IXEAN Uwak
A micro drone swarm built to watch the flanks a squad can't hold — networked target detection that tells the operator exactly where the threat is, without cycling through a single camera feed.
Every room has a blind flank.
Close Quarters Battle (CQB) has become the dominant form of armed conflict in both military and law enforcement over the past few decades, a trend expected to persist as urban environments continue to expand. The Siege of Marawi (2017) in Mindanao serves as a stark and local example, with nearly the entire conflict unfolding in a densely populated city, necessitating extensive room-clearing operations.
Room-clearing is fraught with challenges, primarily due to its unpredictability. Combatants face significant risks from blind spots, hidden angles, and traps upon entry, and prolonged operations often erode squad cohesion through severe cognitive strain. Reports from Gaza indicate that units grow increasingly lax in their room-clearing protocols over time, leading to higher susceptibility to ambushes.
- Traditional surveillance drones lean toward open-area work and fail to address a critical vulnerability: hostile elements ambushing or flanking squads from adjacent rooms.
- CQB-trained units employ flank-watch formations to compensate, but the discipline required is taxing, and any lapse can result in catastrophic — often fatal — consequences.
To address this vulnerability, we present Uwak — a micro drone swarm system designed to monitor flanks and detect threats, powered by the most advanced computer vision model in our Mata core technology system.
A two-member squad, three contested angles, two Uwak.
Consider a two-member squad entering a room connected to three adjacent sections: a staircase leading to the second floor, a hallway, and a side room.
Clear and perch
The operator deploys the first Uwak to scan the room. Once cleared, it is positioned to monitor the adjacent side room — perched discreetly on a desk, under a table, or another hidden vantage point.
Cover the second flank
A second Uwak is deployed to monitor the hallway, while the second squad member secures the staircase leading to the next floor.
Consolidate the angle
With both Uwak deployed, the operator rejoins the second squad member in holding the remaining angle — no longer split across three approaches.
Ping, don’t scan
If either Uwak detects a target, the operator is pinged in real time with its location — without having to actively monitor the drones’ camera feeds — enabling rapid tactical responses with reduced cognitive load on the squad.
After the room is secured, the operator retrieves the Uwak and the squad proceeds to the next section, repeating the process. This easily repeatable sequence prevents a squad from spreading itself too thin holding too many angles, letting it concentrate fire on a subsection of choice — and the reduced cognitive load results in fewer fatal lapses in judgement across an ongoing operation.
One drone per flank, one network for the whole team.
Advanced night vision AI
Equipped with an infrared floodlight camera and a custom-built AI model optimized for infrared imagery, Uwak ensures high-accuracy target detection even in zero-light environments.
Compact and tactical design
A micro quadcopter, approximately 200 mm x 200 mm, with the ability to perch in concealed locations — ideal for stealth operations.
Drone-to-drone networking
Every Uwak is connected to every other Uwak, so if a particular drone has a detection while the operator is looking at another camera, they are told exactly which drone to switch to — no cycling through every feed.
No comparable product exists.
To our knowledge, no comparable product exists in the market. The IXEAN Uwak is uniquely designed to address critical gaps in urban CQB operations, offering flank monitoring and target detection capabilities — even in unlit spaces.
By integrating the Uwak system into CQB tactics, squads can operate with increased efficiency, safety, and effectiveness — reducing cognitive strain and improving mission success rates in high-stakes environments.
Talk to us about a Uwak deployment for your CQB mission profile.
Our team will help scope a deployment against your operational range, environment, and mission requirements.