About

OPERANT is dedicated to developing a cost-efficient, enduring, and autonomous distributed acoustic sensing network, delivering critical information even in challenging and adversarial environments. By combining smart masts, a mobile ad-hoc network (MANet), and modular sensor and effector platforms, OPERANT enables situational awareness, automatic verification, and flexible applications—from detection to decision support.

By integrating commercially available (COTS) technologies into existing defense systems and enabling rapid deployment on the battlefield, OPERANT is expected to unlock a range of new technological and tactical options—particularly through passive sensing and real-time data collection directly from the field. This enhanced situational awareness not only supports conventional warfare but also enables:

  • Improved tactical decision-making
  • Faster synchronization between operational and deployment phases
  • Increased force protection and preservation of lives

In essence, OPERANT strengthens information superiority and operational effectiveness, providing critical advantages in complex and dynamic combat environments.

Vision

Our vision is to provide armed forces with an “eye and ear” deep within the battlefield. We aim to create an autonomous, resilient, and connected reconnaissance system that delivers real-time, actionable information, enhancing decision-making, reducing risk to personnel, and securing information superiority in complex scenarios.

Keyfacts

Reference

Reference Number:
101168052
Programme type:
EDF-2023-LS-RA-SMERO
Programme acronym:
EDF-2023-LS-RA-SMERO-NT

Duration

Project Start: 01.05.2025
36 Months

Cost and Funding

Costs:
€ 3.999.191,12
Funding:
€ 3.999.191,12

Motivation

Modern operational environments are becoming increasingly complex, pushing conventional reconnaissance systems to their limits—especially in adversarial or electronically contested terrains. OPERANT was initiated to address these challenges by offering modular, rapidly deployable sensor and effector platforms that increase operational readiness, close critical information gaps, and enhance force protection and response capability.

Mission and Objectives

Our mission is to develop a scalable, rapidly deployable reconnaissance system that bridges military requirements with commercially available technology. OPERANT pursues the following objectives:

  • Develop a flexible, modular sensor network with scalable complexity levels
  • Ensure system reliability through redundant communication and power supply solutions
  • Integrate various sensors and effectors for detection, identification, and classification missions
  • Deliver a system compatible with existing and future deployment methods, including rocket-based deployment
  • Validate the system through proof-of-concept demonstrations and simulations

By engaging end-users and experts throughout the development process, OPERANT ensures a user-driven, mission-ready solution tailored to current and future operational needs.

Work Packages

WP1

Project management and coordination (including other cross-cutting activities) - P1
6%
01.05.2025
31.10.2026
WP1 ensures effective coordination, communication, and quality control across the OPERANT consortium during the first 18 months. It monitors progress, manages risks, and promotes military end-user involvement through an advisory board. WP1 also supports the dissemination of results to stakeholders, ensuring the project remains application-driven and aligned with operational needs.

WP2

Project management and coordination (including other cross-cutting activities) - P2
0%
01.11.2026
30.04.2028
WP2 continues the coordination, communication, and quality assurance activities of WP1 during months 19–36. It monitors progress, manages risks, and ensures effective collaboration across the consortium. WP2 fosters military end-user engagement through the advisory board and supports the dissemination of results to stakeholders, keeping the project application-driven and aligned with operational goals.

WP3

System Specification and Analysis
16%
01.05.2025
30.11.2025
WP3 focuses on identifying user-driven tactical needs and relevant application scenarios. It defines system requirements that meet these needs and selects suitable payloads accordingly. This work ensures that the OPERANT system is tailored to operational demands and lays the foundation for mission-oriented system development.

WP4

Deployment
0%
01.10.2025
31.03.2027
WP4 focuses on evaluating rocket-based deployment as the system’s benchmark requirement. It studies flight profiles, examines deployment systems, compares deceleration methods, analyzes forces during flight, and investigates the landing phase. These activities ensure the system’s robustness and functionality across the full deployment cycle under demanding conditions.

WP5

Sensors and Payloads: Integration, Data Processing and Communication
0%
01.10.2025
31.03.2027
WP5 identifies sensor requirements for system integration and designs the necessary interfaces. It develops the communication system, including evaluating the integration of the Zippermast as an antenna. WP5 also designs and develops the software architecture for data management and processing, ensuring seamless integration of sensing, communication, and information workflows.

WP6

Establishment of System in the Field
0%
01.11.2025
31.08.2027
WP6 builds on system specifications to assess tactical, technical, and environmental impacts on deployment. It addresses energy supply, mast alignment, geo-referencing, data integrity, and onsite processing. WP6 designs an open, generic interface and develops three system configurations—non-complex, complex, and highly complex—ensuring flexible, mission-adaptable payload integration in the field.

WP7

Ground Evaluation
0%
01.03.2026
30.09.2027
WP7 evaluates system resilience under high-G forces through experimental testing, adapting setups as needed. It studies payload performance of sensors, effectors, and electronics, identifies launch and landing loads, and verifies component operational capability under relevant forces. WP7 also explores pathways for integrating OPERANT’s data with other systems to enhance interoperability.

WP8

Rocket Feasibility Study
0%
01.05.2027
30.04.2028
WP8 conducts a feasibility study for deploying the integrated OPERANT system via rocket technology. It evaluates requirements for acceleration, shock, and landing, performs measurements to validate the deployment environment, and assesses operational conditions as close to real-world scenarios as possible to ensure system readiness and viability.