The RAF is developing a small unmanned helicopter capable of launching guided missiles called the Jackal.
Air Force leaders called for a lightweight “attack drone” after seeing the technology’s effectiveness in the Ukraine war.
The conflict has been characterized by inexpensive “off-the-shelf” tools being adapted as weapon platforms.
They include redesigned drones to drop grenades at tanks while hovering over them – rendering the vehicles defenseless.
However, until the invention of the Jackal, unmanned aerial vehicles were too unstable to launch more sophisticated weapons.
The Jackal should be a safer alternative for soldiers advancing with shoulder-mounted weapons or manned helicopters approaching enemy targets.
Until the invention of the Jackal (pictured), drones were too unstable to launch more sophisticated weapons
In tests, the drone, which has eight rotors, has proven to be an effective platform for launching 35-pound rockets filled with explosives.
The precision-guided Martlett missiles can hit targets up to four miles away.
The Jackal is developed by York-based Flyby Technology and Custom Rockets by Thales in Northern Ireland.
The stability technology onboard the drone, along with the missiles’ low recoil, has proven to be a successful combination in trials conducted by the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
The Jackal should be a safer alternative for soldiers advancing with shoulder-mounted weapons or manned helicopters approaching enemy targets.
John Parker, former RAF pilot, chief executive of Flyby, said: ‘We can sit in the treetops and shoot from a distance without being detected.
“The beauty of the plane is that it is as fast as a manned helicopter in flight.
We can shoot in hover mode or on the move. So we can chase the target and shoot at the same time.
The days of having a fighter pilot in the cockpit are numbered. War is changing and Jackal is part of that future.
Other defense companies are developing drones, but the Jackal is believed to be the first of its kind to successfully complete RAF trials.
Its Martlet missiles, which are usually launched from shoulder launchers or larger unmanned platforms, are capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,100 mph.
Its Martlet missiles, which are usually launched from shoulder launchers or larger unmanned platforms, are capable of reaching speeds of up to 1,100 mph
The stabilization technology on board the Jackal drone (pictured), along with the missiles’ low recoil, proved to be a successful combination in trials by the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office.
The Jackal is developed by York-based Flyby Technology and Custom Rockets by Thales in Northern Ireland
They can now be kicked out of the Jackal thanks to state-of-the-art stabilization technology, the details of which are preserved.
When paired with the Jackal they can strike nearby infantry and armored units of friendly forces on the battlefield.
James Keon, a missile expert at Thales, told Lt times: The rocket is designed to create very low recoil force on the launch pad, so you have no instability.
“The Jackal is a very stable platform, and it hoveres great, and the purpose of our exercise is to show that.”
The Jackal test was very successful, Mr. Keon said, adding: ‘When you see a weapon that’s lightweight, yet powerful, launched from such a low platform, the low hover that a helicopter doesn’t attempt, that shows capability.’
Philip McBride, Managing Director, Thales Northern Ireland, said: ‘It has been a privilege to work with the Flyby team on this ground-breaking, time-pressured experiment, demonstrating that both Thales and Flyby can deliver impressive, agile results when focused on a common collective goal.
