drone, the Vesper, developed by Vantage Robotics. This advanced quadcopter is designed to enhance the situational awareness of soldiers on the battlefield, marking a significant turn in tactical military operations.
During the recent Panther Strike exercise, troops from the 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR) were the first to deploy the Vesper, highlighting its effectiveness and ease of use. Capable of flying in free or tethered mode for persistent surveillance operations, the Vesper is equipped with two low-light cameras and an infrared (IR) sensor with 4K resolution and 48x zoom, allowing for target detection even in low-light conditions.
Thanks to a three-axis stabilized gimbal, the Vesper can transmit live Full HD (1080p) video streams to the Ground Control Station (GCS), ensuring high-quality image transmission even under challenging conditions. During the operation, this drone proved its worth by providing aerial surveillance just before the arrival of infantry forces, enabling commanders to modify their operational plans in real-time to maximize mission success.
The drone can be deployed in less than 90 seconds from its carrying case and can fly at a maximum speed of 20 m/s (72 km/h) with an extremely low noise signature, comparable to a whisper (<32 dBA at 25m), and a flight time of 50 minutes.