OctoPod
All-in-one belly-mounted sensor pod for
The OctoPod is a unique belly-mounted airborne surveillance pod jointly developed by OPTIMARE and AERODATA. It integrates multiple sensors — SLAR, IR/UV, VIS, and EO/IR — into a single certified installation, minimising aircraft modification cost and complexity while enabling full multi-sensor maritime surveillance.
One pod, all sensors, minimal aircraft modification
The OctoPod was developed to solve a recurring problem in airborne surveillance programmes: integrating multiple sensors into an aircraft requires extensive modification, certification, and cost. The OctoPod packages SLAR, IR/UV line scanner, VIS line scanner, and EO/IR camera into a single belly-mounted pod with a single STC. The aircraft modification is reduced to one belly-mount attachment, dramatically cutting integration time and cost. The pod connects to the MEDUSA® mission management system, giving operators a full multi-sensor picture from a single certified installation.
Download product handoutWhat the OctoPod does
Multi-sensor in one pod
SLAR, IR/UV, VIS, and EO/IR sensors in a single belly-mount — no separate antenna fairings or window modifications.
Single STC certification
One supplemental type certificate covers the entire pod installation, reducing certification cost and time.
Minimal aircraft modification
Single belly-mount attachment minimises airframe work and preserves aircraft resale value.
Rapid deployment
Pod can be installed and removed without major maintenance, enabling quick mission reconfiguration.
Configurable payload
Sensor mix can be configured per customer requirement — not all sensors need to be fitted.
MEDUSA® integration
All pod sensors connect to the MEDUSA® mission suite for unified operator control and display.
Key parameters
Mission use cases
Often deployed together
OPTIMARE SLAR
X-band side-looking airborne radar for wide-area maritime surveillance
View sensor →
IR/UV Line Scanner
Dual-channel infrared and ultraviolet line scanner for oil spill and thermal mapping
View sensor →
VIS Line Scanner
High-resolution visible-band line scanner for geo-referenced maritime imagery
View sensor →Interested in the OctoPod?
Contact the India team for a technical briefing, integration discussion, or to request the product handout.