UK defence firm unveils affordable solution to Kamikaze drone problem PHOTO
The British defence firm, BAE Systems, is developing a new lower-cost weaponised drone designed to help militaries counter the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles dominating modern battlefields, as seen in Ukraine.
The British defence company unveiled its solution to kamikaze attack drones—explosive drones that detonate on impact—by equipping its Malloy T-150 drone with the APKWS laser-guidance kit, which fires 70-millimetre rockets. In recent trials, this combination successfully shot down another drone, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.
BAE aims to provide an alternative to high-cost systems like Raytheon Technologies’ Patriot mobile surface-to-air missile system, responding to increased military interest following Iran’s use of drones against Israel and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine.
A key feature of the weapon system is its modularity: it can be removed from the drone within an hour, allowing the drone to switch roles and be used for cargo transport or reconnaissance missions. The Malloy T-150 is already deployed by the U.S. Marines and Britain’s Royal Navy to transfer equipment between ships, replacing some helicopter operations.
BAE acquired Malloy Aeronautics, a specialist in heavy-lift drones based in England, last year. The recent Utah trials integrated APKWS kits—typically mounted on F-16 jets and Apache helicopters—developed by BAE’s U.S. division.
Looking ahead, BAE plans to manufacture the drone’s electric motors in Britain to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers, anticipating strong demand from Western militaries.
BAE (British Aerospace Engineering) Systems is a British multinational defence, security, and aerospace company. It is one of the world’s largest defence contractors, providing advanced technology solutions and products to military and government customers globally. BAE Systems specialises in areas such as combat vehicles, naval ships, aircraft, cybersecurity, and intelligence systems. The company is headquartered in London and plays a key role in the defence industries of the UK, the US, and other allied nations.
By Khagan Isayev
editor@caliber.az
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