Skywatcher Part II: "Mapping The Unknown"

[geologydude]

Interestingly the early Skywatcher previews show this device which could be the ground based EOS

View attachment 79110

That is an AVT counter UAS system. Has EO, IR, and an X band counter UAS radar. Tons of photos on Google of that exact system. There is your "dog whistle".

 

[Calter]

Interestingly the early Skywatcher previews show this device which could be the ground based EOS

View attachment 79110

Someone on Reddit seems to have managed to identify this

Did some open source searching using photos and still shots from videos that SkyWatcher has released. They are using a vehicle mounted cointer drone system made by a company called AVT. They are out of Australia. I suspect this is their "dog whistle". I find it odd they say that every tike they use this they show up, but never close enough to get good video. That I don't understand nor do I believe them. Google AVT Counter UAS and look at the images and also look at the AVT Australia website. That is 100% what they are using.

Looking at the ATV website, it's clearly the same type of HUD display (and it has the same effect of "going off frame"), haven't looked at all the videos to see what exactly Skywatcher is censoring. Based on the color, I'd say they are using the gimbal system CM262 Gimbal

 

[geologydude]

Someone on Reddit seems to have managed to identify this

Did some open source searching using photos and still shots from videos that SkyWatcher has released. They are using a vehicle mounted cointer drone system made by a company called AVT. They are out of Australia. I suspect this is their "dog whistle". I find it odd they say that every tike they use this they show up, but never close enough to get good video. That I don't understand nor do I believe them. Google AVT Counter UAS and look at the images and also look at the AVT Australia website. That is 100% what they are using.

View attachment 81035
Looking at the ATV website, it's clearly the same type of HUD display (and it has the same effect of "going off frame"), haven't looked at all the videos to see what exactly Skywatcher is censoring. Based on the color, I'd say they are using the gimbal system CM262 Gimbal

View attachment 81036

They are certainly censoring the upper left corner which is the GPS data for the sensor at the time of the recording. Not sure if the date is in there as well.

 

[MonkeeSage]

That is a counter drone system manufactured by a company called AVT. Look up AVT Australia and look on their website for their CUAS system. The parts of the screen that are blurred out are the GPS info, etc

Looking at the ATV website, it's clearly the same type of HUD display (and it has the same effect of "going off frame"), haven't looked at all the videos to see what exactly Skywatcher is censoring. Based on the color, I'd say they are using the gimbal system CM262 Gimbal

Nice. Their CUAS software image on their site has almost the same UI buttons around the edge as the screenshot Mick posted in post #154.

Source: https://www.ascentvision.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CUAS_Suite_Software-up.jpg

 

[MonkeeSage]

Found a video of the CM262 being used with their Vexos UI on their linkedin page.

Source: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/avt-...nufacturing-activity-7322835775987818499--SDb

 

[FatPhil]

AVT. Google AVT Australia and look at the tan colored camera. They are using that and the AVT CUAS system aka the dog whistle

Google will show different people in different parts of the world who have different browsing histories and a billion other leaked bits of personal data, different search results.

If it found something useful for you, just post what you've found, and a ink to it, and then we don't have to just guess what you're referring to. Please refer to the posting guidelines on this matter: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/posting-guidelines.2064/ . It sounds like extra hassle at first, but you'll come to appreciate over time how useful creating a permanant record is.

 

[jarlrmai]

https://www.ascentvision.com.au/cm262/

It seems AVT provide software and cameras, they don't seem to provide RADAR systems or drones so presumably the cameras/software can support integration with other hardware/platforms.

Is it also possible the software works with other cameras though?

This is the CM262 by AVT

It might be this camera from the video (very low quality) but where's the 3rd window, could be angle?

There's no manuals, datasheets or technical marketing available online that I could find for AVT stuff, we might have to ask them for more specific marketing material, although it's probable they only put the effort in for representatives of companies that might be in a position to actually acquire a system.

 

[jarlrmai]

AVT is owned by CACI

This vehicle appears briefly in a Skywatcher preview

CACI via (AVT?) provide a full C-UAS vehicle, it is pictured below:

https://www.caci.com/sites/default/files/2023-02/F598a_2302_X-MADIS_OTM_ExternalDatasheet.pdf

https://www.caci.com/x-madis

ll X-MADIS components are seamlessly integrated using CUAS Suite, a user-friendly command and control (C2) interface optimized for decisive action against UAS threats and systems.

CUAS Suite is the software made by AVT

https://www.ascentvision.com.au/software/

This Army webpage says AVT make it but it also includes some more specs

https://www.army-technology.com/projects/x-madis/

X-MADIS design and features

X-MADIS weighs 26kg and can operate at temperatures ranging between -40C and +55°C. The detection range varies for different instruments including 3.5km for Nano UAS, 15km for medium sized UAS, 25km for fighter detection range and 30km for utility helicopter.


The anti-drone system incorporates all-threat tactical air surveillance radar systems, which can detect all aerial threats including UAS, missiles, rockets and mortars. The four all-threat air surveillance radar faces have the capacity to detect sUAS within a 5km range with reliable hemispheric coverage.

The counter drone system is integrated with all-threat tactical air surveillance radar, gyro-stabilised optical sensor (EO and MWIR imagery), C2 interface, and electronic warfare system.

The system combines radar with a radio frequency (RF) detection sensor to offer reliable detection, classification and location of commercial sUAS. Its rugged electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging system ensures the accurate identification of sUAS in all light conditions.

Two gyro-stabilised optics integrated with smart features, artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities improve situational awareness. The counter drone system is capable of performing operations in high heat and humid conditions and is ideal for operations in urban, rural and littoral environments.

The advanced system features a range of hardware components for ruggedness and improved power distribution, while ensuring simpler setup and easy deployment.

It also says

The system can carry a maximum payload of 11.8kg (26lb) including CM202U, CM262 and electronic warfare systems.

https://www.caci.com/sites/default/files/2021-11/F588_2110_AVT_CM202U.pdf

This would seem to be the camera version fitted to the X-MADIS vehicle Skywatcher are using.

https://www.caci.com/sites/default/files/2020-10/cm202u_cm202u_datasheet_3-2-0_1.pdf

Technical data!

9 degrees to 1.1 degrees FOV

 

[jarlrmai]

This video on this page from CACI shows the vehicles in operation

https://www.caci.com/x-madis

 

[jarlrmai]

It seems owning this system might be subject to some form of regulation?

 

[Mick West]

AVT is owned by CACI

On X, uapcaucus said:

An allegation from
@danielsheehan45
is that the US is working to apply a successfully reverse engineered propulsion system from a UAP to our nuclear weapons on a new weapons systems platform (Prompt Global Strike Program) and that the US is the farther along in this process than Russia and China.

One of the alleged operators is Radiance Technologies, who he is alleging the one who has been successful in this replication of the UAP propulsion.

He also alleges that Sandia Labs and CACI International are the other entities involved in this specific program. https://x.com/DeclassifyUAP//DeclassifyUAP/status/1732171459919778038

3:32 PM · Dec 5, 2023

Radiance Technologies is where Travis Taylor and Jay Stratton went to work after leaving the UAPTF.

 

[geologydude]

It seems owning this system might be subject to some form of regulation?

I would assume so along with requiring an FCC license to transmit with that radar. I wonder if the FCC database would have a license for them? I highly doubt a civilian could purchase that system, which makes me wonder if they had a US government organization facilitate that. Rumor is they work very closely with AARO.

 

[jarlrmai]

I would assume so along with requiring an FCC license to transmit with that radar. I wonder if the FCC database would have a license for them? I highly doubt a civilian could purchase that system, which makes me wonder if they had a US government organization facilitate that. Rumor is they work very closely with AARO.

That seems unlikely to me, more likely it's something through the Mile High Resources association, that is used for OEM testing, and maybe they have the licences to operate the RADAR there and maybe the EW part, if they ever use it.

https://www.milehighresources.com/

 

[jarlrmai]

The X-MADIS vehicle seems to makes an definite appearance in Skywatcher part II

 

[jarlrmai]

The clearest view is from the video in this preview tweet

Source: https://x.com/SkywatcherHQ/status/1900669672732712966


The red tanks on the side are really indicative of the model of X-MADIS OTM featured on the CACI promotional pictures there are other pictures around of the system in on various slightly differently configured but similar vehicles (Chevrolet off-road trucks) but the red tanked ones are all either on CACI's site or have CACI on the side, allies.com seems to be a Polish division under CACI.

eg

 

[jarlrmai]

In the screenshot the back panel is down, it seems the CUAS is basically hooked to the trailer, all the footage we see of the system in use is from inside the trailer.

The OTM version of the X-MADIS system is designed to be used with the vehicle in motion, but we never see that in the Skywatcher videos.

 

[geologydude]

In the screenshot the back panel is down, it seems the CUAS is basically hooked to the trailer, all the footage we see of the system in use is from inside the trailer.

The OTM version of the X-MADIS system is designed to be used with the vehicle in motion, but we never see that in the Skywatcher videos.

I think that RR track bridge is how you get to their HQ off of Interstate 10. I was looking online yesterday and traced where they are down to the closest major highway.

 

[jarlrmai]

In the preview vid we see a controller very similar to that in the AVT preview videos, this is most likely a custom ruggedized laptop and is probably connected to the vehicle system and to the TV screen above

 

[jarlrmai]

I think that RR track bridge is how you get to their HQ off of Interstate 10. I was looking online yesterday and traced where they are down to the closest major highway.

Yeah @flarkey figured out the exact bridge location a while ago

https://www.metabunk.org/threads/skywatcher-part-i-the-journey-begins.13971/post-339555

The Skywatcher I thread is worth a read to see where we started with the geolocation

 

[NorCal Dave]

The red tanks on the side are really indicative of the model of X-MADIS OTM featured on the CACI promotional pictures there are other pictures around of the system in on various slightly differently configured but similar vehicles (Chevrolet off-road trucks) but the red tanked ones are all either on CACI's site or have CACI on the side, allies.com seems to be a Polish division under CACI.

Those are Rotopax gas cans. Pretty common off-road item. They may be an off the self racking system they're using in the bed to mount the camera contraption.

As for the TicTak video, are we sure they follow the object down? Just thinking about the Navy video, where the camera loses track and the object appears to move off at high speed. Could they just be moving the camera up fast, creating the illusion?

Maybe no big deal, but why in the video as the tic tak just leaves the screen at the bottom, it looks like a ghost image of it appears back near the original spot:

 

[jarlrmai]

Those are Rotopax gas cans. Pretty common off-road item. They may be an off the self racking system they're using in the bed to mount the camera contraption.

Yeah it just seems the CACI prebuilt X-MADIS OTM trucks all have the red ones attached, same colour, same vehicle colour and chassis etc. This might be useful when trying to source who provided the vehicle to Skywatcher. Can you hire them, are they regulated, etc

Maybe Mile High Resources has one one, maybe someone loaned it to them.

My understanding is the AESA Radar and the EW drone jamming would require a license or a permit to be owned and operated, that's also maybe why they need to operate on private land.

Someone probably knows the regulations around these things better than me though, I remember the Tedescos had to get approval to use their marine RADAR on land.

The X-MADIS truck seems like a bit of a pre-built Tedesco van.

 

[NorCal Dave]

The X-MADIS truck seems like a bit of a pre-built Tedesco van.

Indeed. They're anti-drone rigs that I guess are sold to whoever wants them. One would think if these were specifically for something like the US military, they would have used a different base vehicle. It appears to be a Chevy Colorado, a mid-sized truck (by US standards), though I can't find one with that particular grill. It may be some sort of fleet truck.

I assume the military would buy the system and then place it on there own vehicles like the Humvee or JLTV which are diesel. Even the little MRZR Barber was playing around on in his first interview was diesel. I think the military runs diesel whenever possible.

This is a gasser, hence the red for gas Rotopax, so I assume these are for things like law enforcement, private security and maybe foreign markets:

https://www.caci.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/F598a_X-MADIS_OTM_External_032522.pdf

Here's an older one from a 2018 article:

https://www.uasvision.com/2018/05/23/x-madis-mobile-anti-drone-in-game-of-drones-demo/

Same tan Chevy. They seem to have a laptop set up for demonstrations in place of the Rotopax, if it had them. Maybe the Skywatch guys have access to an older one? Maybe even with the jamming and stuff disabled, so no licence needed.

EDIT: These things can't be cheap.

 

[JMartJr]

It appears to be a Chevy Colorado, a mid-sized truck (by US standards), though I can't find one with that particular grill.

Is this it? I'm not a car guiy, so there may be differences I'm missing...

https://www.carlblackkennesaw.com/blog/whats-new-on-the-2021-chevy-colorado/

 

[NorCal Dave]

Is this it? I'm not a car guiy, so there may be differences I'm missing...

View attachment 81125
https://www.carlblackkennesaw.com/blog/whats-new-on-the-2021-chevy-colorado/

Nice find! I wasn't going back that far. Hard to tell exactly what the SW guys have. According the article I found, testing of these by the military started back in 2017, so there not exactly new (bold by me):

The SOFWERX RPE demonstration events began in June 2017 and have evaluated more than 450 technological capabilites aimed at bringing sea-, land-, and air-based UAS, tactical swarms, payloads (kinetic/non-kinetic/sensors), and their associated data science applications to the Special Operations Community. ThunderDrone RPE III is the culmination of the events, and X-MADIS is one of just 30 remaining entrants.

https://www.uasvision.com/2018/05/23/x-madis-mobile-anti-drone-in-game-of-drones-demo/

EDIT: Removed redundant info.

 

[jarlrmai]

I guess no one reads my posts where I go over this

 

[geologydude]

Indeed. They're anti-drone rigs that I guess are sold to whoever wants them. One would think if these were specifically for something like the US military, they would have used a different base vehicle. It appears to be a Chevy Colorado, a mid-sized truck (by US standards), though I can't find one with that particular grill. It may be some sort of fleet truck.

I assume the military would buy the system and then place it on there own vehicles like the Humvee or JLTV which are diesel. Even the little MRZR Barber was playing around on in his first interview was diesel. I think the military runs diesel whenever possible.

This is a gasser, hence the red for gas Rotopax, so I assume these are for things like law enforcement, private security and maybe foreign markets:

View attachment 81121


View attachment 81122
https://www.caci.com/sites/default/files/2022-03/F598a_X-MADIS_OTM_External_032522.pdf

Here's an older one from a 2018 article:

View attachment 81124
https://www.uasvision.com/2018/05/23/x-madis-mobile-anti-drone-in-game-of-drones-demo/

Same tan Chevy. They seem to have a laptop set up for demonstrations in place of the Rotopax, if it had them. Maybe the Skywatch guys have access to an older one? Maybe even with the jamming and stuff disabled, so no licence needed.

EDIT: These things can't be cheap.

I spoke to a friend that told me they are around $2M. It comes as a turnkey unit. For your $2M you get the truck, radar, optics, CUAS system, and so on. You 100% need a bunch of licenses if you are going to be transmitting with a radar and jamming, but civilians cannot get an FCC license to jam. My best guess is they are just using it without a license, but that is a guess. There is no FCC license for them currently as per FCC website.

 

[MonkeeSage]

I spoke to a friend that told me they are around $2M. It comes as a turnkey unit. For your $2M you get the truck, radar, optics, CUAS system, and so on. You 100% need a bunch of licenses if you are going to be transmitting with a radar and jamming, but civilians cannot get an FCC license to jam. My best guess is they are just using it without a license, but that is a guess. There is no FCC license for them currently as per FCC website.

That's a lot of money. Who is funding it?

 

[jarlrmai]

That's a lot of money. Who is funding it?

Klokus maybe

 

[jarlrmai]

I spoke to a friend that told me they are around $2M. It comes as a turnkey unit. For your $2M you get the truck, radar, optics, CUAS system, and so on. You 100% need a bunch of licenses if you are going to be transmitting with a radar and jamming, but civilians cannot get an FCC license to jam. My best guess is they are just using it without a license, but that is a guess. There is no FCC license for them currently as per FCC website.

Does Mile High Resources have one?

 

[geologydude]

Does Mile High Resources have one?

I doubt it. They just provide a range to train or test on, not the equipment. SkyWatcher said they got private sector funding so they obviously got a lot of it. They work with AARO which makes me wonder if AARO had to buy that vehicle. I highly doubt a civilian can buy it. They had to have a US government sponsor. That equipment falls under ITAR and a whole host of regs and rules.

 

[jarlrmai]

I doubt it. They just provide a range to train or test on, not the equipment. SkyWatcher said they got private sector funding so they obviously got a lot of it. They work with AARO which makes me wonder if AARO had to buy that vehicle. I highly doubt a civilian can buy it. They had to have a US government sponsor. That equipment falls under ITAR and a whole host of regs and rules.

Can you evidence the Skywatcher / AARO connection?

 

[NorCal Dave]

I guess no one reads my posts where I go over this

Sorry, I missed your part on the OTM, but read all the others.

I doubt it. They just provide a range to train or test on, not the equipment. SkyWatcher said they got private sector funding so they obviously got a lot of it. They work with AARO which makes me wonder if AARO had to buy that vehicle. I highly doubt a civilian can buy it. They had to have a US government sponsor. That equipment falls under ITAR and a whole host of regs and rules.

I seriously doubt these guys are working with AARO. And if AARO paid any of their kit to cosplay UFO hunters, that's a real boondoggle. They may insinuate they are working with AARO, but in what official capacity? If so, there would be some sort of contract with AARO. It's a bit like the Tedesco brothers claiming to work with the FBI. They may call and send fuzzy videos of light to the FBI, but that's not "working with the FBI".

Given their habit of calling nearly anything they present some sort of class 5 TicTak or class 2 Tetrahedron UAP, even when it's just birds, they have nothing to offer AARO.

 

[jarlrmai]

Sorry, I missed your part on the OTM, but read all the others.

Don't worry, I put a smiley in there on my phone but it didn't show for some reason!

 

[geologydude]

Can you evidence the Skywatcher / AARO connection?

I am still looking for it but can not find it yet. Since they are tied to Nolan maybe SRI had some influence helping them get that, or they just bought it themselves. I will keep looking on that AARO thing. I swear I heard that or read it somewhere.

 

[RAS]

I am still looking for it but can not find it yet. Since they are tied to Nolan maybe SRI had some influence helping them get that, or they just bought it themselves. I will keep looking on that AARO thing. I swear I heard that or read it somewhere.

Here is an article that summarizes Jake Barber's interview with podcaster Jesse Michels. The full Jesse Michels interview is available on YouTube. I am just pointing out where you may have heard of a connection between AARO and Skywatcher. This interview is the only place that I personally have heard it discussed.

https://www.liberationtimes.com/hom...to-ufo-whistleblower-jake-barbers-allegations

Liberation Times

Pentagon Confirms Investigation into UFO Whistleblower Jake Barber's Allegations

Written by Christopher Sharp - 22 February 2025

The Department of Defense's (DoD) Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) office, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), has confirmed to Liberation Times it is investigating allegations from new UAP whistleblower Jake Barber.

DoD spokesperson Susan Gough told Liberation Times that "AARO is aware of Barber's claims and is investigating them."

In an interview with podcaster and UAP researcher Jesse Michels, Barber stated that he and his team have a relationship with AARO.

In the interview, Barber said:

"We're conducting demonstrations for the new director of AARO. They are fully privy to our work—they've seen our videos, our data, and our report."

Barber also added:

"Since we left the program, and reorganized, and are now working with AARO, all this information I'm giving you—including our reports—is also being provided to AARO…"

The Hill opinion contributor Marik Von Rennenkampff told Liberation Times that his sources indicated AARO Director Dr. Jon Kosloski was referring to Barber as one of the two witnesses he mentioned during a Senate Armed Services Subcommittee hearing in November 2024.

During that hearing, Kosloski stated:

"We've met with several of their interlocutors and a couple of firsthand witnesses, and we are making great progress in those firsthand witnesses that we have talked to [so they] do feel comfortable coming back to us."

Susan Gough told Liberation Times that she could neither confirm nor deny whether Barber was one of the witnesses referenced by Kosloski.

Speaking to Liberation Times, Jake Barber commented:

"Skywatcher has had positive initial interactions with AARO under Dr. Kosloski and other federal authorities.

"We are focused on scaling up our efforts to collect high fidelity data in the field and look forward to sharing our preliminary findings with the public when they are analyzed, by ourselves and independent experts."

Jake Barber, who first came forward publicly in an interview with NewsNation journalist Ross Coulthart, claims to have been involved in the retrieval of non-human craft.

 

[Mick West]

I am still looking for it but can not find it yet. Since they are tied to Nolan maybe SRI had some influence helping them get that, or they just bought it themselves. I will keep looking on that AARO thing. I swear I heard that or read it somewhere.

Source: https://youtu.be/rY-szcOA3K4?t=833

It wasn't until Jake Barber, after his friend had given the briefing to Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick … it wasn't until Jake Barber had gone to AARO after Kirkpatrick had left, and spoke to the new AARO Director Dr. John Koslowski, and provided Koslowski the details of the information that was previously provided to AARO, that AARO itself realized that there was no longer information in its possession that had been provided to AARO previously.

Someone had removed that information.

Now I don't know who, but bottom line AARO's job is to investigate UAPs. I can assure you, Dr. John Koslowski fills me with a greater degree of confidence than his predecessor. And whilst his hands may be tied, and the Defense Department may not want the rate of disclosure to be as fast as it appears to be becoming at the moment, I do get the impression that he's quite serious about investigating the phenomenon properly.

And I know for a fact that he's asked to accompany the Skywatcher team when they do their next summoning.

Seems rather second-hand.

 

[jarlrmai]

AARO interviewed a few military people with claims, this is no in way Skywatcher working with AARO in other sense than that.

 

[NorCal Dave]

I am still looking for it but can not find it yet. Since they are tied to Nolan maybe SRI had some influence helping them get that, or they just bought it themselves. I will keep looking on that AARO thing. I swear I heard that or read it somewhere.

Nolan isn't going to get them an anti-Drone truck. SRI formerly separated from with Stanford University, where Nolan is a professor, in 1970. Right before Targ and Puthoff showed up working for the army/CIA testing remote viewing and getting fooled by Uri Geller's spoon trick:

As a belated response to Vietnam War protesters who believed that funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) made the university part of the military–industrial complex,[55]​ the Stanford Research Institute split from Stanford University in 1970.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SRI_International

Nolan gets involved with many of the UFO groups, that doesn't mean Stanford University does. I've not seen anything connecting Skywatch to SRI International.

And again, I seriously doubt these guys have anything to do with AARO, though they may insinuate it, as Barber did in Jesse Michael's interview. Same as the Tedescos "working with the FBI". This is a bunch of guys running around in a Texas desert shooting video of anything that they think looks like a UAP, including birds, and then claiming it's a class 2 Tetrahedron UAP. It's a farce and of no use to AARO. At least not the way it's currently operating.

 

[RAS]

And again, I seriously doubt these guys have anything to do with AARO, though they may insinuate it,

I have seen no insinuation that they are working with AARO, just allegations that AARO is actively investigating their activities.

 

[jarlrmai]

AARO are have spoken to Jacob Barber regarding claims as to what he says he saw or heard etc during his military career afaik they have no mandate to involve themselves in the activity of private organisation such as Skywatcher.

AARO have a connection with Barber because of his military service and not with Skywatcher, Barber has a connection with Skywatcher.