Trillium’s HD80 Supports Taiwan’s First Manned-Unmanned Teaming Operation

Aboard Textron Systems’ Aerosonde® UAS, the HD80 enabled target identification, tracking, and laser designation during Taiwan’s annual Divine Eagle Exercise.

Trillium Engineering’s HD80-MLVS-LD-LRF-LP recently supported the Taiwan Army’s first successful manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) operation.

During the annual Divine Eagle Exercise in July, Textron Systems’ Aerosonde UAS worked alongside an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter to detect, track, and engage simulated maritime targets. Integrated aboard the Aerosonde, the HD80 provided the stabilized electro-optical imagery and laser capabilities that enabled precision target engagement.

Connecting Sensor to Shooter

Manned-unmanned teaming combines crewed and uncrewed aircraft to extend mission effectiveness. Operating ahead of crewed platforms, an uncrewed aircraft can provide persistent intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting (ISR-T), increasing situational awareness while reducing risk to aircrews

During the exercise, the Aerosonde UAS established forward overwatch while the HD80 enabled operators to identify, track and laser designate maritime targets for the Apache helicopter during the live-fire mission. 

The operation demonstrated an effective sensor-to-shooter workflow:

• The Aerosonde system established persistent forward overwatch.
• The onboard IMSAR NSP-3 SAR/GMTI detected targets through the marine layer at distance 
• The HD80 was cross-queued and identified in detail and tracked maritime targets.
• The HD80 laser-designated the selected target.
• The Apache engaged the designated target.

By placing advanced sensing and targeting capabilities aboard an uncrewed platform, the Apache crew maintained greater standoff distance until the moment of engagement.

Multi-Sensor Capability for Complex Missions

The HD80-MLVS-LD-LRF-LP combines stabilized multi-sensor imaging with integrated laser designation, rangefinding, and pointing capabilities. This enables operators to move seamlessly from observation and identification to tracking, ranging, and target designation without changing systems.

These capabilities are especially valuable in maritime and littoral environments, where maintaining awareness across large operating areas and coordinating between multiple platforms is critical.

Advancing Manned-Unmanned Teaming

Taiwan’s first successful MUM-T operation highlights the benefit of uncrewed aircraft as forward sensing and targeting nodes. Working alongside crewed platforms, they can extend mission reach, provide persistent observation, accelerate target acquisition, and support faster coordination across the engagement chain.

For Trillium, the exercise demonstrates how the HD80 supports demanding ISR-T and laser-designation missions aboard a proven UAS platform. Through its continued collaboration and broad usage with Textron Systems, Trillium is proud to deliver imaging and targeting technology that helps crewed and uncrewed systems operate together with greater precision, awareness, and mission effectiveness.

Aerosonde is a registered trademark of Textron Systems Corporation.