Danish defence technology company Sky-Watch recently launched its new Zentra Sensor Suite, an in-house, AI-powered sensor system designed for advanced unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to address the rapidly evolving requirements of modern warfare.
As modern battlefields change quickly, conventional defence technology development often suffers from lengthy production cycles that struggle to keep pace with operational demands. In response to increasing calls from defence organisations for adaptable systems, Sky-Watch developed the Zentra Sensor Suite to accelerate technology development, deliver higher operational performance, and strengthen European and NATO-based supply chains.
“We chose to develop this technology ourselves because we could not find solutions on the market that met both our own requirements and the operational needs of our defence customers. They demand superior operational performance together with the assurance that critical components originate from a resilient European and NATO-based supply chain. We can now deliver both,” said Martin Schousboe, CEO of Sky-Watch.
The hardware and software architecture combines advanced image processing, edge computing, and AI-powered analytics with a modular software platform developed internally by Sky-Watch. This setup enables continuous software upgrades and rapid integration of frontline operational feedback into updated capabilities.
Rather than treating sensors as standalone products, Sky-Watch integrates the sensor suite into a broader intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capability. Within this framework, the UAV platform, onboard sensors, software, user interface, and continuous operator feedback function as a single integrated system. The approach focuses not just on what a UAV can observe, but on how quickly information can be processed, shared, and converted into operational decisions.
The Zentra Sensor Suite was engineered to deliver enhanced image quality and situational awareness under demanding operational conditions. The hardware supports AI-powered image processing, electro-optical and thermal image fusion, super resolution, and image enhancement in fog, haze, and low-visibility environments. The product line includes combined EO/IR payloads alongside dedicated navigation sensors capable of supporting autonomous navigation in environments where satellite signals are unavailable or unreliable.
By retaining end-to-end control over both hardware and software development, Sky-Watch can adapt technology more rapidly to emerging operational needs without depending on external supplier timelines, reflecting a broader European trend toward technological sovereignty and supply chain resilience.
“Defence is no longer just about platforms. It is about controlling the technologies that create operational effect. By developing both hardware and software ourselves, we can respond faster to emerging requirements, integrate AI more rapidly and provide our customers with greater confidence in the resilience of their supply chain,” added Schousboe.
The Zentra Sensor Suite was showcased at the DALO Industry Days event in Herning, Denmark on August 19-20 as an integrated component of Sky-Watch’s broader ISR portfolio. The launch built on the company’s recent introduction of the RQ-70 long-range UAS, which was built on the RQ-35 platform and refined using four years of operational experience from Ukraine.
