Drone40 Australian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)

The Drone40 Australian Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is a specialized drone equipped with a 40mm grenade launcher. It serves as a range expander for infantry, functioning as a new type of loitering munition and highlighting the benefits of a robust drone parts ecosystem. The Drone40 provides a unique definition of "loitering," as the operator can remotely disarm the munition, allowing the drone to land inert for later recovery. When not loaded with anti-personnel or anti-tank munitions, the Drone40 can be fitted with a sensor module. This feature is beneficial for infantry units that prefer to scout first and engage later. The sensor can gather initial intelligence, which can then be replaced with a lethal payload as needed. The drone is capable of streaming video up to 10 km away over a direct line of sight. It can also record video or take still images and retransmit them once it is within range. By utilizing radio frequency support from another aerial system, this range can be further extended. Equipped with GPS, the Drone40 can autonomously follow a pre-programmed waypoint course to a target or use its synthetic aperture radar to locate and track targets. The design of the Drone40 emphasizes minimal human intervention, although human control remains a crucial element of its operation. This development received significant funding through a collaboration with Autonomous Systems Collaborative Research from the Australian government. Additionally, multiple Drone40 units can work together, relying on sensor data from a single intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) drone within the swarm. Most of the flying, target identification, and tracking are performed autonomously.