Cubert to deliver second hyperspectral camera system to Bundeswehr

Cubert Ultris X20 Plus hyperspectral camera, which has been sold to the German Armed Forces and governmental agencies in the US including the US Army Corps of Engineers and US Naval Research Laboratory. (Cubert GmbH)

German-based electronics manufacturer Cubert GmbH is set to deliver a second hyperspectral camera system to the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in August or September, Matthias Locherer, director of sales and marketing at Cubert, confirmed to Janes on 19 June.

The cameras are off-the-shelf Ultris X20 Plus (X20P) models and have not been customised. “I understand that all partners involved are testing at this stage [to see] whether the technology is suitable for their use cases,” Locherer told Janes . The cameras are integrated into an airborne set-up, which includes a dual-sensor payload, stabilised gimbal, and software tailored for the DJI M300 and M350 RTK unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

The first one was delivered in December 2024. Both cameras have either been sent to Ukraine or are in the process of being transported, according to Locherer.

The Ultris X20P model has a spectral range of 350–1,000 nm, includes 164 spectral bands, a spatial resolution of 1,886×1,886 pixels, a frame rate of 4 Hz, and weighs around 630 g. The detection range depends on three parameters including the camera's resolution, the lens, and the speed and altitude of the UAV. As a general estimate, for a 1 megapixel (MP) camera, the smallest detectable object is from 100 m above ground level. The Ultris X20P provides up to 1,886 pixels with each pixel capturing a 164-band hyperspectral profile.