DefendTex drone used in Mali – report

The Australian designed and manufactured DefendTex Drone40 (D40) is being used operationally in Mali according to media reports.

The drone, only four centimetres long and launched either by hand or from a grenade launcher, has been deployed with the British Army’s contingent on Operation Newcombe, according to Overt Defense.

Several hundreds Drone40s are believed to have been purchased by the UK.

Once deployed the drone can travel up to 20 kilometres or loiter up to 60 minutes for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance purposes.

The tiny drone features a GPS based autopilot system that communicates via an encrypted radio date-link with a portable ground controller.

Built with standard drone components, the Drone40 can carry a video streaming camera, laser target designator, smoke bombs or what the company calls ‘kinetic effects’.

Earlier this month Melbourne-based DefendTex was awarded $3.1 million in Defence Innovation Hub contracts for next generation body armour and a lightweight modular shotgun system.

Picture: DefendTex

Subscribe to our free @AuManufacturing newsletter here.