KLM Defense's XROSSBAT Drone Offers One-Hour ISR for INR
KLM Defense has launched the XROSSBAT, a tactical ISR drone with up to 59 minutes of endurance. Starting at INR 4.99 Lacs, its single airframe accepts four interchangeable sensor gimbals for mission flexibility.
KLM Defense has introduced the XROSSBAT, a multi-payload tactical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone platform. The system is built around a single airframe that can accept four different sensor gimbals on a common mount, offering units mission flexibility without needing multiple aircraft.
According to the company, the XROSSBAT is positioned between its smaller Vantrel Series and larger Sentinel platform. It is designed for units that require one aircraft to handle several mission profiles, from daylight identification to AI-assisted target tracking. The core concept is to keep the aircraft constant and swap the sensor payloads attached to it.
A Common Airframe for Multiple Missions
Every XROSSBAT configuration shares the same fundamental airframe specifications. This commonality is intended to simplify logistics and operations. Units can maintain one spares inventory, one ground-control workflow, and one flight-qualified crew. The sensor decision is moved from the procurement stage to mission planning.
The shared technical specifications are as follows:
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Radio Range | 10 km (encrypted) |
| Electronic Countermeasures | Level 1 |
| Launch Altitude | 21,000 ft |
| Service Ceiling | 27,000 ft |
| Top Speed | 90 km/h |
| Endurance | 55-59 minutes (payload dependent) |
| Wind Resilience | Up to 60 km/h |
| Navigation | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS |
| All-Up Weight | Starts at 3,300 g |
Breaking the One-Hour Endurance Price Barrier
The platform's endurance of 55 to 59 minutes places it in what the source calls the "one-hour club." Historically, such capability came with a high price tag. KLM Defense states the XROSSBAT changes this economic calculus, with its entry-level configuration starting at INR 4.99 Lacs.
"An aircraft that can hold station for close to an hour used to come with a price tag that put it out of reach for a lot of the units that needed it most," said Mr. Nagesh Sharma, Co-Founder of KLM Defense. He called the platform a "force multiplier" for units operating on real-world budgets.
The key to this flexibility is a proprietary common gimbal mount developed in-house. This mount allows four distinct sensor payloads to be attached to the same certified airframe without modification.
Interchangeable Sensor Payloads
Four sensor gimbals are available for the XROSSBAT, offering a range of capabilities and price points. The flagship is the Vigilon 100, which features a 100x hybrid zoom, onboard AI compute, and a laser range finder.
The available payloads and their starting prices are:
| Payload Name | Key Features | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sniper30 | Daylight identification, 30x zoom | INR 4.99 Lacs |
| Spectra384 | Basic day+thermal fusion | INR 5.5 Lacs |
| UC65 Pro | 30x hybrid zoom, day/thermal fusion, 1000m laser rangefinder | INR 6.99 Lacs |
| Vigilon 100 | 100x hybrid zoom, onboard AI, 1200m laser rangefinder, 4K imaging | Not specified in source |
The Vigilon 100 is the top-tier option. It carries an 8MP sensor for 4K stills and video, a 640x512 thermal imager, and 4 TOPS of onboard AI compute for identification and tracking. The UC65 Pro offers a mid-tier alternative with 30x hybrid zoom and a 1000-meter laser range finder. The Sniper30 and Spectra384 configurations are lighter, lower-cost options adapted from the company's Vantrel Series.
Mr. Sharma emphasized the engineering focus was on the common mount. "Once we had a mount that could take Sniper30 through Vigilon 100 without touching the airframe, the rest was a question of which sensors were worth building," he stated.
The XROSSBAT is available for order now. Full specifications and ordering details are listed on the KLM Defense website.
