Flyby Technology, a U.K.-based company that specializes in high-quality drone design and consultancy, teamed up with Maxwell Innovations and FlyBVLOS Technology to develop unmanned drones that are capable of firing lightweight multi-role missiles, as proven by successful test-firing trials.
The three companies have managed to work together to outfit Flyby Technology's 'Jackal Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle' with the ability to fire advanced missiles in an uncrewed environment.
This particular unmanned drone also offers the ability to take off and land vertically, meaning it doesn't require expansive runways and large amounts of space in order to carry out a wide range of battlefield missions. The drone is likely to be especially of interest to countries whose military budgets make it difficult for them to obtain lightweight fighter aircraft and attach helicopters.
Image Credit: Thales
What Makes This Trend Stand Out
- Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles
- The development of unmanned vehicles that can fire missiles signifies a shift towards a future battlefield that includes an increased use of unmanned technologies.
- Lightweight Multi-role Missiles
- The development of lightweight multi-role missiles allows for a wider range of unmanned vehicles to operate and complete battlefield missions.
- Vertical Takeoff and Landing
- The use of vertical takeoff and landing technologies on unmanned combat air vehicles streamlines the process of battlefield missions and decreases the need for expansive runways.
Sectors Adopting This
- Defense
- Unmanned combat air vehicles with missile-firing capabilities provide new opportunities for the defense industry to create unmanned warfare technologies.
- Drone Manufacturing
- The development of missile-firing unmanned drones requires specialized knowledge in drone design, creating new opportunities for companies in the drone manufacturing industry.
- Military Technology
- The development of missile-firing unmanned drones shows a shift towards unmanned technologies in the military industry, creating new opportunities for disruptive innovation in this industry.
