Uwak: A Game-Changer in Urban CQB

Close Quarters Battle (CQB) has become the dominant form of armed conflict in both military and law enforcement over the past few decades. This trend is 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 in CQB is fraught with challenges, primarily due to its unpredictability. Combatants face significant risks from blind spots, hidden angles, and traps upon entry. While advanced entry techniques, such as "pie slicing," mitigate some dangers, they cannot eliminate the inherent randomness. Prolonged CQB operations often erode squad cohesion and morale due to the severe cognitive strain imposed on combatants. For instance, reports from Gaza indicate that IDF units become increasingly lax in their room-clearing protocols over time, leading to higher susceptibility to ambushes.

Drones have gradually become integral to urban operations for both military and law enforcement, offering safer alternatives to manually scanning rooms prior to squad entry. However, traditional drones whose designs lean more towards open-area surveillance fail to address a critical vulnerability: the risk of hostile elements ambushing or flanking squads from adjacent rooms. While CQB-trained units employ flank-watch formations, the discipline required is taxing, and any lapse can result in catastrophic— often fatal— consequences.

To address this vulnerability, we of Ixean present Uwak, a cutting-edge drone system designed to monitor flanks and detect threats.

Initial Prototypes of the Ixean Uwak using a Pavo Quadcopter Body

The Ixean Uwak is a micro quadcopter drone measuring approximately 100 mm x 100 mm, equipped with an advanced night vision AI camera capable of automatic target detection and distance measurement.

Operational Scenario

Consider a two-member squad entering a room connected to three adjacent sections, labelled as:

• A: A staircase leading to the second floor

• B: A hallway

• C: A side room

All in all, the total zone to be secured is illustrated below:

Contested area for CQB operations with a 2-man squad (Drone Operator in red)

1. The Uwak operator deploys the first Uwak drone to scan the room. Once cleared, the operator positions the first Uwak to monitor C, perching it discreetly on a desk, under a table, or another hidden vantage point.

2. The second Uwak is deployed to monitor B, while the second squad member secures A.

3. With all Uwak deployed, the operator can rejoin the second squad member in holding the angle at A.

4. If either Uwak detects a target, the operator is pinged in real time where the target is— without having to actively monitor the drones’ camera feeds— enabling rapid tactical responses with reduced cognitive load on the squad.

The total area monitored between the Uwak and human squad is illustrated as follows:

 CQB surveillance coverage with 2 Uwak and a 2-man Squad (Drone Operator in red)

After the room is secured, the operator retrieves the Uwak, and the squad proceeds to the next section, repeating the process.

This easily repeatable room-clearing sequence has the powerful benefit of preventing a squad from spreading themselves too thin trying to hold too many angles at once and can instead allow them to concentrate fire on a subsection of choice.

The reduced cognitive load and stress across all squad members will ultimately result in less fatal lapses in judgement and discipline— especially when there are many more rooms to clear in an ongoing operation.

Key Features

• Advanced Night Vision AI: Equipped with an infrared floodlight camera and a custom-built AI model optimized for infrared imagery, the Uwak ensures high-accuracy target detection, even in zero-light environments.

• Compact and Tactical Design: Its micro size and ability to perch in concealed locations make the Uwak ideal for stealth operations.

  
  

Market Differentiation

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 unparalleled 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.

Documentation