A prototype combat drone capable of exceeding 2,400 km / h?
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Geeko
Kelley Aerospace has just unveiled its new unmanned combat drone, the Arrow.
Although it is still only a prototype, the machine would be able to reach a speed in excess of 1,500 mph, or around 2,400 km / h.
If the concept of autonomous combat drones is far from new, this type of device is not really known for its speed.
“Drones are known to… drag themselves [but] never to go very fast.
With the Arrow supersonic drone, you will no longer have to worry about speed problems, ”said Ian Lim, CEO of Kelley Aerospace.
The Arrow unmanned combat drone made of carbon fiber - which allows it to be both light and strong - is able to overcome the sound barrier and even reach a speed of Mach 2.1, or around 2,500 km / h.
The device would also have a range of 5,000 km.
A bite of bread
And the icing on the cake, the machine would be rather affordable.
It would indeed be marketed between 9 and 16 million dollars, a price range that is relatively low for this type of device, depending on the company that develops it.
Moreover, Kelley Aerospace has already received more than 100 pre-orders for its unmanned combat drone.
However, it is not about to take off, the machine is indeed still in development.
The company plans to perform the first flight tests with a ¼ scale model later this year.
A version with a pilot could also be offered, which could be useful for certain specific missions.
In its autonomous version, the supersonic combat drone could be used for intelligence, surveillance or reconnaissance tasks.
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