HENSOLDT’s newly developed ARGOS-15 gimbal system offers the Do228 NXT special mission aircraft a new ISR option with unobstructed 360-degree coverage and AI-assisted target tracking.
HENSOLDT South Africa and General Atomics AeroTec Systems (GA-ATS) announced following the Africa Aerospace and Defence (AAD) exhibition that the ARGOS-15 electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) gimbal system will be offered as an additional mission system option for GA-ATS’s Do228 NXT special mission aircraft. The collaboration aims to expand the platform’s capabilities to meet a broader range of operational requirements.
Developed as the successor to the operationally proven ARGOS-II, the ARGOS-15 is positioned ahead of the Do228 NXT’s retractable main landing gear, providing the camera operator with an unobstructed 360-degree field of view. Designed to be exportable, the ARGOS-15 features a single Line Replaceable Unit (LRU) configuration and a reduced footprint. The system offers next-generation intelligent payloads and multispectral sensors, as well as built-in AI-assisted object detection, classification and tracking capabilities. These features enable clearer imagery under different environmental and operational conditions. The ARGOS-15 helps reduce operator workload and improve mission efficiency. In addition to long-range multispectral cameras, the ARGOS-15 is offered with various payload options for military missions, including a laser designator, illuminator, rangefinder and target marker.
The Do228 NXT can conduct patrol flights lasting eight hours in the mission area, flying at speeds as low as 78 knots while reaching speeds of up to 260 knots to reduce transit time between mission areas. These capabilities enable the Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) to maintain an optimal position during missions and enhance operational effectiveness.
Expanded ISR Capability
The Do228 NXT, a multirole aircraft equipped with advanced sensors, was developed based on the operationally proven Do228, which has been used by operators worldwide for various missions over many years. Thanks to its Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability, the Do228 NXT can operate from short grass and unpaved runways. This capability enables the aircraft to perform missions in areas with challenging environmental conditions that many aircraft in the same class cannot access. For more information on the aircraft’s STOL capability and mission profile, you can read our interview with GA-ATS Sales Director Benjamin Schuhmann. The same robust and intelligent design approach found in the Do228 NXT is also reflected in the ARGOS-15, making the two complementary for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions requiring advanced capabilities and performance. Offering the ARGOS-15 as an additional mission system option is intended to expand the Do228 NXT’s existing mission capabilities and provide operators with new operational options.
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Source: C4Defence– GA-ATS
